General Assembly sworn in amid smiles

It was all smiles, ovations and good cheer as the 188 members of the Maryland General Assembly took their oaths of office for four-year terms at the State House on Wednesday. They were, after all, the winners of the November election, and partisan politics were largely put aside.

House Speaker Michael Busch, re-elected by acclamation, said he and many others had been intensely partisan in the campaign, but while the delegates can have many titles, “the most important title is that weare Marylanders” and work for the good of the state.