Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon wasn’t the only Democrat to be convicted in court this week. Annapolis Alderman Samuel Shropshire (D-Ward 7) was convicted after a one-day bench trial for groping a Naval Academy midshipmen.
The Capital says that Shropshire was found guilty by Judge Paul F. Harris [...]
Like you, I was shocked to hear that Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon (D) was found guilty of embezzling gift cards. As you have read over the past year, I did not have a lot of confidence in the case that state prosecutor Robert Rohrbaugh, but he did [...]
Seven days and a holiday passed before the jury in the corruption trial of Baltimore Mayor Shiela Dixon (D) returned a not guilty verdict on three of the five counts that she was charged with. While acquitted of two counts of felony theft and one count of [...]
Prince George’s County Sheriff Michael A. Jackson has lost his mind. I would also like to add that if you are a Prince George’s County Democrat considering giving him your vote next September, you are crazy.
In the past few years, we have seen that Jackson (D) has [...]
Believe it or not, four of the seven Baltimore County Council members said that they would not approve giving themselves raises suggested by an advisory panel. It should also be noted that two of the council members (Chairman Joseph Bartenfelder D-Dist. 6 and Kevin Kamentez D-Dist. 2) are also considering [...]
Washington Post columnist Robert McCartney is reporting that that Prince George’s County Sheriff Michael A. Jackson (D) is running for County Executive.
[...]
Make no bones about it. Despite the sluggish economy which every other state had to deal with, this budget is solely on the shoulders of one Governor Martin J. O’Malley. The democratic governor who said that our problems would be solved if the General Assembly raised taxes [...]
For the third time since the spending plan took effect this past July, Governor Martin O’Malley had to make budget cuts. This time to the tune of $362 million. As a result, 112 state jobs were cut and the Upper Shore Community Mental Health Center in Chestertown will be shuttered [...]
Whoever succeeds Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith (D) and the current county council, will be paid more.
The Arbutus Times via explorebaltimorecounty.com reports that the Baltimore County Personnel and Salary Board has recommended that the next county council and county executive receive an eight percent raise.
[...]One of the big stories that has been popping up since I was busy with school is the vote on whether to approve a slots parlor to be built at the Arundel Mills Mall in Hanover.
The last development was the fact that Annapolis Mayor-elect Josh Cohen (D) would resign his [...]
The defense has rested and the final arguments are scheduled to begin tomorrow morning at 9:00a.m.
Only Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon (D) is now facing five charges and not the seven that she initially faced at the start of the trial. The charges that were dropped were related [...]
Don’t call it a hiatus either…well at least not a complete one. Let me explain the inactivity. A large part of it is due to the fact that I am now attending Towson University. The other part is due to Comcast really gumming the works on my [...]
Those new protocols for the death penalty which Governor Martin O’Malley (D) submitted since there his wishes for a death penalty repeal went ignored for the most part. They are put on hold and it’s unclear if they will be addressed before January. More from The Baltimore Sun.
[...]Unfortunately there is more with this school thing than I thought. I am not shutting down, I will continued forward, only in a modified sense.
Although I need to update this to reflect my academic career, I will still kindly remind you that:
You also might notice that there are minor lapses. [...]
Our first "telop" with original logo from 2006.
Today begins our fourth year of operation. Maryland Politics Today started at this moment with a soft launch on September 2006 and a simple message, with a blog hosted on Google’s Blogger. The little blog that could went from [...]
Nancy Forster, the public defender that was fired recently after nearly three decades in the public defender’s office, says that she is looking forward to her day in court.
Meantime, The Gazette says that she might have her day in Annapolis as well. The concern of the moment is the [...]
U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer represents the free state’s 5th district in Congress. You can pretty much expect his town hall coming up Tuesday, September 1 at 7:00p.m from North Point High School in Waldorf to attract some attention, especially from local media. Parking will open at 5:00p.m. and [...]
Gazette Columnist Blair Lee says that the media is applying the same tactics it used against Sarah Palin, against the protesters of health care reform currently being proposed by Congress. He explains the process of “Palinization.”
[...]Governor Martin O’Malley (D), House Speaker Michael Busch (D-Dist. 30) and Senate President Thomas Mike Miller (D-Dist. 27) have agreed on something…they agree to fork over 10 days of pay to show solidarity with the state workers who have no choice but to accept not getting paid the same amount [...]
