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| In Annapolis, pomp and ceremony as another year of lawmaking begins | In Annapolis, pomp and ceremony as another year of lawmaking begins |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The 2016 Maryland legislative session opened at noon Wednesday with a call for bipartisanship from Republican Gov. Larry Hogan (R), even as he and the Democrats who control the legislature have continued to spar over education funding and other issues. | The 2016 Maryland legislative session opened at noon Wednesday with a call for bipartisanship from Republican Gov. Larry Hogan (R), even as he and the Democrats who control the legislature have continued to spar over education funding and other issues. |
| Hogan received a standing ovation as he entered into the Senate chamber with Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford. He spoke for less then a minute before heading to the House of Delegates to offer similar — and similarly brief — greetings. | Hogan received a standing ovation as he entered into the Senate chamber with Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford. He spoke for less then a minute before heading to the House of Delegates to offer similar — and similarly brief — greetings. |
| The governor told the senators that he is “always available” to lawmakers regardless of party, adding “I don’t care which side of the aisle the ideas come from.” | The governor told the senators that he is “always available” to lawmakers regardless of party, adding “I don’t care which side of the aisle the ideas come from.” |
| [What to expect during the 2016 legislative session] | [What to expect during the 2016 legislative session] |
| Democrats, meanwhile, complained that Hogan’s recently unveiled initiatives to provide aid to Baltimore and tax relief to poor families, senior citizens and some businesses are based on previous proposals made by their party. | Democrats, meanwhile, complained that Hogan’s recently unveiled initiatives to provide aid to Baltimore and tax relief to poor families, senior citizens and some businesses are based on previous proposals made by their party. |
| “These proposals are old Democratic ideas rehashed,” Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller (D-Calvert) said in a radio broadcast Wednesday morning that is an annual first-day-of-session ritual. | “These proposals are old Democratic ideas rehashed,” Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller (D-Calvert) said in a radio broadcast Wednesday morning that is an annual first-day-of-session ritual. |
| “The problem is communication. It’s the same problem between husbands and wives: you want to stay married, you got to be able to communicate.” | “The problem is communication. It’s the same problem between husbands and wives: you want to stay married, you got to be able to communicate.” |
| The opening of the 90-day session is filled with formalities. Votes were taken to decide to give Miller and House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) another year in those roles, which each of them has held for many years. | |
| The Democratic and Republican caucuses held short meetings. Several bills were be introduced, and the calendar was set for both houses. Spouses and children joined lawmakers in the chambers and at receptions. | The Democratic and Republican caucuses held short meetings. Several bills were be introduced, and the calendar was set for both houses. Spouses and children joined lawmakers in the chambers and at receptions. |
| [Democrats say party must not flounder in Hogan’s second year] | [Democrats say party must not flounder in Hogan’s second year] |
| As expected, both the House and Senate voted to delay until next week any action on overturning Hogan’s vetoes from last year, on bills last year that dealt with taxes for online hotel-booking sites, voting rights for former inmates who are still on parole or probation, drug paraphernalia and criminal-asset seizures. | As expected, both the House and Senate voted to delay until next week any action on overturning Hogan’s vetoes from last year, on bills last year that dealt with taxes for online hotel-booking sites, voting rights for former inmates who are still on parole or probation, drug paraphernalia and criminal-asset seizures. |
| Miller and Busch both have said their chambers will vote on those overrides next week. They expect to have cobbled together enough votes to put the bills into law. | Miller and Busch both have said their chambers will vote on those overrides next week. They expect to have cobbled together enough votes to put the bills into law. |
| Asked about the voting rights legislation in a radio interview, Hogan said he disagreed with allowing felons to vote after their release from prison if they are still on parole or serving probation. | Asked about the voting rights legislation in a radio interview, Hogan said he disagreed with allowing felons to vote after their release from prison if they are still on parole or serving probation. |
