Lots of coverage on the House Appropriations Committee’s changes to O’Malley’s budget proposal: some cuts rolled back, retirees prescription plan lowered, some vehicle fees hiked; Pipken suggests Maryland’s DC burbs pay for Purple Line; extending millionaire’s tax proposed; MVA to computerize motor-voter registration; cameras proposed for school buses — to catch passing drivers; state may curb job applicant credit checks; opinions abound — wind farms, local courtesy and gay marriage; and why road tolls will hike over the next few years;
Day: March 21, 2011
Video: House Majority Leader Kumar Barve says tax hikes unlikely, except on alcohol
House Majority Leader Kumar Barve says tax increases are unlikely, except alcohol taxes, which haven’t been raised since the days of Presidents Eisenhower and Nixon. A member of the House Ways and Means Committee, and its revenues subcommittee, Barve says all the other tax hikes proposed, including the gasoline tax, are not likely to pass.
Committee approves big pensions changes, higher contribution rates, longer service requirements and COLA caps
The protest by more than 10,000 state teachers and employees last Monday was not enough to keep two dozen members of the House Appropriations Committee from approving major changes to their pensions Friday. The committee voted to increase contributions for all employees, reduce the amount of benefits for new hires, raise retirement ages and length of service, cap cost-of-living adjustments, and add a pension fee for local governments.
House budget creates new prescription plan for retirees, doubles some vehicle fees, and protects transportation fund
In nine hours of voting Friday the House Appropriations Committee approved the $34 billion fiscal 2012 budget, making major changes in retirement plans, creating a new prescription plan for retirees, and increasing some vehicle-related fees. It also added a requirement that funds can only be borrowed from the transportation trust fund in the future with a five-year repayment plan, and altered how hospital assessments are calculated.
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