POLL: Biggest Issue at Maryland General Assembly

Legislators will soon begin the process of deciding on many state issues as the 2012 Maryland General Assembly begins on Wednesday. 

The people who are in play to represent Aberdeen are (R-District 34A), (D-District 34A) and (R-District 34).

Some of the high-profiled legislation for discussion is below.

Same-sex marriage: The legislature may decide to amend the state constitution to The outcome could also be to ban or delay the state from recognizing same-sex marriages performed outside of Maryland. Forty-one states, including Maryland, prohibit or do not recognize same-sex marriage.

In-state tuition for immigrants (DREAM Act): gathered more than 156,000 signatures to send this bill to the November 2012 ballot for voters to decide. The legislation creates a path for undocumented immigrant students to attend a community college.

Medical marijuana: the legislature is expected to choose between an investigational use model or a traditional program model. Under the investigational use model, marijuana would be available through academic medical research institutions. The traditional model requires an independent commission to register academic centers, growers and dispensers. Both models derive fees that would support the program.

Aid to transportation: The commission on transportation funding has recommended raising $870 million in new annual revenues for transportation by increasing the motor fuel tax, vehicle registration fees and other transportation revenues. Funding would most likely be used to create jobs for highway and other infrastructure projects. will also be considered.

Taxes: Legislators may decide to  Harford is the only county in Maryland that does not have a hotel tax, a fee tacked on every time a customer pays for lodging. If the state delegation passes enabling legislation in Annapolis, then municipalities in Harford County can levy a tax.

Participate in the poll to tell us the most important issue for you at the 2012 Maryland General Assembly.