Despite a strong protest, the Board of Public Works unanimously awarded a $598 million contract to provide health services to 26,000 prison inmates over the next five years to Wexford Health Sources of Pittsburgh. As prison officials advised, it rejected the bid by Corizon Inc. of St. Louis, which has been providing two-thirds of the services to the prisoners for the last seven years. [...more]
The 20-year-old Medicaid computer system is getting a $297 million upgrade, the Board of Public Works voted unanimously on Wednesday. [...more]
The Board of Public Works last Wednesday renamed the Jeffrey Building a half-block down from the State House for Fred Wineland, the longest serving secretary of state in Maryland history. But what of the poor Jeffrey for whom the building was named in 1966? It wasn’t until Wednesday that Gov. Harry Hughes learned of the connection to his own career. [...more]
A complex and contentious $2.4 billion contract for state employees’ prescription drugs was awarded to St. Louis-based Express Scripts on Wednesday, over the protests of Comptroller Peter Franchot and the Maryland company holding the old contract. [...more]
Comptroller Peter Franchot criticized the University of Maryland’s College Park Foundation’s use of $7.2 million to rebuild the university president’s palatial on-campus residence, as he cast the sole vote opposing the demolition of the current home at Wednesday’s Board of Public Works meeting. [...more]
Maryland’s poultry industry is worth more than $600 million annually – but produces enough waste to pile up to the top of nearly two football stadiums and create about 40% of the phosphorus that pollutes the Chesapeake Bay, according to a report released Wednesday by Environment Maryland. [...more]
After hearing passionate arguments from companies and state officials, the Board of Public Works decided to wait for a ruling from the Board of Contract Appeals before approving a disputed $120 million five-year contract to provide pharmacy services to prison inmates. [...more]
The $552,000 purchase of 32 Steinway pianos by Bowie State University for its new $79 million performing arts center opening next year is “out of touch” with the current economy, Comptroller Peter Franchot said at the Board of Public Works Wednesday. “Given the challenges that these universities face, I think it’s a luxury at this point that the taxpayer shouldn’t be paying for,” said Franchot, who voted against the purchase. [...more]
Commuters will be getting an easier ride to Washington, D.C. in 54 new multi-level MARC cars and on additional buses from Charles County, all approved by the Board of Public Works on Wednesday. [...more]
It took some Annapolis deal making in order to get the new 3% alcohol tax passed at the tail end of this year’s legislative session, and charges are being levied that politics are being played with where those proceeds are being spent. [...more]
