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Timothy B. Wheeler writes in a somewhat misleadingly headlined item in today’s Baltimore Sun, Senate OKs credit repeal:

The Senate gave preliminary approval to a bill that would repeal a controversial new law requiring Maryland homeowners to apply for a property tax credit they have been getting automatically until now.

But the ultimate prospects for the repeal measure, which comes up for a final vote next week, are murky. The head of the House committee considering a similar bill says she sees no reason to retreat on a Homestead Tax Credit reform intended to weed out scofflaws.

The Senate voted 41 to 4 to repeal the application requirement, which sailed through the General Assembly unanimously last year.

Del. Sheila E. Hixson, chairwoman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said yesterday that she’s “not inclined to do anything” with a similar Homestead Tax Credit bill now pending in her committee.

“I think people overreacted,” said Hixson, a Montgomery County Democrat. But she noted that with five years to apply before losing the credit, there should be ample to sort things out.

Note that it is not too late to write to your delegates opposing the repeal of the registration requirement; if you do, you might want to copy Del. Hixson. For more information on this, you might look at my posting from yesterday.

Update: The City Police issued a press release on the arrest of the purse snatcher:

Police Arrest Juvenile Responsible for Multiple Robberies in Gaithersburg

Posted 3/14/2008

Gaithersburg Police, with the assistance of Montgomery County Police, arrested a juvenile on March 13, 2008 for a robbery that occurred in the 900 block of Beacon Square Court in Gaithersburg. Detectives linked the juvenile to additional robberies that had occurred over the last several weeks in the Gaithersburg area.

At approximately 6:10 a.m. a woman was robbed as she was walking to her residence in the 900 block of Beacon Square Court. As the woman was walking in the stairwell of her apartment building, a juvenile male approached from behind and grabbed her purse. The woman sustained minor injuries, but did not require medical attention. The suspect fled the scene. The victim called the police and provided a description of her assailant. A police canine team searched the area and recovered some of the victim’s property near the scene. At approximately 7:20 a.m. police officers observed a male nearby who matched the description of the suspect in the area of Quince Orchard Road and Sioux Lane. Police were able to recover additional evidence from the suspect’s residence.
Investigation revealed that the suspect, a 17 year old male from Gaithersburg, was responsible for two similar robberies that occurred in February. The first incident occurred on the morning of February 13, in the 700 block of Quince Orchard Boulevard. The second incident occurred on the morning of February 22, 2008 in the 800 block of Quince Orchard Boulevard. Both incidents were also purse snatchings. The juvenile was charged with three counts of robbery and is currently being held at a juvenile detention facility awaiting a hearing before the Juvenile Court.

From the City’s website:

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Attempted Strong Arm Robbery

On 03/13/08 at 10:32 p.m. there was an attempted strong arm robbery at 433 South Frederick Avenue. The victim was approached by two males who stated “give me the money”. The victim was able to run away and call police. The two suspects were arrested on the scene.

Robbery

On 03/13/08, at approximately 6:10 a.m. police responded to a robbery in the 900 block of Beacon Square Court. The victim advised that the suspect approached her and grabbed her purse. He then fled the area. Police located the suspect a short distance away. Investigation determined that the suspect was responsible for two additional purse snatch robberies that had occurred on Quince Orchard Boulevard in February. The suspect, a 17 year old juvenile male, was charged with three counts of robbery.

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Sunday, March 09, 2008

Burglary

Sometime between 11:00 am on 03/01/08 and 3:47 p.m. on 03/09/08, an unknown suspect(s) entered a residence in the 200 block of Midsummer Drive. Jewelry and a GameCube video gaming system were taken. Investigation to continue.

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Saturday, March 08, 2008

Burglary

On 03/08/08, at 12:42 a.m., a male subject smashed out a rear sliding glass door to a residence in the 500 block of S. Frederick Avenue and entered the residence. The suspect fled the scene just prior to the police arrival without taking anything from the residence. The suspect was located a short distance away and charged accordingly.