Legum’s New Line

Sheila Dixon was “abruptly un-invited” from a meeting of mayors with President Obama at the White House today. The reversal was “Obama’s second visible snub of the city’s beleaguered mayor.” When Obama visited Baltimore on Jan. 17, he did not mention the mayor’s name. [Baltimore Sun]

Prince George’s County Executive Jack B. Johnson is considering challenging Governor Martin O’Malley in the 2010 primary. [Maryland Moment]

Maryland will keep its AAA bond rating, one of just seven states to hold the designation. It’s significant “because it means the state can borrow money for building projects at lower costs.” [WBAL]

With Democrats controlling Congress and the White House, Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) has become one of the most powerful figures in Washington. [Baltimore Sun]

The Maryland Fraternal Order of Police is seeking to exempt law enforcement officers from new domestic violence legislation. [Washington Post]

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Today, the House of Delegates considered legislation by Del. Sue Kullen that would impose stiff penalties on tattoo parlors that ink minors without parental consent. The House GOP countered with an amendment to the legislation which would have imposed the same conditions on abortion providers. WBAL has the details:

Delegates are considering a bill that would require minors get their parents’ permission before getting a tattoo or body piercing.

Delegates who oppose abortions proposed an amendment to extend that parental consent requirement to teens seeking abortions.

Anne Arundel County Republican Delegate Ron George was among the delegates who backed the amendment. He wanted to expand parental consent to a procedure that is “more invasive” than getting a tattoo.

The House parliamentarian ruled that the amendment changed the purpose of the bill, which is against Maryland rules. In Maryland, each bill can only have one subject – a much different approach than the U.S. Congress. The House of Delegates affirmed the parliamentarians ruling by a vote of 103-35.

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The Anne Arundel County Council, at the request of Councilman Ed Middlebrooks (R-Severn), is summoning the county policy chief “to answer questions about how officers handled a report about alleged sexual behavior in the county executive’s official car at an Annapolis mall parking lot. ” [Washington Post]

Michael Steele promises the new public relations offensive for the Republican Party will be “off the hook.” Steele said the new GOP have appeal in “urban-suburban hip-hop settings.” [Washington Times]

More than 20 advocacy groups, joined together as the “Baltimore Education Coalition,” are planning a rally on March 3 in Annapolis to protest possibly funding cuts to city schools. [Baltimore Sun]

Gov. O’Malley testified at the General Assembly in favor of repealing the death penalty, saying “[i]t is our time in Maryland for a deeper dialogue on the question of what kind of society we want to be.” [Capital News Service]

O’Malley’s smart growth proposal is praised by environmentalists, criticized by developers. [Baltimore Sun]

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It only took Governor Martin O’Malley one day to start putting Maryland’s share of the federal stimulus package to use. Today, O’Malley and the Board of Public Works approved $365 million in transportation spending. Maryland Moment has details of the announcement:

Work on some projects will start within 30 days, he said. The governor cautioned that that projects aren’t eye-catching investments that will warrant big ribbon-cuttings. “There is not a Golden Gate Bridge or Bay Bridge among them,” O’Malley said at a meeting of the Board of Public Works, which voted to approve close to $3 million to renovate the MARC station in Laurel.. “But they are needed throughout the state.”

…The projects include: $223 million for highway projects, $146 million of it for resurfacing and $142 million for transit projects. Of that $65 million will pay for 100 hybrid buses and equipment.

You can check out the details here.

If you want to dive into how the stimulus will impact all levels of Maryland Government over the next two years, check out this detailed fact sheet distributed by Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD).

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Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon was “bothered” that President Obama snubbed her during his pre-inaugural visit to the city. [Baltimore Sun]

Maryland will conduct a statewide survey of all teachers, asking them how to improve schools. [News Channel 8]

Senate President Mike Miller supports permitting slots at BWI airport. Governor O’Malley has already said it’s a bad idea. [Maryland Daily Record]

Gov. O’Malley backs an effort by AFSME, the state’s largest union, to collect fees from workers who aren’t union members. AFSME says all workers “benefit from its work negotiating contracts with the state and providing representation for grievances.” [Baltimore Sun]

An effort is underway to charge Maryland’s state song, which refers to “northern scum” and expresses “confederate sympathies.” [The Capital]

State Sen. Norman Stone’s bill to ban pets from riding in truck beds without a harness fails. [Eye on Annapolis]

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If you think the fiscal situation in Maryland is bad, check out California:

The state, nearly out of cash, has laid off scores of workers and put hundreds more on unpaid furloughs. It has stopped paying counties and issuing income tax refunds and halted thousands of infrastructure projects.

