Maryland Legislative Primer from washingtonpost.com

THE BASICS

The 2004 General Assembly convened Jan. 14 and will continue for 90 days until adjournment April 14.

Where the Lawmakers Meet: The General Assembly meets annually in Annapolis in the historic State House, the oldest capitol building in continuous legislative use. After the Revolutionary War, Annapolis was the first peacetime capital of the . It was there that Gen. George Washington resigned his commission as commander in chief of the Continental Army and that the Treaty of Paris was ratified, officially ending the war.

4On the Web General Assembly: http://mlis.state.md.us/

THE LEADERS

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. is first Republican elected to the Maryland governor's office in more than 30 years. Despite a difficult time with the General Assembly last year, Ehrlich is entering his second legislative session with a 62 percent approval rating among voters, a Washington Post poll shows. 4Complete Coverage: Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/metro/md/government/governor/

Democrats control both legislative chambers. In the 141-member House of Delegates, there are 98 Democrats and 43 Republicans. In the 47-member Senate, there are 33 Democrats and 14 Republicans. Sen. Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) will serve his 17th year as Senate president. Del. Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) will serve his second year as speaker of the House.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Will Ehrlich be able to translate his popularity with voters into clout with Democrats in the General Assembly?

Will the Prince George's County delegation play a pivotal role in deciding whether Maryland legalizes slot machines or casinos?

How will death of Howard P. Rawlings, the powerful chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, affect efforts to preserve the Thornton education aid package that he championed?

1 THE ISSUES

Budget: Although the economic picture has improved since last year, Ehrlich and the legislature face a projected $700 million gap between revenue and expenditures for the budget year that begins in July. Ehrlich is adamant that he won't raise taxes, so expect more cuts, particularly in social services and higher education, when he releases his $22 billion budget this month. Democrats are expected to seek some sort of tax increase, at the very least a package of corporate tax increases passed last year but vetoed by Ehrlich. Busch hopes to veto-proof the package by earmarking the money for higher education and school construction.

Slots: Look for a replay of last year's debate, in which Ehrlich and Miller teamed to push for legalizing slot machines at horse-racing tracks and Busch did his best to thwart the plan. Busch won that round, but sentiment remains strong in both houses of the legislature for some expansion of gambling and for the revenue it would bring the state. This year's proposals could include casino games, as well as slots, and could call for placing machines at state-owned facilities, bars and restaurants and destinations such as Baltimore's Inner Harbor and the planned National Harbor.

Transportation: The Ehrlich administration has committed to building the intercounty connector across Montgomery County, using bonds to be repaid with federal funds. But officials have yet to say how they will pay for other road projects across the state or replenish $300 million borrowed from the transportation trust fund last year. A commission appointed by Ehrlich has suggested options, including an increase in the gasoline tax or in vehicle registration fees. Democrats are waiting for a proposal from the governor. Without some sort of solution, rural lawmakers could try to limit use of bonds for the inter-county connector.

Education: For the second year in a row, Ehrlich has promised to provide full funding for an education aid formula that eventually will pump $1.3 billion into the state's public schools. But he has warned that he may not be able to do so in the years ahead without an infusion of revenue, preferably from slot machine gambling. Look for lawmakers to propose delaying the so-called Thornton formula or cutting some of its mandates, such as all-day kindergarten.

Medical malpractice: The issue, pitting doctors against lawyers, could consume much of lawmakers' and lobbyists' time. There could be legislation to further restrict court awards in malpractice cases, since many doctors say high jury awards and a corresponding rise in malpractice insurance rates are driving good doctors out of the profession. Trial lawyers and others say that jury awards have not risen and that the rate increases are merely a way for insurance companies to make up for stock market losses.

2 Gay marriage: The General Assembly could address this sensitive issue from two vantage points: legislation allowing gay people to enter into civil unions and measures aimed at defining marriage as the union between a man and a woman. Expect fireworks.

4On the Web Bill Search: http://mlis.state.md.us/#bill

WHO’S WHO

Here are the legislative delegations from counties in the Washington region. Names of lawmakers are repeated if they represent more than one county.

