Month: March 2010

Senate gives tentative approval to governor’s $32 billion budget

by | Mar 24, 2010 | ,

In a marathon five-hour session Tuesday night, the Maryland Senate gave preliminary approval to Gov. Martin O’Malley’s $32 billion budget, cutting only about $100 million from his spending plan for fiscal 2011.

The senators rejected scores of amendments to make changes to the action taken by its own budget committee last week. They voted down attempts to ban funding of Medicaid abortions and stem cell research, and refused efforts to further cut funding for public schools. They also rejected efforts to boost funding for Chesapeake Bay cleanup or for highway funding to counties. Those are two of the many areas where O’Malley made cuts in order to fund other programs in the face of declining revenues.

Bill would allow child care workers to unionize

by | Mar 24, 2010 |

The House of Delegates on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a bill allowing family child care providers to unionize, despite arguments that it would put some day care operators out of business.

The measure would put into law a 2007 executive order by Gov. Martin O’Malley, which authorized collective bargaining rights for caregivers who worked under the state Child Care Subsidy Program.

State Roundup March 24, 2010

by | Mar 24, 2010 |

Today, Pimlico is off the auction block, the governor's unemployment insurance reform passes, and we could be voting on card games in November. BUDGET: In a marathon five-hour session Tuesday night, the Maryland Senate gave preliminary approval to Gov. Martin...

$800 million slot machine contract delayed by BPW

by | Mar 23, 2010 |

The state put off approval Wednesday of an $800 million contract that would allow officials to begin ordering the 15,000 slot machines that could eventually be installed around Maryland.

The Board of Public Works delayed action on a contract that would authorize nine companies to compete when the state either buys or leases batches of slots, citing concerns about whether there had been proper review of the nearly $60 million the state would likely borrow to get the machines in the next two years.

Unemployment bill to get final vote after GOP changes fail

by | Mar 23, 2010 |

House lawmakers took a step toward passing Gov. Martin O’Malley’s unemployment insurance reform package Monday, despite Republican efforts to scale back coverage and reduce taxes.

Proponents said the bill puts Maryland in line with federal guidelines, making the state eligible for $127 million in federal money. Unemployment Insurance Subcommittee Chair Herman Taylor said that if the body doesn’t act now, the federal government can require the state to enact these guidelines in the future, without the monetary reward.

Finance Committee will review restrictions on auto insurer of last resort

by | Mar 23, 2010 |

Senators are working this week on legislation to clamp down on practices at the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund including high bonuses and spending on marketing and consultants.

Senate Finance Chairman Mac Middleton will convene a workgroup this week to hash out the legislation, backed by a majority of his committee.

Senators want more study of Red, Purple lines

by | Mar 23, 2010 |

Senators are asking the Maryland Transit Administration to go back and look at different options for its three proposed transit lines, two of which are in the early stages of a lengthy quest for federal aid.

When it signed off on Gov. Martin O’Malley’s budget proposal last week, the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee called for the MTA to re-examine reccmmendations to use “light rail” alignments on the proposed Red Line in Baltimore and the Purple Line in the Washington Suburbs.

State Roundup March 23, 2010

by | Mar 23, 2010 |

Health care and how it will affect the state and its residents top today's roundup, while Maryland legislators begin the final three weeks of their session with lots of work left to do. HEALTH CARE: According to this Associated Press story, posted by WTOP, Gov. Martin...

Prince George’s to keep disparity aid, pushes for education fix

by | Mar 22, 2010 | , ,

Prince George’s County is poised to reclaim $18 million in state aid for next year under a Senate budget proposal, but county lawmakers are still pushing for a permanent solution to an issue they say could continue to jeopardize both local and school aid.

The county was slated in Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposed budget to lose that money in the state’s “disparity grant” program, which helps poorer jurisdictions provide services that are roughly equivalent to those in richer counties.

State Roundup March 22, 2010

by | Mar 22, 2010 |

Senate budget cuts hit counties, auto insurance rates might go up, and Maryland might have to move its primary earlier than September. Plus, Maryland moves out of the south. And check out our weekly podcast! SENATE BUDGET: The Senate budget committee has taken the...

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