Cynthia Prairie

General Assembly passes $46.6 billion spending plan that includes $7 billion for education including $255 million toward Kirwan recommendations; House advances bill seeking to cap how much the state will pay for prescription drugs for government workers; Gov. Hogan signs into law bill to offer loans to federal workers during shutdowns; Del. Jalisi hits back over claims he created a hostile work environment, calling probe into actions a “smear campaign,” while House is poised to vote on ordering him into anger management, civility lessons; following Del. Mosby’s concern, Arundel County Exec Pittman orders immediate inspection of house at Laurel Race Track; an Anne Arundel teen silently protests for cleaner environment; and lots of reporting on Supreme Court as it hears arguments, asks questions over gerrymandering cases for Maryland, North Carolina.

$46 billion compromise spending plan includes $255 million for Kirwan kickstart; bill moves to the House after Senate OKs abolishing Handgun Permit Review Board; House Republican Caucus urges Gov. Hogan to veto $15 minimum wage bill, which kicks in fully in 2026; aid-in-dying bill heads to Senate with substantial changes; Baltimore delegate asks Arundel lawmakers to yank bill on Laurel race track subsidies until after assessment of its housing; General Assembly Ethics Panel urges reprimand of Del. Jalisi following “ongoing pattern of bullying;” retired investigator files complaint against Mayor Catherine Pugh for not disclosing Healthy Holly income while she was in state Senate; Pugh hospitalized with pneumonia; Gov. Hogan presses Congress to block Trump cuts to Bay funding; and student pleads guilty to wiretapping in streaming at U.S. Rep. Andy Harris’s office.

Maryland Senate unanimously passes $46.6 billion budget with fewer funds for public schools; Senate panel expected to vote on end-of-life bill today, after deep split aired on Thursday; current and former mayors of Baltimore lobby Black Caucus to keep Preakness in Baltimore city; Pimlico owners dispute claim by Mayor Pugh that they had worked out a plan; House panel OKs armed police force for Johns Hopkins but adds restrictions, mandates; Gov. Hogan says National Park Service should turn over B-W Parkway to Maryland since it can’t maintain roadway; after Hogan, Senate President Miller meet with UMMS heads, UMMS CEO placed on paid leave; committee overseeing Mayor Pugh’s inaugural events failed to file financial forms with IRS; during book tour in Annapolis, former N.J. Gov. Christie cautions Hogan on presidential possibilities; late Gov. Hughes eulogized; and U.S. Rep. Cummings concerned about security breaches over Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner emails.

Bill to hike minimum wage heads to Gov. Hogan’s desk as he promises ‘careful review’ of legislation he has said could devastate Maryland economy; senators moved forward on a $46.6 billion budget plan; Speaker Busch promises legislation to overhaul UMMS board of directors as UMMS leaders meet with top officials and promise changes to restore confidence in board; Mayor Pugh returns $100,000 to UMMS, calls inquiry into book deal a ‘witch hunt,’ refuses to show tax documents; Senate also approves bill setting new goals on state use of clean energy; despite its ban on fracking, Maryland has become a gateway to move fracked gas around the world; Green, Libertarian parties lose state recognition; and if state funds come through, construction of Laurel ‘super track’ could begin in fall.

Compromise reported on $15 minimum wage; as the UMMS scandal continues: two more board members resign and UMMS taxes listed payments to Mayor Pugh as ‘grants;’ in Annapolis, House of Delegates OKs new school construction spending and Senate weighs education funding lower than what House approved; as Baltimore County delegation backs Baltimore City over Preakness bill, Pugh sues Pimlico owner to wrestle away venue; Senate passes measure to strip ‘green’ label from trash burning energy producers; state Dem Party leader slams Gov. Hogan over claim he’s a ‘Reagan Republican,’ calling him ‘dog whistle white nationalist;’ Hogan continues to nudge Amazon for at least some of HQ2; and funeral arrangements set for former Gov. Harry Hughes.

Gov. Hogan blasts General Assembly of reckless spending and friendly to violent criminals. But many spending bills with mandates already dead or dying; Mayor Pugh resigns UMMS board, as 8,700 of her children’s books are found in a Baltimore City school warehouse and Senate President Miller says he expects more board resignations, plus an audit of UMMS contracting. UMMS Board member, House Speaker Busch calls scandal worst in Maryland politics as Sen. Ferguson calls on Pugh to return UMMS payments; the crossover push: compromise bill would give a boost to craft brewers; Baltimore City delegations seeks to kill funding for Laurel ‘super track’ to save Preakness at Pimlico; House gives final OK to bill to ban 3-D gun printing, require background checks on long gun purchases; House, Senate approve versions of raising age for tobacco purchasing; more environmentalists using drones to monitor waterways; public financing of campaigns in Baltimore County to go to the voters; and President Trump tries to stop Maryland emoluments lawsuit.

Gov. Hogan, General Assembly leaders call out board of trustees of UMMS for “self-dealing,” calls for an end of the practice; as senator, Mayor Catherine Pugh failed to disclose business relationship with UMMS as money was channeled into her campaign account; Senate panel seeks to cut $1 million for University of Maryland top office in part due to revelation that Chancellor Caret pushed charm bracelets, then retaliated against chief of staff who complained; House set to OK bill to require background checks to purchase long guns; House gives initial OK to lift statute of limitations from filing lawsuits on child sex abuse complaints; state Sen. Smith gets ready for Afghanistan deployment; city lawmakers kill bill to allow public school police to carry guns; and in the latest of our Hogan Prez Watch, the governor gets laughs at St. Patrick’s Day dinner.

Full House of Delegates passes $46.7 billion spending plan while Senate panel constrains funding on Kirwan recommendations; Assembly leaders outraged over UMMS board members – including Mayor Pugh — profiting from relationship with hospital; Gov. Hogan asks Trump administration for more work visas for crab industry; Senate passes $15 minimum wage hike; Senate President Miller says legalized sports betting dead for this year; consumer groups take notice of utility-backed bill; and despite objections from rural lawmakers, House passes pesticide ban.

Former Gov. Harry Hughes, champion of the Chesapeake Bay and leaders of “a very quiet administration,” dies at 92; House of Delegates OKs budget with 4.2% hike, including more funds for Kirwan initiatives; Senate Finance Committee to hear testimony on legislation that would make it illegal for hospital board members to profit from in-house contracts; attempt to kill clean energy bill fails in committee; bill to allow gender-neutral designation on drivers licenses heads to governor’s desk; proposed redistricting map gets first public airing; and U.S. Rep. Cummings loads up on large investigative staff to scrutinize President Trump and his appointees.