Well, I hope you are…on twitter. Maryland Politics Today is on twitter, be sure to follow us @mdpolitics. Right now, over 450 people are receiving our tweets.
[...]The reaction from everyone in politics: priceless
Baltimore County Del. Jon Cardin (D-Dist. 11) paid $300 to Baltimore City police Thursday following what is widely being called a misappropriation of city resources (to say the least) to impress his now fiancee.
The Baltimore Sun says that the breakdown of the expenses [...]
With no apologies to Glenn Beck, I would like to start off with what I know. I know that health care reform is sorely needed in these United States of America. This is something that is absolutely clear and the one thing that both sides of the [...]
Lt. Governor Anthony Brown (D) via Twitter:
“America lost a hero today. Sen. Ted Kennedy’s endless efforts to improve health care for all Americans – esp children, will not be forgotten.”
Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon (D):
“As we heard the news of Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s passing it was met with [...]
The city of Baltimore has indeed received it’s first proposal for a slots parlor, but much like the process earlier this year, it does not come without any controversy.
The Baltimore Sun says that the Baltimore City Entertainment Group is moving to build a five-story slots parlor with just over [...]
The leader of the largest state worker’s union says that the furloughs being proposed by Governor Martin O’Malley (D) is more preferable than layoffs, which will probably happen to 200 state workers regardless (more on that in a moment.)Â As far as how many days without pay state emplyees, is [...]
Here a preview of what could possibly come in The Assembly 2010….the election year.
Montgomery Senator Richard Maldaleno (D-Dist. 18)Â is planning on re-introducing an internet sales tax, with the homes of bringing in an estimated $7.5 million to help the state’s budget woes…which is usually in the hundreds of millions.
We have not talked much about the upcoming municipal election taking place this year in Annapolis, but now
There will be more than 20,000 people taking part (possibly) in the Annapolis election, but when it comes to the mayoral race, much of that money is coming from outside [...]
The Baltimore Sun is giving a preview of the strategy that will be implemented by the legal team of Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon (D).
In papers filed with the court, they are asserting that the state will not only have to prove that she knew who the gift cards were [...]
Nancy Forster was a public defender…emphasis on was. That’s because she was relieved of her duties after a 25-year carrer which saw her start as a law clerk and rising to the top of the state public defenders office. The reason, according to her, was for not going along with [...]
And now an addition to Maryland Politics Today’s dishonor roll known and The E-List. This one comes with several disclaimers and several prefaces. For one, last weeks postings were done from Washington, DC and not the new Burns Media Centre in Baltimore, hence why the picture of [...]
For once, I will not give Governor Martin O’Malley (D) the hard time that I have in the past, at least not in the conventional way. As a matter of fact, I am going to take this opportunity to give him some advice. Governor, you have $700 [...]
Governor Martin O’Malley (D) has announced which plans would be submitted to the federal government for money for two mass transit projects in Baltimore and the Capital Region.
The Red Line in Baltimore will have limited tunneling from Western Baltimore County, and end at the Bayview Medical Center. Most of the [...]
Governor Martin O’Malley (D) is out of ideas on how to save money, so he recently turned to us citizens on Maryland. He is taking suggestions through this Monday, August 10.
WJZ-TV (Channel 13) is reporting among the suggestions Annapolis has received include encouraging state employees to telecommute from home [...]
One of my biggest criticisms of President Obama is that he and those around him are beholden to the 90s when President Clinton was in office. This group wants desperately to bring back the good times, to the point they have recently pulled out the playbook which [...]
Governor Martin O’Malley is looking for ideas on how to save money. The Capital says that the governor is asking citizens to submit ideas online on the best ways to save money, without cutting education, releasing inmates early or laying off large groups of state employees.
[...]
The plot is thickening in Baltimore City as Councilwoman Helen Holton is indicted again, nearly a couple of months after the case against her was dropped. This time, she is accused of doing a dos-i-do around campaign finance laws and she is in the same company [...]
Greetings from our new home base in Baltimore. Maryland Politics Today last week moved from Laurel, Prince George’s County, where it has been in operation since our inception in 2006. Not only am I preparing for this blog’s fourth year of operation, but the next election coming in a few [...]
Maryland Politics Today has completed it’s move to Baltimore. Please take note of the updated contact information.
