3 GOP Presidential Hopefuls Plan Trips Maryland, Early Voting Is Underway, Baltimore's Election Cycle, and Another Week Of Rising Gas Prices

Monday, March 26, 2012

Three Republican Presidential candidates are planning to visit Maryland this week, in advance of next week's primary election. Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich are expected to swing through the state tomorrow, and Congressman Ron Paul will be here on Wednesday (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun; more here from the Washington Post).  

The primary election takes place on April 3rd, but tens of thousands of ballots have already been cast, during the first two days of early voting. This is the first time that Maryland has permitted early voting during a presidential primary year. Early voting locations are open from 10am through 8pm through Thursday; the locations of Maryland's 46 early voting sites are available here. And turnout figures for the first two days of early voting are available here.

Today is "Crossover Day" in Annapolis. Bills that don't pass either the House of Delegates or the State Senate before today is over probably won't get approved before this year's session ends, on April 9th. In order for any legislation that doesn't get approved by either chamber before today's deadline to stand a chance of passage, it'll need approval of a rules committee -- and that's something that rarely happens.

One bill that is headed for a vote this year would synchronize Baltimore City's election cycle to the presidential election cycle. On Saturday, the House of Delegates approved moving the city's next primary election to the year 2016. That would give Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and the sitting City Council members would get an additional year on their current terms. A similar measure has passed the State Senate -- but the two chambers still have to approve each-others bills (via the Baltimore Sun).

This week, the State Senate will debate a bill that would require 10 Maryland counties to create funds to upgrade failing storm water systems as part of the effort to meet Chesapeake Bay clean up goals. The House of Delegates passed the bill last week. WYPR’s Joel McCord has the story.

Maryland's Legislative Black Caucus has called a news conference for 1:30 this afternoon in Annapolis. Members say they want to show solidarity with Black Caucuses around the country in the call for answers in the death of Trayvon Martin. A neighborhood watch volunteer shot the unarmed teen last month in an Orlando, Florida, suburb. Here in Baltimore, A march and rally will be held today to raise awarness about Martin's case. The march will begin at 5 p.m. at McKeldin Square, then make its way to the Baltimore police headquarters before ending at City Hall, were the rally will be held (via our wire service). A programming note, we'll have will have more on the shooting death of Trayvon Martin this morning at 10 on the Diane Rehm Show.

The Anne Arundel County Council will be up to full strength today -- when Marine Reservist Peter Smith will be sworn in to his post. At today's special meeting of the Council, a vote on a resolution to subpoena County Police Chief James Teare -- to ask him what he knows about the activities of County Executive John Leopold, who's headed to trial on charges of fraud and misconduct. Police Chief Teare's attorney has said that Teare won't testify (via the Annapolis Capital).

And: Maryland motorists have seen yet another week of rising prices at the gas pumps. The statewide average for a gallon of regular unleaded hit $3.93 yesterday -- that's up six cents from the week before, and four cents higher than the nationwide average. Analysts tell Triple A Mid-Atlantic that prices could go up another 10 or 20 cents a gallon before hitting their peak in late April or early May.