In a nearly 11-hour session, the House of Delegates fended off proposals to level fund the fiscal 2013 budget, block shifting teacher pension costs, and eliminate an income tax hike. Scores of amendments were attempted on the controversial bills, but none passed. All of the bills will go for final votes Friday or Saturday exactly as they came from their committees. [...more]
A bill to require state lawmakers and their cabinet level appointees to post financial disclosures statements online cleared the Senate for final passage Thursday, after spirited debate on Wednesday on amendments to apply the same requirement to county, municipal and school board officials. [...more]
Gov. Martin O’Malley announced on March 9 that his administration was moving to make Maryland a more business-friendly state by repealing, revising and streamlining more than 131 regulations. But the Maryland Chamber of Commerce said the regulations had little impact on business, compared to legislation that has been proposed. [...more]
Lawmakers consider cutting penalties for pot possession; bill that would mandate collection of abortion data protested as unhelpful; O'Malley's planned purchase of historic Annapolis post office called a bad investment; O'Malley's redistricting efforts seen as a boost to presidential aspirations; Republican 8th Congressional District candidates discuss issues; lots of 6th District coverage: Delaney on WYPR, Pooran donates to campaign, Brinkley and Afzali release ads; Romney's Arbutus visit draws lots of attention; Arundel police chief acknowledges “possible violation” in information gathering, seeks help in Leopold probe; and judge upholds Arundel council's removal of councilman. [...more]
Tripling the annual amount of the state’s tax credit for film production will create thousands of jobs and add tens of millions to the local economy, supporters of a bill to increase the tax credit to $22.5 million told a Senate committee Wednesday. [...more]
Dr. Milad Pooran, the candidate who views himself as the real progressive in the 6th Congressional District Democratic primary, is putting $200,000 of his own money into his campaign, with only 11 days remaining till the primary. Favorable data from a poll conducted for the Pooran campaign by Public Policy Polling last week triggered the decision, said Pooran Campaign Manager Walter Ludwig. [...more]
The House of Delegates narrowly passed a bill on Wednesday that would exclude individuals from making child support payments while serving a prison sentence. Under the legislation, child support payments would be suspended for anyone incarcerated for more than 18 consecutive months and continuing 60 days after their release to avoid the accrual of an unmanageable lump sum. [...more]
A vote on a proposed constitutional amendment to raise the mandatory retirement age of judges from 70 to 72 has been put on hold until Friday, when floor amendments will be offered. [...more]