P. Kenneth Burns
P.O. Box 31554
Baltimore, Maryland 21207
Office Number: (410) 705-8159 (this remains the same)
[...]
Maryland Politics Today will officially close today (Thursday, July 16, 2009) at 12noon and will reopen approximately one week from now.
This is in order to facilitate my move to Baltimore. In the meantime, news tips can continue to be emailed to news@marylandpolitics.us. There will also be a [...]
U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes (D-3rd) arrived 10 minutes after a televised town hall involving the howard county council ended.
The Baltimore Sun says that Sarbanes was somewhat confused about the location of the meeting, which he thought was in the temporary county government headquarters in East Columbia [...]
Alternative sentencing programs which were chopped out of the Howard County budget is one step away from being restored. This following a $85,000 state grant being awarded to the county. The Baltimore Sun says that the Howard County Council will take an apporval vote towards the end of this [...]
The Record is reporting that the Perryville Town Commissioners have unanimously given preliminary approval to a slots parlor near the I-95 and Route 222 interchange. The 1,5000 machine pavilion is part of a larger project known as the Chesapeake Lighthouse project. There was no public comment.
[...]Those conflicting sounds you hear are the rounds of boos and the rounds yeas coming from the GOP.
While many elected officials are not happy with the job that state Republican chairman Jim Pelura is doing (they are asking him to resign) it seems that the central committee’s around the state [...]
from mdroads.com
WASHINGTON, DC — Because of recent events in my life, I find my days starting sometimes in the Baltimore area, which we call Central Maryland. By the end of my day, I return to my domicile in Prince George’s County, which [...]
Governor Martin O’Malley on WTOP (103.5FM) said that he thinks that gay marriages performed in other states should be recognized here in Maryland.
O’Malley addressed the issue during his monthly appearance on the station. The governor says that “we probably should respect those rights” when it comes [...]
We also know about someone else’s plans. Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith (D) has ruled out running for comptroller against Peter Franchot (D).
In a statement released yesterday, Smith called it a tough decision after thinking about it for a long time, and he has [...]
At one point following the 2006 election, Senate President Thomas Mike Miller (D-Dist. 27) said that he was going to retire after this term…then he changed his mind. Now there is one person who wants to make sure that Miller follows through with his original intentions to [...]
It’s safe to say that many people are not a fan of Washington, DC sending their young offenders 30 miles outside of the city to Anne Arundel County, especially when it was the Oak Hill Youth Center in Laurel. Oak Hill was known for it’s lacksidasical style [...]
It looks like Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon (D) remains the target of those who recognize Circuit Court Clerk Frank Conaway’s authority over administering the oath.
The Baltimore Sun says that paralegal and drug rehab counselor David Wiggins has filed suit asking that Dixon get’s removed from office, [...]
At this time, I think a state of the blog address is in order. This is more of a state of an endeavor address. First and foremost, let’s get this out of the way, I am not going anywhere. Maryland Politics Today will be around for a [...]
Here is some of the ways that government will effect you:
SWAT Teams will have to report their activities to the state (thanks to the Prince George’s County Police and Sheriff’s Office)….
Colleges must let college students know where the cheap books are (disclaimer: I will be attending Towson this fall)…
More from [...]
Picking up where I can (because I am taking an accelerated summer course,) it’s time to add another name to the dishonor roll, Maryland PT’s E-List…
For those of you outside of Central Maryland, allow me to introduce to you a new nutjob to take note of, that [...]
I have been to Aberdeen and Havre De Grace, but I have never gone to Bel Air. That opportunity came earlier this evening when I spoke to the Republican Club of Harford County. I talked about the state and the direction of the Republican Party, a topic that I did [...]
file photo
Annapolis Mayor Ellen Moyer is hosting a charrette, an intensive effort in other words, to solicit ideas to get Market House re-opened. It will happen this Friday at city hall starting at 9:30a.m.
The city regained control of Market House earlier this month from Market House [...]
Longtime Prince George’s Delegate Pauline Menes (D-Dist. 21) died over the weekend. She was 84.
The Baltimore Sun says that Menes was apart of the Democratic wave of 1966 that brought Ben Cardin and Paul Sarbanes to the House and Steny Hoyer to the state Senate. Cardin is holding the [...]
