New year, new governor, new outlook
Business leaders are hopeful that more can get done this year on issues such as reducing the cost of health insurance for employers, while keeping regulations and laws with unfunded mandates to a minimum, said Terry F. Neimeyer, the chamber’s board chairman.

Reshaping appellate court could be O’Malley’s lasting legacy
‘‘Decisions by the Maryland Court of Appeals can have a big impact on Maryland’s business climate,” said Ronald W. Wineholt, vice president of government affairs for the Maryland Chamber of Commerce.

Legislators’ anxiety building over budget
‘‘The Senate’s going to be in turmoil,” Miller said from the rostrum on Wednesday. ‘‘We’re going to be in crisis and we’re going to be here for a summer session, I can tell you that right now.”

Governor ready to ditch the PSC
Gov. Martin O’Malley is ready to fire the Public Service Commission. And if he doesn’t, the legislature is ready to dilute the power of its chairman.

Pimlico Special halted, raising stakes on slots
In a move that increases pressure for slots legislation this year, the Maryland Jockey Club announced yesterday that a storied Pimlico event first run 70 years ago will be canceled because of competition from states where expanded gambling subsidizes horse tracks.

Lobbyists ask for delay on emissions bill
“The truth of the matter is, the federal standards are [already] very, very clean,” said William Kress, a lobbyist representing the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, an industry group. “I encourage you to go out and get more information on this.”