Anne Arundel: Senators: John C. Astle (D), James E. DeGrange Sr. (D), John A. Giannetti (D), Janet Greenip (R), Philip C. Jimeno (D). Delegates: David G. Boschert (R), Michael E. Busch (D), Joan Cadden (D), Virginia P. Clagett (D), Robert A. Costa (R), Donald H. Dwyer Jr. (R), Barbara A. Frush (D), Terry R. Gilleland Jr. (R), John R. Leopold (R), Mary Ann E. Love (D), Tony McConkey (R), Herbert H. McMillan (R), Pauline H. Menes (D), Brian R. Moe (D), Theodore J. Sophocleus (D).

Calvert: Senators: Roy P. Dyson (D), Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D). Delegates: Anthony J. O'Donnell (R), George W. Owings III (D), James E. Proctor Jr. (D), Joseph F. Vallario Jr. (D).

Charles: Senators: Roy P. Dyson (D), Thomas M. Middleton (D). Delegates: W. Louis Hennessy (R), Sally Y. Jameson (D), Van T. Mitchell (D), John F. Wood Jr. (D).

Frederick: Senators: David R. Brinkley (R), Alexander X. Mooney (R). Delegates: Joseph R. Bartlett (R), Galen R. Clagett (D), Donald B. Elliott (R), Patrick N. Hogan (R), Paul S. Stull (R), Richard B. Weldon Jr. (R)

Howard: Senators: Edward J. Kasemeyer (D), Robert H. Kittleman (R), Sandra B. Schrader (R). Delegates: Gail H. Bates (R), Elizabeth Bobo (D), Steven J. DeBoy Sr. (D), James E. Malone Jr. (D), Warren E. Miller (R), Shane E. Pendergrass (D), Neil F. Quinter (D), Frank S. Turner (D).

Montgomery: Senators (all Democrats): Jennie M. Forehand, Brian E. Frosh, Robert J. Garagiola, Sharon M. Grosfeld, P.J. Hogan, Rona E. Kramer, Ida G. Ruben, Leonard H. Teitelbaum. Delegates: Charles E. Barkley (D), Kumar P. Barve (D) William A. Bronrott (D), Jean B. Cryor (R), Kathleen M. Dumais (D), Brian J. Feldman (D), Peter Franchot (D), Marilyn R. Goldwater (D), Michael R. Gordon (D), Ana Sol Gutierrez (D), Henry B. Heller (D), Sheila Ellis Hixson (D), John A. Hurson (D), Anne R. Kaiser (D), Nancy J. King (D), Susan C. Lee (D), Richard S. Madaleno Jr. (D), Adrienne A. Mandel (D), Karen S. Montgomery (D), Gareth E. Murray (D), Carol S. Petzold (D), Luiz R.S. Simmons (D), Joan F. Stern (D), Herman L. Taylor II (D).

3 Prince George's: Senators (all Democrats): Gwendolyn T. Britt, Ulysses Currie, Nathaniel Exum, John A. Giannetti, Leo E. Green, Gloria G. Lawlah, Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., Paul G. Pinsky. Delegates (all Democrats): Joanne C. Benson, Anthony G. Brown, Mary A. Conroy, Dereck E. Davis, Barbara A. Frush, Tawanna P. Gaines, Melony G. Griffith, , Marvin E. Holmes Jr., Carolyn J.B. Howard, James W. Hubbard, Darryl A. Kelley, Pauline H. Menes, Brian R. Moe, Doyle L. Niemann, Rosetta C. Parker, Obie Patterson, James E. Proctor Jr., Victor R. Ramirez, Justin D. Ross, Veronica L. Turner, Joseph F. Vallario Jr., Michael L. Vaughn.

St. Mary's: Senator: Roy P. Dyson (D). Delegates: John L. Bohanan Jr. (D), Anthony J. O'Donnell (R), John F. Wood Jr. (D).

4On the Web Legislator Locator: http://mdelect.net/lookup.asp

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