The Special Session Nears An End, G-8 Preparations Continue, A Water Meter Reader Controversy, and Baltimore's New Archbishop Will Be Installed Today

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Maryland's General Assembly is set to wrap up its special session today. Yesterday, the State Senate passed a trio of budget bills, including one that would shift part of the burden of teacher pensions from the state to the counties, and another that would raise taxes on individuals earning more than $100k a year and couples with combined annual incomes above $150k. The House of Delegates granted preliminary approval to the bills last night, and is expected to give its final sign-off today. Meanwhile, protesters gathered outside the State House yesterday, asking lawmakers to overturn a Court of Appeals ruling that pit bulls are "inherently dangerous" dogs; legislators say they'll take up the issue at their next session, which could come as early as this summer.

WYPR’s Joel McCord is in Annapolis reporting on the General Assembly's special session; he's got a brief look at the State Senate vote here, and in-depth analysis of the House vote (and more) here. 

On today's edition of Inside Maryland Politics, Joel talks with WYPR Senior News Analyst Fraser Smith about the votes.

There's more here and here from the Baltimore Sun, here from marylandreporter.com, here from the Washington Post, and here from the Frederick News Post.

Preparations are continuing for the G-8 summit at Camp David in Frederick County, set to take place Friday and Saturday. Some roads will be closed during the event, and public school classes have been canceled for Friday. Several lawmakers -- including Senator Ben Cardin and Congressman Roscoe Bartlett -- are trying to secure federal funds to pay for increased security from local police forces during the event (via our wire service and the Frederick News Post).

Baltimore's 16th archbishop will be formally installed today. William E. Lori will replace Edwin F. O'Brien, who leaves tomorrow for his new position as Cardinal in Rome (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun).

There's a controversy brewing over water bills in two Baltimore neighborhoods. Yesterday, the Department of Public Works confirmed that two water meter readers had been making up numbers instead of actually reading the meters -- resulting resulted in significantly higher water bills for some customers. DPW says that both employees are gone; one was fired, the other resigned. An investigation is underway (via the Baltimore Sun). 

The Harford County Council has unanimously overturned an executive order from County Executive David Craig that would have created a commission to oversee county fire departments (via the Baltimore Sun).

A Clarksville woman is the winner of a major literary award. Kathryn Manion has been named the winner of Washington College's Sophie Kerr Prize, the largest literary award in the nation for undergraduates (via the Baltimore Sun; a programming note: we'll be talking with Kathryn Manion this morning at 9, on Maryland Morning with Sheilah Kast).

In sports news: the starting gates and odds will be set today for Saturday's 137th running of the Preakness Stakes. The post-position draw for the second leg of the Triple Crown is at 6 p.m. at Pimlico Race Course.

And: the Orioles took down the New York Yankees yesterday, 5 to 2. The O's take on the Kansas City Royals tonight.