Month: January 2011

State Roundup, January 31, 2011

Budget analysts say it’s either a large tax bump or large service cuts; Repubicans, including former gov candidate Brian Murphy, find budget spending control lacking; Rosecroft sold to Penn National, which eyes slots; but some lawmakers say slots not in cards for Rosecroft; lots of other gaming coverage as well; presidential primary date not set yet; gay marriage hearing set for Feb. 8; 2 bills on wine shipments introduced; Frederick GOP lawmakers won’t support local bond bills; O’Malley blasts Pepco over slow snow response; Prince George’s ethics panel met Saturday; doubling fines for graffiti proposed; Balitmore city council districting plan to be rolled out; and millions of federal funding in redevelopment project leaves city, state lawmakers speechless.

Non-union state workers must pay bargaining units in newly negotiated contracts

State workers have until Monday to vote on the second union contract that enforces the controversial “fair share” law, allowing state government unions to require non-union members to pay them a service fee. The law passed in 2009.

The new memorandum of understanding between the state government and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees includes the service fee, as does the recently negotiated contract with the State Law Enforcement Officers Labor Alliance.

State Roundup, January 28, 2011

Ground broken on — and another challenge filed against — Arundel Mills casino; how Maryland responded to Wednesday’s snowstorm; several new analyses of O’Malley’s 2012 budget; race tracks may continue to get slots revenues; bad drivers may pay steep fines.

Maryland faces $34M shortfall in short-term welfare program

If Congress does not approve additional funds for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, the Maryland Department of Human Resources will be scrambling to offset a $34 million shortfall.

The TANF program, funded by the federal government and administered here by Human Resources, help families with short-term financial needs. Every year, Maryland receives a base grant of $229 million, according to interim Human Resources Secretary Ted Dallas. The program has also received money from the federal stimulus program, as well as TANF contingency funds, set aside for states with large caseload increases.

House committee hears proposal to double fees for birth, death certificates

Legislative budget analysts are recommending the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene double the price of birth and death certificates from $12 to $24 a piece as a way to raise $7.9 million for fiscal 2012.

Maryland currently charges $12 for each copy of a vital record, including birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage certificates. In 2003, the last time the Department of Legislative Services analyzed vital record fees, Maryland ranked among the lowest and have remained comparatively low, according to the budget report that analyst Simon Powell presented to the Health and Human Resources Appropriations subcommittee.

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