…Twenty-thousand layoff notices will go out on Tuesday morning, Matt David, the communications director for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, said Monday night.

California has also lost access to much of the credit markets, nearly unheard of among state municipal bond issuers. Recently, Standard & Poor’s downgraded the state’s bond rating to the lowest in the nation.

Why is California in such bad shape? One reason: “The state, unlike most others, requires a two-thirds majority vote in the Legislature to pass… tax increases.” The Maryland GOP recently proposed that Maryland follow California’s lead:

This week, Senator Andy Harris (R-7) and Delegate Steve Schuh (R-31), with joint support from the Republican Caucuses in the State Senate and House of Delegates, introduced the “Taxpayer Protection Act”.

…This exciting piece of legislation would require a 60% vote in each chamber to raise existing taxes or create new ones.

No one wants tax increases. The Maryland legislature, where both chambers are dominated by Democrats, is not actively considering any tax increases this session. But in a time of deep economic uncertainty, Maryland should remain nimble.

The Maryland GOP, of course, knows that their proposal has no chance of becoming law. But they’ve polled the issue and have decided it’s a political winner. It’s a safe bet, however, that they didn’t tell people about the consequences of similar restrictions in places like California.

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Local car dealers expect only a modest boost from a tax break for new car buyers included in the federal stimulus bill by Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD). The provision “will allow a state sales tax deduction for buyers who purchase a new vehicle through Dec. 31.” [Gazette.net]

Casper Taylor, who served in the House of Delegates for 28 years, says it’s time to end the death penalty in Maryland. Taylor, who served as speaker from 1994-2003, says his biggest regret is his vote to reinstate the death penalty in 1978. [Baltimore Sun]

The Baltimore Sun survey’s the state senate and finds that a narrow majority oppose repealing the death penalty. [Baltimore Sun]

Gov. O’Malley is asking church leaders to help him with his efforts to repeal the death penalty. [ABC 7]

Maryland schools will receive about $1.1 billion over two years from the federal stimulus package. [Baltimore Sun]

The D.C. United, a Major League Soccer team, is moving to Maryland. [Maryland Daily Record]

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A South Carolina sheriff announced today that he would not file charges against Maryland native Michael Phelps. The Olympic swimmer and gold medal record holder was photographed smoking a bong at a November party at the University of South Carolina. The sheriff launched an unusually aggressive investigation after the photo surfaced — seven people have been arrested.

The AP has details:

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said during a news conference that he didn’t have enough physical evidence to charge the swimmer, but he defended his investigation.

“Michael Phelps is truly an American hero … but even with his star status, he is still obligated to obey the laws of our state,” Lott said.

The photo showed Phelps smoking from a marijuana pipe at a party in November when he visited the University of South Carolina. Lott said he seized the marijuana pipe, known as a bong, that was in the photo but couldn’t prove Phelps had smoked from it.

“We had a photo and him saying he was sorry for inappropriate behavior. He never said, ‘I smoked marijuana.’ We didn’t have physical evidence,” Lott said.

More coverage here.

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Governor O’Malley wants to shift proceeds of carbon emissions auction from energy efficiency to low-income heating assistance, drawing protests from some environmentalists. [Maryland Gazette]

Delegate Eric Bromwell (D-Baltimore City) introduces a bill that would permit slots at BWI Airport. [Maryland Daily Record]

The Baltimore Examiner prints it’s last issue. [AP]

Mayor Sheila Dixon’s indictment could reduce her clout among lawmakers in Annapolis. [Baltimore Sun]

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md) wants Alex Rodriguez to come to Maryland to speak at an anti-steroid program for kids. [Random Rodricks]

A business association in Annapolis “has started a petition to encourage city officials to pass legislation that would permit the Market House at City Dock to be occupied as soon as possible.” The Market House has been largely empty since a private company took over management, the air conditioner failed and entire enterprise became enmeshed in litigation. [Baltimore Sun]

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State analysts project the tax revenues over the next two years could be $500 million less than previous estimates, swelling forecasted budget deficits. [Washington Post]

Maryland watermen falsely reported large increases in their crab harvest last year “out of fear that future harvest limits would be based on their catch.” The Department of Natural Resources estimates the female harvest actually declined by 28 to 36 percent, due to new restrictions. [The Capital]

Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler is seek a rehearing of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s decision to approve construction of a $400 million liquefied natural gas terminal at Sparrows Point. [ABC 7]

Maryland will use some of its federal stimulus money to purchase 100 hybrid diesel electric buses. [Baltimore Sun]

Rep. Frank Kratovil reverses course, votes for final stimulus package. [WBAL]

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