Free Republic

The 36% African American Approval of President Donald Trump means things are not the same this year; and they may never be the same again. The news that Rasmussen has found 36% of African Americans support Trump is a political earthquake. This is an increase of 28 points since Election Day and a wound to Democrat hopes for victory in November that is likely to be fatal. The question now has changed from “If this will change races, especially Senate races, to where will it change Senate race?” The numbers point to Maryland as a likely location. According to the...

Last night in Annapolis, Maryland a hearing was conducted on new sweeping gun control proposals for the state via SB 281, the Firearm Safety Act of 2013. State Senator Jamie Raskin (D), an anti-gun advocate, decided to ignore the pro-Second Amendment testimony that others were listening to and instead opted for a game of electronic chess. Just makes you proud doesn’t it citizens of Maryland? The photo seen here was provided courtesy of the Maryland Shooters Facebook page.Many commenters on the page were, shall we say, a bit upset at his lack of performance in the role as State Senator.The...

The Maryland Senate passed a bill Wednesday morning that would make it illegal for a driver or passenger to smoke in a vehicle occupied by a child under 8 years old. Senators voted 27-19 to send the bill to the House of Delegates after a lively debate over the rights of children to be protected from the dangers of second-hand smoke versus the rights of parents to be free from government intrusion in their vehicles. The legislation would allow police officers to pull over drivers observed to be smoking in cars with a child in a booster seat. Children 8...

ANNAPOLIS — The Maryland Senate passed a $35.9 billion budget package Thursday that would increase income-tax rates on nearly all earners and impose a flat income tax on residents making more than $500,000 a year. The spending plan would boost the state’s income-tax brackets by as much as 0.25 percentage point — a move expected to generate more than $500 million next fiscal year. The budget bill passed after senators narrowly approved an amendment Wednesday night that would allow the state to tax “half-millionaires,” who make more than $500,000 annually, at the maximum 5.75 percent rate for every dollar they...

The Maryland Senate on Thursday evening approved a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in the state, sending the issue to the House of Delegates where a similar measure is scheduled for debate beginning Friday. The Civil Marriage Protection Act cleared the Senate on a 25-21 vote after it was amended in recent days to provide additional protections to religious groups that oppose gay marriage to ensure they can’t be legally compelled to perform or take part in ceremonies or to recognize the unions. The bill was passed one day after the Obama administration announced it had withdrawn its legal support for...

Legislation that would legalize same-sex marriages in Maryland appeared headed for passage in the state Senate after winning approval Thursday from a key committee and the backing of a Prince George's senator who had withheld his support. A 7 to 4 vote by the Judicial Proceedings Committee sends the bill to the Senate floor, where a lengthy and emotional debate is expected next week on the most high-profile social issue of the 90-day session. Although the vote in the full Senate is expected to be close, leadership of both parties on Thursday predicted passage. The legislation would then move to...

Fixing the Prince George's County hospitals, a ban on panhandling in Prince George's and money for improvements to the Laurel Armory, the Laurel mill dam ruins and the Laurel Boys and Girls Club are among the top priorities of local lawmakers for the 2008 session of the Maryland General Assembly, which opened Wednesday, Jan. 9. In addition, local lawmakers are pushing legislation that would ban the use of special taxing districts in residential developments, an attempt to avoid the type of controversy that has roiled the upscale Victoria Falls community in Laurel. Developers used such a taxing district to help...

Former Prince George's County executive Wayne K. Curry, backed by five black members of the Prince George's County Council, today endorsed Republican Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele's campaign for the U.S. Senate, at a 12:45 p.m. press conference. Mr. Curry, a Democrat who became the first black Prince George's county executive in 1994, and served two terms, is influential in Prince George's, the state's second-largest county, with about 846,000 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Council members David Harrington, Camille Exum, Samuel H. Dean, Marilynn M. Bland and Tony Knotts joined Mr. Curry in backing Mr. Steele, who is...

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio - Mike Tyson says he may include bouts with women on his next tour, and mentioned professional boxer Ann Wolfe, who is 21-1 with 15 knockouts. "She's such a prominent, dominant woman in the boxing field," Tyson said. When asked if he was joking about fighting women, Tyson said, "I'm very serious." Russ Young, a promoter for Wolfe, said such a bout will never happen. "That's the first we've heard of it," Young said. "No state would sanction that. She would be outweighed by 60 to 70 pounds. Ann would never entertain the idea." The 40-year-old former heavyweight...