Day: April 8, 2014

New law aims at better access to Md. government data as state gets B- for transparency

New law aims at better access to Md. government data as state gets B- for transparency

Some people don’t like how much Maryland spends or how it spends it, but an outside group says the state is getting a little better at reporting on where taxpayer dollars go.

At the same time, a bill passed unanimously and signed by Gov. Martin O’Malley Tuesday is designed to make more of Maryland’s government data more available and searchable to everyone through creation of a new Council on Open Data.

Guest commentary: The legislature forgot mental health again

Guest commentary: The legislature forgot mental health again

In passing legislation to raise Maryland’s minimum wage, the General Assembly included a provision to increase reimbursement for community-based developmental disabilities providers. This action addresses a legitimate need and no one should begrudge it. However, it does nothing for the direct care workers who serve equally vulnerable citizens, those with psychiatric disabilities.

State Roundup, April 8, 2014

The 434th legislative session ends with bills passing to expand kindergarten, loosen marijuana laws, raise the minimum wage and toughen penalties on those who cause an accident while on a cell phone; President Obama praises the state for passing the minimum-wage hike; what had looked like a dead bill to decriminalize marijuana passes as does a bill to fix the state’s medical marijuan program; but a conference committee runs out the clock to add $3.5 million to the $15 million film tax credit to keep “House of Cards” in the state. Now the question is, is it enough?; the whistleblower bill and ground rent reform bill both fail to pass; Lower Shore lawmakers don’t get everything they wanted; while Carroll lawmakers pretty much do; and a bloody altercation in the House offices leads to two arrests.

Extra tax break for ‘House of Cards’ folds in final hour

Extra tax break for ‘House of Cards’ folds in final hour

Six lawmakers, three from each chamber of the Maryland General Assembly, standing in a ring in the House of Delegates lounge at a half hour before midnight, vehemently haggling over a single bill.

They had only 30 minutes before the close of the 2014 session, and they needed to find middle ground on legislation that would grant the popular Netflix drama an additional $3.5 million in tax dollars.

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