Month: March 2014

State Roundup, March 31, 2014

Today is the last day of health exchange signup and, while Maryland is ready to scrap its health insurance exchange for technology from Connecticut it is also pushing to sign up more people before midnight; with just seven days to go before the end of the General Assembly session, there are few unresolved issues, but those that remain are thorny; the minimum wage hike is one of those thorny issues, not just in Annapolis but with workers and business owners; Del. Parrott seeks opinions on whether to petition the transgender protection law to referendum; grain alcohol ban passes with a few exemptions; Del. Rudy Cane bids farewell to the House; GOP gubernatorial candidate Lollar is denied public campaign funds; a campaign aide is arrested on child sex abuse charges; candidate Craig tours Easton; Brown launches a fact-checking website; Anne Arundel schools are denied a snow-day waiver; Frosh running against the Cardin name; and Secretary of State to probe Rock Hall Fireworks Committee fund-raising.

State Roundup, March 28, 2014

House trims O’Malley’s budget, but maintains diversion of pension funds as Republicans throw a few punches at taxes, Common Core and their automatic pay raises; the House continues to stew over “House of Cards” threat to vacate state without a tax break, makes an Underwood power move to seize production company property; Senate takes a looser approach than House to jump starting medical marijuana system; after much discussion, House passes bill to extend discrimination protection to transgendered individuals; Gansler picks up endorsement from Hispanic law enforcement group; and Carroll Commissioner defies judge’s order not to invoke Jesus’ name in public prayer.

WWJD? Pray in secret, He says

WWJD? Pray in secret, He says

A federal judge this week told the Carroll County commissioners to stop praying in Jesus’ name at their meetings. One of the commissioners defied the order, and said she’s willing to go to jail over it. They tackled this problem some time ago at the State House, But what would Jesus do?

State Roundup, March 27, 2014

O’Malley, Middleton appear to hammer out compromise over minimum wage hike by lengthening full $10.10 implementation date while raising pay for disabilities caregivers; House gives initial OK to $39 billion budget while efforts by GOP lawmakers to amend budget are rejected; as health insurance signup deadline nears, waiting lines keep growing; efforts to alter alter court ruling on lawyered bail review through legislation faces a dilemma; bill to terminate rapists’ parental rights stalls over “convicted” vs. “accused;” U.S. Sen. Paul addresses growing Maryland’s GOP base; three GOP gubernatorial candidates hold a friendly debate; Dem gubernatorial candidate Mizeur proposes fix to crazy quilt redistricting; Leopold can indeed run while on probation; and Carroll Commissioners told to stop invoking Jesus in prayers.

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