Month: June 2012

State Roundup, June 29, 2012

Now that the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act, Maryland will be able to move on its plans; but the reaction to the ruling was a mixed bag with most Republicans and conservatives calling it a disaster, most Democrats and progressives seeing hope for an ailing system, doctors splitting over the issue, businesses skeptical and those with illnesses in their families rejoicing; Dr. Peter Beilenson uses the Supremes announcement to reveal he has Parkinson’s; in other news: the flush tax hike to take effect Sunday; the state’s audit chief retires; and Spiro Agnew’s widow dies at 91.

Reaction to Supreme Court decision on health care includes victory dances and calls for repeal

Reaction to Supreme Court decision on health care includes victory dances and calls for repeal

The torrent of comment on the Supreme Court decision to uphold most of the Affordable Care Act fell predictably along party and ideological lines: Democrats and progressives were exulting; Republicans and conservatives were disgusted, except for the ruling that the individual mandate was a tax. It will take several days to digest the full implications, but here are lightly edited versions of over two dozen Maryland reactions.

GOP desperate for ballot signatures, as are Greens

Republicans hoping to overturn Maryland’s gerrymandered congressional districts are sounding desperate to collect enough by the deadline at midnight Saturday.

They say they need to collect 7,000 signatures to be on the safe side to put the redistricting map on the ballot with a total of 55,736 valid signings.

State Roundup, June 28, 2012

Assembly panel seeks strict liability for all dog-owners; Maryland Live! payouts near $5 million; but the lobbyists are the big winners in casino debate; as Del. Afzali continues buzz about Frederick parlor; Virginia and Maryland both have stakes in Supreme Court Obamacare ruling; and Sen. Kittleman to run for Howard County executive.

Kittleman organizing race for Howard County executive

Sen. Allan Kittleman announced Wednesday that he was organizing a run for Howard County executive, encouraged by a poll that shows he could beat the two leading Democrats mentioned for the job.

“My message of fiscal conservatism and individual freedom resonates with the voters of Howard County,” Kittleman told a breakfast meeting of supporters in Ellicott City.

State Roundup, June 27, 2012

O’Malley gives special session on gambling a “50-50” chance; meanwhile labor unions rally for job creation from gambling; gay marriage foes rack up signatures and debt; Supreme Court ruling striking mandatory life sentences for juveniles won’t affect Maryland; state ranks 27th in voter turnout; Dutch steps down from Armed Services Committee and federal wages in St. Mary’s are tops.

Agnes’ historic rainfall taught watershed a concrete lesson

Tropical Storm Agnes, the great and hurtful deluge that struck Chesapeake Bay 40 years ago in June, was the magnitude of storm that only strikes every two or three centuries on average—maybe even a 500-year storm.
But from the Bay’s standpoint it was arguably unique; nothing else like it in the thousands of years the estuary has existed. To this day, significant parts of the Chesapeake ecosystem have not regained their pre-Agnes health, writes longtime environmental reporter Tom Horton.

State Roundup, June 26, 2012

The U.S. Supreme Court won’t hear Maryland redistricting case upholding Gov. O’Malley’s remapping plan, which could still go to referendum; builders group promotes proposed National Harbor-MGM casino with TV commercials; gay marriage opponents’ petition heavy with signatures; small protest against Del. McDonough; judge to rule on whether to drop charges against Arundel County exec; and Montgomery County faces $71 million shortfall.

Gas retailers say ‘swipe fees’ fuel higher prices, siphon their profits

Although Maryland’s retail gas prices were lower than the national average in 2011, consumers are still getting hit at the pump — for paying with plastic rather than cash. A growing practice is to offer cash and credit card prices to combat increasing numbers of credit card users, rising gas prices and high “swipe fees,” transaction fees set by credit card networks for banks.

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