Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Both senators representing East Montgomery County vote against putting expanded gambling on the ballot, but delegates split.
State senators and delegates representing Burtonsville, Silver Spring and Takoma Park split Wednesday on whether to put expanded gaming up for a referendum. The measure, which passed the Senate Wednesday morning with a 32-14 vote, would leave it up to voters to approve the expansion of gaming to a sixth location in the area that includes both National Harbor and Rosecroft Raceway. A majority of Prince George's County voters are required to vote in favor of a site in their county—something they rejected in 2008. According to an unofficial roll call, Sens. Jamie Raskin (D-Dist 20, which includes Takoma Park and Silver Spring) and Karen Montgomery (D-Dist 14, which includes parts of Silver Spring and Burtonsville) both voted "nay" on the bill…
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Del. Kaiser, co-sponsor of a bill that would allow student members to vote on collective bargaining, among other issues, said opponents' reasoning, "smacks of a poll tax."
Future student members of Montgomery County's Board of Education won't be voting on some of the more controversial measures--including collective bargaining--anytime soon. A bill that would amend the student member's rights to include a vote on collective bargaining, capital and operating budgets and school closings, openings and boundaries did not pass the state Senate Monday. "It didn’t pass because a few Montgomery County senators didn’t want it to pass and they used all the tools at their legislative disposal," said Del. Anne Kaiser (D-Dist 14), the bill's co-sponsor. After passing the House, the bill was put to a "special order," a measure that delays a vote, in the Senate. The Gazette reports that one of the proposal's opponents, …
Friday, February 17, 2012
A bill to forbid roadside solicitation aims to get everyone--charity groups and panhandlers alike--out of the street, drawing the ire of county firefighters.
There’s a rumble in the streets of Montgomery County. A few state legislators, at least one council member and some residents are working to put restrictions on the use of the county’s curbs, medians and roadways, all the while facing opposition from county firefighters. Roadside solicitation, the act of asking for money on the side of the street, is the subject of two separate bills making their way through Montgomery County’s delegation in the Maryland General Assembly. Should either of the bills pass, they would authorize the County Council to create laws around the practice. “There’s a serious problem with people entering the roadway and interfering with traffic in order to solicit,” said Sen. Jamie Raskin (D-Dist 20), who is …
Michael-Ann Henry
10:18 am on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
I think it is sad that so many people doubt the capabilities of young people. As a 20-year old (I may be bias since I am not far from their age), I think when young people are given responsibility and shown the utmost trust, they do not take it lightly. Let's be careful not to assume that all persons under 18 are "children" and that persons who pay their own taxes always make better decisions. more ›