March 10th, 2017 by WCBC Radio

Maryland fracking opponents are pushing hard for a state law to prohibit the controversial gas-extraction method, but lawmakers seem more likely to extend the existing moratorium on the practice during the final weeks of the legislative session.  On Wednesday, the House gave preliminary approval to the bill with amendments.  A final vote is expected on Friday- however even if it passed the House, the bill may not get to the Senate floor. Joan Carter Conway, chair of the Senate Education Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, told WBAL Radio she won’t bring the bill to the Senate floor unless lawmakers have enough votes to override a possible veto from Governor Hogan.  Perhaps the biggest stumbling block comes in the former of Senate President Mike Miller. The powerful democratic leader has spoken against a ban, and instead supports a bill that would extend the moratorium and put the issue to a vote in the affected counties…