A dozen women who work with Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold (R) came defended his character Friday. The Baltimore Sun say that the women organized the press conference without Leopold’s prompting and on their own personal time. WBAL-TV (Channel 11) reporter John Sherman gives [...]
As you can tell, the last couple of week’s I have been M.I.A. In case you were wondering why, I would kindly refer you to the information about this site to explain the outages. But to specifically address things, I am close to finishing my junior college [...]
Here is the alleged handwritten note that was sent from Baltimore City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake to Laura Richardson, who was the victim of a tongue lashing from Rawlings-Blake during a recent hearing on the Live Entertainment Bill that is not getting the support that the [...]
The Anne Arundel County Council is holding off voting on any potential changes to the slots proposal near Arundel Mills Mall until Councilman Ed Middlebrooks (R-Dist. 2) has recovered from neck surgery.
The Capital says that the consensus between slots friends, slots foes and the council is that all members [...]
Anne Arundel Senator Janet Greenip (R-Dist. 33) announced that she is retiring to spend more time with her family. The 61-year-old has one year left in her term and had been in office for 15 years., the first eight of those were in the House of Delegates.
More [...]
Baltimore Sun columnist Laura Vozella is reporting that Baltimore City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake apologized to Laura Richardson for the verbal beat down she gave Richardson. Richardson, who is an artist and bar manager, made the faux pas move of uttering the S-word…Stephanie. The mea [...]
Let’s start off with some questions. Why does the Baltimore City Council feel the need to require licensing for entertainment? Why do they feel that licenses for live entertainment will make the city more attractive to entertainment dollars? Why isn’t the city council charging the Baltimore Area [...]
Now an update of the dishonor roll known as Maryland Politics Today’s E-List. If you are keeping score, feel free to add Baltimore City politico number two for the year, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, the Baltimore City Council President…actually, let me give proper attribution before I have my head [...]
Talking with Black Republicans is a moving experience—the more I talk to them, the more I want to move away! The caricature of most Black Republicans is that they are not connected with the Black community and are constantly seeking the approval of the powers that be [...]
ONe of the most talked about big pushes over the past couple of days (and probably adding fuel to the fire over today’s tea parties here in Maryland) is the General Assembly’s last minute approval of a ban on illegal immigrants receiving driver’s licenses…to completely take effect [...]
The 426th session of the Maryland General Assembly is over. It is also the last session on a non-election year, which means that the 2010 regular session is going to filled with love for the constituents from Annapolis as everyone bends over backwards to convince us why [...]
Over on the shore, Salisbury has a new Mayor…
Jim Ireton outright thumped current City Council Vice President Gary Comegys taking 58 percent of the vote. Comegys was a heavy favorite…of the current mayor Barrie Tilghman, who heavily favored him.
No surprises in the race for the council seat [...]
The Prince George’s County Council, in effect, killed off any hope for the D.C. United to build a new stadium in Largo.
The Washington Post said that the council sent a letter to Team Prince George’s in Annapolis expressing concern about a bill which would authorize a study to explore [...]
ARLINGTON, VA. — Today, Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 5:00p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, the good times ended for Oldies 970 WAMD-AM in Aberdeen, Maryland. The format flipped from it’s long-standing Oldies format to a Christian format by way of simulcast of WAVA-FM in Washington, DC thanks to [...]
Howard Del. Frank Turner (D-Dist. 13) has been hospitalized since Friday following complications from kidney stone surgery.
The Columbia Flier says that the announcement came from fellow Team Howard member Del. Guy Guzzone (D-Dist. 13) on the floor of the house with permission of Turner’s family.
Prior to getting elected in [...]
The Baltimore Sun is reporting that the judge in the trial of Mayor Sheila Dixon must provide her defense attorney’s a list of all of the real estate projects and companies involved that can be used against her. Dixon is accused of lying about receiving gifts [...]
I address BMORENEWS.com publisher Doni Glover’s posting of his five point agenda (which is a response to my BurnsNotes column last week).
[...]
Last year, President Barack Obama ran the closest thing to a perfect campaign ever seen in this country. There was no senior level turnover during the campaign. There was no public feuding from various factions within his campaign (unlike Hillary Clinton’s). Even the transition was extraordinarily smooth.
So, [...]
Anne Arundel Senator Ed DeGrange (D-Dist. 32) wants the legal status of Maryland inmates checked to make sure that we are not paying for anyone here illegaly.
