New poll numbers are upbeat for O’Malley, same-sex marriage; O’Malley outlines his legislative agenda, including gun crime, child welfare, jobs and greening Maryland; lots of coverage on medical marijuana — it gets an emotional boost from talk-show host Montel Williams who has MS; Frederick senator seeks statewide count of all illegal aliens in schools; legal table games through constitutional amendment or through legislation?; restaurant group against allowing BYO wine; and death penalty revival hits snag as maker of lethal drug halts production.
Month: January 2011
O’Malley more popular than ever, poll says
Gov. Martin O’Malley is more popular among Marylanders than he has ever been, according to a Gonzales Research poll released today.
According to the poll, 58% of Marylanders approve of the job O’Malley is doing – up 10% from the most recent Gonzales poll in October.
Pension system sees 14.3% return on investments
The state’s pension system portfolio has increased in value by more than $4 billion, according to a news release from the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System.
The fund returned 14.3% on investments as of Dec. 13, 2010, the midpoint of the current fiscal year. The earnings raised the system’s assets to $36 billion, $4.2 billion more than at the close of fiscal year 2010 on June 30.
Assembly analysts say O’Malley budget may underfund some areas
The governor’s new budget may be $425 million to $500 million short on cash to fully fund some programs and pension costs, legislative analysts told lawmakers Monday.
In its first swipe at Gov. Martin O’Malley’s $34 billion spending plan, the Legislative Services staff fiscal briefing identified key issues the legislature has to deal with in handling the budget. The analysts noted over $200 million in bond debt that would be sold to replace money taken out of the special funds for Program Open Space, Chesapeake Bay Restoration and the Transportation Trust Fund.
State Roundup, January 24, 2011
More indepth budget coverage: DBED gets more funding, Medicaid cut, critics of budget include state workers who may have to pay more into pensions, and Baltimore County not too unhappy with its share; Jacobs elected minority leader; Laurel to hike purses; Baker opens up about corruption in Prince George’s; and Frederick commissioners pull out of pension system.
Group promotes immigration reform to save the bay, others blame farm pollution
In a new report, the Federation for American Immigration Reform is blaming the overpopulation of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and the resulting environmental destruction, on the influx of immigrants coming into the area. But bay advocates scoffed at the notion that growth and immigration are to blame for the area’s environmental problems.
Summary: The basics of Gov. Martin O’Malley’s $34.2 billion budget
Here is a summary of Gov. Martin O’Malley’s $34.2 billion budget, balanced with no new taxes but continuing transfers special funds from Program Open Space and the Transportation Trust Fund.
Blog: O’Malley wonks eloquent as budget briefing attracts record online viewers
Some people may think that spending more than an hour listening to an elected official speak in great detail about finances, projections and pensions is boring.
More than 1,700 people did not, as they watched Gov. Martin O’Malley’s budget press conference on live streaming video.
State Roundup, January 21, 2011
O’Malley presents his FY 2012 budget today. Policymakers say it has no furloughs, cuts in health care, no education increases, and less aid to counties; Montel Williams coming to Annapolis to stump for medical marijuana; Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Ken Ulman have significant campaign war chests; death penalty hearing scheduled; reaction to U.S. House vote on health care repeal.
Bill seeks to extend racial reporting of traffic stops
Sen. Lisa Gladden wants to renew race-based reporting on Maryland’s traffic stops, but Sen. Nancy Jacobs, a fellow member of the Judicial Proceedings Committee, said it would create more work for law enforcement for no reason.
The bill would continue the reporting statute that went into effect nine years ago, “when race-based traffic stops was a major issue across the state,” Gladden, a Democrat from Baltimore City, told the committee Thursday. The statute expired last year.
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