Thursday, March 26, 2009

Senate committee approves re-regulation

The Senate Finance Committee approved the re-regulation bill after several work sesssions. The Senate will take up the legislation later this week.

Read more.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Study trucks impact on Bay bridge

Senator Pipkin is interested in studying the impact large trucks have on the Bay Bridge.

Read more.

Medevac Hearing

More than 150 people crowded into a committee room yesterday for the hearing to discuss three bills to restructure Medevac.

Senator Pipkin and Senator Astle have proposed a company take over Medevac.

Read more on how the hearing went.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Panel supports state police control over Medevac

Senator Pipkin and Senator Astle's proposal would require the governor to create a cabinet level department which would oversee emergency services and consider allowing a private company to run the transport fleet.

However, the appointed panel supports the state police control.

Read more.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Senate gives final approval

After about an hour of floor debate, the Senate in a 34-13 vote, approved the death penalty bill with restrictions placed on it. Read more.

Re-regulation

Senate Finance Committee heard two re-regulation bills on Tuesday which could have a shot because of bipartisan support and the Governor's backing.

Read.

Death Penalty Update

Although it is short of what Gov. Martin O'Malley hoped for, Senators advanced a plan to limit the state's capital punishment statute.

If they become law, the new requirements would mean that the death penalty could be applied only in murder cases in which there is DNA evidence, a video recording of the defendant committing the crime, or a voluntary, videotaped confession.

Read more.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Death penalty debate ahead

The Senate voted 25-22 to consider a death penalty repeal bill.

This paved the way for a debate later today.