Governor Martin O’Malley appears to want to protect a state-run monopoly (the lottery and slots) at the expense of private business owners.

The Daily Caller has more:

Billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump wants to get into the online gambling business, and his daughter Ivanka Trump, executive vice president of development and acquisitions for the Trump Organization, suggests it would be a revenue generator for governments.

Critics argue, however, that an online gambling bill sponsored by Texas Republican Rep. Joe Barton would actually divert critical revenue away from the states, and to the federal government.

Barton’s bill would legalize online gambling on a federal level. Trump is said to be lobbying hard for its passage.

O’Malley’s opposition is also noted:

Fearing the deficit reduction super committee would use the Barton bill to tackle the deficit, Maryland Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley sent a letter to the committee’s members. In the letter, O’Malley articulated possible negative effects to his state, should the bill pass.

“In Maryland, for example, federalized poker and casino gambling would put at risk the $519 million annually we generate from our state lottery — our state’s fourth largest source of revenue — and jeopardize the jobs and survival of lottery retailer, many of which are small businesses,” wrote O’Malley.

O’Malley said that states have traditionally regulated the gambling industry, and used proceeds on under-funded educational programs. The bill could draw millions of dollars away from schools, he wrote, and jeopardize the jobs of 500 employees who enjoy “good wages and benefits.”

While Ivanka Trump articulated her belief that the bill would create jobs, O’Malley appears unconvinced that they would be Maryland jobs.

“Many of us in the states already face significant budget deficits. Federalizing internet poker and casino games would serve to widen these deficits — and therefore threaten our nation’s fragile jobs recovery,” wrote O’Malley.

Potomac Flacks reports that:

After three years, Sean Adamec has announced that at the end of May he is stepping down as Press Secretary to Gov. Martin O’Malley (D-MD).

The report indicates that Adamec, a New England native, will become VP of Communications for City Year in Boston.

Matthew Hay Brown of the The Baltimore Sun reports that Rep. Steny Hoyer, House Minority Whip, sent a letter to colleges in his congressional district encouraging them to teach their students about how beneficial the new health care reform law is. Hoyer’s letter indicates that Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius have also sent letters on this same subject.

The Sun report repeats the saw that the law will become more popular as time goes on and people learn more about it (Cue then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s statement about passing the bill so we can find out what’s in it.)

Hoyer’s letter is below: (Continue reading…)

MSP

(BALTIMORE, MD) -As Maryland State Police and Baltimore Police Department homicide detectives
continue their investigation into the death of Phylicia Barnes, the Office of Chief Medical
Examiner has released her body to her family for burial.

The autopsy conducted by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner determined the manner of death to be homicide.
A cause of death was also determined, but police investigators are not releasing that information because it is an
important part of the ongoing investigation.  To release a cause of death at this time could jeopardize the investigation by
revealing information known only to the person or persons responsible for her death.  The cause of death will be made
public at an appropriate time in the future.

The investigation is active and ongoing.  No one has been charged in connection with the death of Phylicia Barnes.
Maryland State Police homicide investigators continue to work out of the Baltimore Police Homicide Unit, alongside
detectives there who have been working the Barnes case since her disappearance on December 28, 2010.
FBI special agents are also continuing to assist this task force with the investigation

Police continue to urge anyone with information regarding the murder of Phylicia Barnes to contact them immediately.
Persons with information may call the TIPS Line that has been established since Barnes disappeared at 1-855-223-0033.  Or, they can call the Maryland State Police duty officer at 410-653-4200.  Calls may be kept confidential

Sen. Klausmeier’s 2011 Session Wrap Up is below.

One of the things she left out: her support of same sex marriage. I’m not making any comment on that matter now other than to say you can bet it will be something rarely mentioned in District 8, even if she supports it in votes in future sessions.

(Continue reading…)