| “If the legislature wants to override the veto, they certainly have that right,” the governor said on the “Annapolis Summit” broadcast on WEAA (88.9 FM), a first-day-of -session tradition. “They have the super-majority, they have the ability to do that. Politically, and legally, I just don’t think it’s a good idea.” | “If the legislature wants to override the veto, they certainly have that right,” the governor said on the “Annapolis Summit” broadcast on WEAA (88.9 FM), a first-day-of -session tradition. “They have the super-majority, they have the ability to do that. Politically, and legally, I just don’t think it’s a good idea.” |
| Hogan used his appearance on the show to defend his proposal to relax spending mandates, which Democrats are blasting it as a veiled attempt to cut planned spending increases for education and other basics. | Hogan used his appearance on the show to defend his proposal to relax spending mandates, which Democrats are blasting it as a veiled attempt to cut planned spending increases for education and other basics. |
| [Seven things to watch during the session] | [Seven things to watch during the session] |
| “We had dramatic increases in education despite rhetoric to the contrary,” Hogan said during the interview, in a packed hotel conference room just steps from the State House. “We are not rolling things back, we’re moving them forward.” | “We had dramatic increases in education despite rhetoric to the contrary,” Hogan said during the interview, in a packed hotel conference room just steps from the State House. “We are not rolling things back, we’re moving them forward.” |
| He said details of the proposals will come later. | He said details of the proposals will come later. |
| The governor cautioned against legislation that would require Maryland business to provide paid sick leave if it would hurt small businesses. He promised increased attention and funding to combat the state’s heroin epidemic and said lawmakers would be misguided in overriding his veto of a bill to allow felons to vote while they are still on probation or parole. | The governor cautioned against legislation that would require Maryland business to provide paid sick leave if it would hurt small businesses. He promised increased attention and funding to combat the state’s heroin epidemic and said lawmakers would be misguided in overriding his veto of a bill to allow felons to vote while they are still on probation or parole. |
| Two legislators from Montgomery County used opening day to push for “Noah’s Law,” a bill named in memory of county police officer Noah Leotta that would require ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers. Leotta, who worked for the department’s traffic division, was killed by a repeat drunk driver last month while on duty. | Two legislators from Montgomery County used opening day to push for “Noah’s Law,” a bill named in memory of county police officer Noah Leotta that would require ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers. Leotta, who worked for the department’s traffic division, was killed by a repeat drunk driver last month while on duty. |
| [Overwhelming grief and unspoken anger] | [Overwhelming grief and unspoken anger] |
| Del. Ben Kramer (D-Montgomery) called the bill “nothing more than common sense . . . this is one piece of legislation we can say for a fact can save lives.” | Del. Ben Kramer (D-Montgomery) called the bill “nothing more than common sense . . . this is one piece of legislation we can say for a fact can save lives.” |
| He and Sen. Jamie Raskin (D-Montgomery) have introduced similar bills for the last several years, but those have not moved out of the House Judiciary Committee, led by Del. Joseph Vallario (D-Prince George’s). They are hoping that Leotta’s recent death will lead to passage this year. | He and Sen. Jamie Raskin (D-Montgomery) have introduced similar bills for the last several years, but those have not moved out of the House Judiciary Committee, led by Del. Joseph Vallario (D-Prince George’s). They are hoping that Leotta’s recent death will lead to passage this year. |
| During the session, lawmakers also are expected to debate whether Maryland should join a handful of other jurisdictions in the country that allow assisted suicide. They will consider bills to address poverty and other problems in Baltimore, reform the criminal justice system, improve the business climate, increase college affordability, boost retirement security and expand early voting. | During the session, lawmakers also are expected to debate whether Maryland should join a handful of other jurisdictions in the country that allow assisted suicide. They will consider bills to address poverty and other problems in Baltimore, reform the criminal justice system, improve the business climate, increase college affordability, boost retirement security and expand early voting. |
| Josh Hicks contributed to this report. | Josh Hicks contributed to this report. |
| Read more Maryland politics: | Read more Maryland politics: |
| Faith leaders add their voices to push for paid sick leave | Faith leaders add their voices to push for paid sick leave |
| Major changes proposed in police policies | Major changes proposed in police policies |
| Hogan proposes modest tax relief for seniors, the poor | Hogan proposes modest tax relief for seniors, the poor |