BALTIMORE (Map, News) - BEST

1. Pulling the lever for slots: Even though the legislature was cowardly and kicked this vote to the public, it’s still high time for slots. Unfortunately, we’ll back into this like every decent idea instead of going straight to casinos.

2. Killing the illegal-immigrant tuition bill: Sometimes it’s the things politicians don’t do that matter. Del. Victor Ramirez, D-Prince George’s, wanted illegal immigrants to have the right to pay in-state tuition. That reward for crime failed in 2007, but Ramirez has vowed to keep at it.

3. BRAC tacks: The Base Realignment and Closure has a big potential impact for Maryland. Thousands of new jobs, new residents and new homes will be needed. The state has actually worked hard at making this happen. No, we’re not ready. But it is trying.

4. Speed cameras shuttered: Howard County Democrat Sen. James Robey tried to speed the mad rush toward a police state by pushing a bill to mandate traffic cameras. Amazingly, this fundraising scheme didn’t pass and is still only allowed in the asylum known as Montgomery County. But there’s always 2008.

5. Lock ’em up: Former Democratic state Sen. Thomas Bromwell Sr. went to jail for corruption charges, proving that even in Maryland we can only tolerate so much abuse.

WORST

1. Tax increases: Hike taxes more than $1.4 billion and watch the aftershocks ripple through the business community — especially the newly taxed computer services industry. Gov. Martin O’Malley and his legislative lackeys did more to harm business in one year than most people could do in a lifetime. And they are just getting started.

2. Smoking ban: Sure smoking in public stinks. So does big government. Maryland outlawed one of those, and I bet you can guess which one. In another attack on private business, the state leadership decided to protect us from ourselves.

3. “Living Wage” increase: O’Malley loves spending other people’s money. Maryland became the first state to mandate a living wage for government contractors — meaning no sane company will work with our state government without paying through the nose.

4. Living wage: No group is less deserving of getting a big wage increase than people who pick up trash — especially not pay nearly twice the real minimum wage. I am sure they work hard cleaning Camden Yards, but the state has no business agreeing to such an increase. Giving in was a classic case of pandering for political motive.

5. Global warming: What good is freedom if your own government opposes it? Such is the case with the Maryland Commission on Climate Change, which has made closed-door deals to help control our eco-future and didn’t want to give us more information. New environmental regulations could make Maryland the most restrictive state in the union, but residents and businesses are kept in the dark.