Legum’s New Line

Due to expected changes in Maryland licensing requirements, 350,000 state drivers will face the following choice: “Stop driving or get behind the wheel illegally.” [Washington Post]

A proposal increase the scope of internet sales tax gains high-profile supporters. The measure would raise about $7 million annually in Maryland. [Gazette.net]

Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold has asked the state to waive the required annual increase in county school funding, about $9 million this year. [Baltimore Sun]

After lawmakers forced the University of Maryland to cancel a screening of a pornographic movie, Pirates II — Stagnetti’s Revenge, students “are organizing their own viewing parties.” [WJZ]

Miss Maryland USA 2004 “was charged with conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana.” [Washington Post]

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The University of Maryland canceled a midnight showing of a pornographic movie, Pirates II: Stagnetti’s Revenge, after the State Senate threatened to pull hundreds of million of dollars in aid to the public university. [Baltimore Sun]

State Senator E.J. Pipkin introduced an amendment to cut $6 million for the Maryland Transportation Authority, saying he was inspired by MC Hammer’s classic “You Can’t Touch This.” [Capital News Service]

Dixon’s lawyers move to dismiss the criminal charges against her, saying the government’s case is plagued by a “‘multiplicity of mistakes and misconceptions.” [Baltimore Sun]

A new report card by the University of Maryland gives the health of the Chesapeake Bay an overall grade of C-. The river’s in the Annapolis area, including the Severn River, all receive failing grades. [Bay & Environment]

The State Senate approves education cuts. [InsideEd]

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In February, Governor O’Malley announced that the federal stimulus package would enable the state to restore planned cuts to education funding. Specifically, “For the first time in the history of Maryland, the Geographic Cost of Education Index, a funding formula which awards more money to districts where the cost of education is greater, will be funded at 100 percent in FY2010 and FY2011.”

Now, that might be changing:

The state Senate’s budget and tax committee surprised everyone in the education world. Rather than adopting its subcommittee’s recommendations for school funding as expected, it passed a modified version including deeper cuts. It would fund GCEI at 60 percent next year, rather than the 100 percent pledged by the governor, and use the remaining 40 percent (or about $50 million) to cover planned school construction costs.

The committee also, “would limit in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 the annual inflation increases to school districts that were supposed to return next year.” If these changes are approved Baltimore City, for example, “would have to cut at least $12 million out of the budget the school board approved last week.”

The governor, for his part, seems to be taking a middle ground. O’Malley told the Baltimore Sun, “he hadn’t seen the specifics yet, but he was concerned about any change to GCEI. However, he said several lawmakers don’t believe that the state should be guaranteeing inflation increases to any agencies — school districts included — until the economy improves. He’s inclined to agree.”

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House of Delegates adds teeth to Governor O’Malley’s growth bill. An amendment approved yesterday would “spur local governments to corral suburban sprawl – or risk having development projects blocked by the state.” The move was praised by environmentalists. [Bay & Environment]

Speaking to the Anne Arundel County GOP, Chairman Michael Steele chides the party for infighting. [Baltimore Sun]

Maryland Public Television airs a documentary, Citizen Schaefer, chronicling the life of the controversial former governor. [The Captial]

The U.S. Postal services acknowledged “the names and Social Security numbers of about 8,000 state employees and retirees were in a report ‘lost in the mail’ this month.” [WBAL]

House and Senate at odds over new drivers licensing system. The House “voted Friday to allow undocumented immigrants who have a Maryland license to continue driving, while the Senate approved a proposal to end the practice.” [Baltimore Sun]

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