Maryland has become the 18th state to ban the death penalty... but with a referendum campaign likely, voters could have the final say. The death penalty repeal was one of more than 200 measures signed into law yesterday. A scheduled House Judiciary Committee hearing on corruption at the Baltimore City Detention Center may be put off, as members of the State Senate work with Delegates to schedule a joint hearing. BGE plans to ask the Maryland Public Service Commission to let it raise rates. Governor Martin O'Malley's administration is putting an end to a program that offered health insurance to the same-sex domestic partners of state workers. And more.
Death Penalty Repeal Now Law; Challenge Likely: Governor Martin O'Malley has signed legislation making Maryland the sixth state in six years to repeal the death penalty. The Washington Post notes that he measure isn't retroactive -- so the five people currently on Maryland's death row will remain there, at least for now. And the repeal could face a challenge: the Baltimore Sun reports that Delegate Neil Parrot will hold a news conference today at which he'll likely announce whether he'll lead an effort to petition the measure to referendum; if the necessary signatures are gathered, voters would have the final say in the November 2014 election.
More than 200 Other Bills Signed: Governor O'Malley signed more than 200 other bills into law yesterday;the Gazette reports they include a measure legalizing medical marijuana and a bill allowing immigrants in the state illegally to obtain state driver's licenses.
Prison Corruption Case: Maryland lawmakers are continuing to call for more information about corruption at the Baltimore City Detention Center. The House Judiciary Committee had intended to hold a hearing on the matter Wednesday of next week, but the Washington Post reports that it may be put off, as lawmakers from the State Senate work with Delegates to schedule a joint inquiry. 25 people were indicted last week on charges related to an alleged smuggling ring, including 12 members of the Black Guerilla Family gang and 13 corrections officers.
BGE Plans To Ask For Rate Hike: Baltimore Gas and Electric is looking to raise its rates, again... the utility's parent company, Exelon, says that by June BGE will formally ask Maryland's Public Service Commission to allow rates to go up. The Baltimore Sun notes that BGE requested that the PSC let it raise distribution rates last year, and the Commission approved a hike of a little more than half what had been requested.
Health Benefits To End For Same-Sex Domestic Partners Of State Employees: Governor Martin O'Malley's administration is putting an end to a program that offered health insurance to the same-sex domestic partners of state workers. That program was put in place in 2009, before Maryland legalized same sex marriage, in a law that took effect at the beginning of this year. The O'Malley administration tells the Baltimore Sun that same-sex domestic partners who got the insurance will now have to get married to continue to get it.
2014 Anne Arundel County Executive Race: Anne Arundel County Executive Laura Neuman is considering a bid for a full term in the post in 2014. The Baltimore Sun reports that Neuman has filed the paperwork to form a campaign committee. Neuman hasn't officially declared her yet, but one of her fellow Republicans has;marylandreporter.com tells us that Delegate Steve Schuh launched his campaign for Anne Arundel's top job last night. Republican County Councilman John Grasso has also said he plans to run for the post.
2014 Governor's Race: Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown is set to formally launch his campaign to be Maryland's next Governor a week from today. The Washington Post reports that Brown has lined up a whirlwind tour of the state for next weekend, including stops in Baltimore, Frederick, and Silver Spring.
O'Malley's 2016 Presidential Prospects: The 2016 presidential race may be far in the future, but there's another poll out looking at Governor O'Malley's prospects, should he choose to pursue the Democratic nomination... and at this early date, it doesn't look auspicious. The Quinnipiac University poll gives O'Malley 1% or less of support nationally; Hillary Clinton got 65% support. Politico notes that with Clinton out of the race, O'Malley's support jumps to just 3%.
Mobile Hotspots For First Responders: Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz has proposed spending nearly $31,000 next year on efforts to beef up a mobile hotspot system for fire department ambulances. In this report, WYPR's Kenneth Burns explains why hotspots are important to first responders in the field.
Rockets' Red Glare: The British navy launched its "Chesapeake Campaign" two hundred years ago this weekend, creating economic havoc in towns along the Bay. In this edition of our series Rockets' Red Glare: The War, The Song, and Their Legacies, WYPR's Joel McCord reports that state and local officials see the bicentennial celebration of that campaign as an economic development tool. Our series "Rockets' Red Glare" is made possible by a grant from Star Spangled 200, a national bicentennial commission in Maryland.
May's Chapel School Groundbreaking: WYPR's Fraser Smith and Andy Rosen of the Baltimore Sun talk about Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz's reaction to being heckled at the groundbreaking for the new elementary school in May's Chapel last week on this morning's edition of Inside Maryland Politics.
In sports news: The Orioles won last night's game against the L-A Angels; the score was 5 to 1. The O's look to do it again tonight.
And: The 139th running of the Kentucky Derby is set for tomorrow at Churchill Downs. The Maryland-owned horse Orb has been installed as a 7-to-2 favorite in the 20-horse field and will break from post 16. The 138th Preakness Stakes, the second jewel in horse-racing's triple crown, is two weeks from tomorrow at Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course.. and the head of the Maryland Jockey Club says record attendance is possible. Tom Chuckas tells the Baltimore Business Journal that sales of tickets are ten-percent above sales at this time last year... and last year's Preakness attendance did set a record.