The Capital reporting that the proposal from DeGrange would require the state Divisions of Correction and Parole and Probation to [...]
(also posted at kennyburns.com/podcast)
It’s clear that BMORENEWS.com Publisher Doni Glover read my recent BurnsNotes column at Maryland Politics Today taking him to task on what are his solutions to the issues that he feels that are being ignored by Maryland Democrats, while saying that he is “not feeling” [...]
Christine Sarbanes, wife for former U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes and current U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes (D-3rd) died of cancer at her home in the Guilford section of Baltimore over the weekend at the age of 73.
The native of England was an educator who taught at the Gilman School and Goucher [...]
Governor Martin O’Malley (D) will be a guest participant in an online forum being hosted at The Economist’s website. The live online debate, which opened yesterday, asks the question: Is it right to collect people’s DNA sequences?
The governor’s statement will be released this Friday. You can participate in the meantime [...]
Baltimore Sun columnist Laura Vozella is reporting that the Ehrlich Team at Womble Carlyle has been hired to sell slots to the community around the Arundel Mills Mall.
Cordish Companies surprised everyone with their proposal to build a parlor in Hanover. A spokesman for Cordish says that the Governor is [...]
I think that I made it known that myself and BMoreNews.com publisher Doni Glover do not really get along…ok, I have to be honest. I have zippy respect for him after our episode on election day 2008. However, in his first mention in this forum [...]
Michael Steele, the new head of the Republican Party, has been in office less than 50 days and he is already being set up to be the fall guy for the state of the party. On Friday, he will be criticized for the anemic fundraising numbers for [...]
The Senate passed a bill requiring SWAT teams to report their activities to the Attorney General on a monthly basis. The voting was REALLY REALLY close and passed by a margin of 43 to….zero.
The inspiration for this bill is came from the botched police raid conducted with [...]
Believe it or not, I have to give Governor Martin O’Malley some credit. He is trying to do his best to try an spin his defeat into such a positive, bless his heart. Turning on that famous false piety, he told the paper, “I would have preferred [...]
Over the weekend, Governor Martin O’Malley officially changed his tune on the death penalty, by asking the members of the House of Delegates, many of whome were going to try and revive the repeal effort, to support the Senate version of the bill which would put in [...]
It’s time to make another addition to the dishonor roll known as Maryland Politics Today’s E-List.
This time, dishonors go to Barrie Parsons Tilghman, the mayor of Salisbury…or should I say, the outgoing mayor of Salisbury because she is not seeking re-election this year. However, [...]
A former Republican Congressman, the state Attorney General and a freedom fighter walk into a room…and express their support for Gay Marriage.
The former Republican congressman is Wayne Gilchrest who respresented the first congressional district in Maryland until January, having lose the Republican primary to [...]
Now the latest check of the list that tracks those who have been naughty, Maryland Politics Today’s now infamous E-List of dishonorees. This week, it’s the man who has replaced Isaac Smith as the liberal blowhard, Adam Pagnucco, and as you will see in the over the [...]
I can use two words to describe the fiscal health of the state of Maryland…roller coaster.
When Governor Martin O’Malley (D) decided to ram jam through the legislature the highest tax hike in Maryland history, he said that this will fix what is ailing the state’s fiscal woes. [...]
Just when you thought hope and change brought the free state through, there is a new budget shortfall that must be closed for next year. The good news is that the amount is not in the billions. In fact it’s a little over half a billion, $515 million to be [...]
In the mayoral primary on the Republican side, it’s Mayor Bob Bruchey over Ann Holtzman and Jonathan Ryan Burrs. Bruchey, the incumbent, will take on David Gysberts, who was unopposed during the Democratic primary.
In the democratic primary it’s William M. Breichner, Lewis Craig Metzner, Martin E. Brubaker, [...]
Former Harford County Councilwoman and Delegate Joanne S. Parrott (R) was found dead at her home in Fallston.
Ms. Parrott, a native of Ephrata, Pa. served on the county council from 1986-1998 representing District B. She served her last four years on the council as President. From 1998-2006, she represented District [...]
Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon announced a team that will oversee how the stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (now known here as ARR!) She introduced the Baltimore Economic Recovery Team (BERT). The Balimore Sun says that she wants to focus the money towards maintaining and creating [...]
