Len Lazarick sits down with Bryan Sears (Patch.com) and Megan Poinski (MarylandReporter.com) to discuss the bill hearings on employment credit checks and gay marriage. Filmed and produced by Fosie Weston of OnTheHillMedia.com.
Month: February 2011
State Roundup, February 11, 2011
Executions still halted because death penalty drug is no longer made; permanent repeal of death penalty proposed; Dems discuss new taxes; more minorities could help Dems; bills would strengthen gun laws, remove arsenic from chicken feed, and stop employer credit checks.
Hattie turns 83: Momma Harrison keeps on trekking
When Del. Hattie Harrison turns 83 today (Friday), the Baltimore Democrat will still be the oldest member of the legislature, still the longest serving member of the House of Delegates, still the first African-American woman to chair a major committee (Rules and Executive Nominations), the committee she has led for 32 years now.
Credit checks for employment are embarrassing and unnecessary, advocates say
Credit reports could no longer factor in hiring decisions, if a bill proposed by Sen. Catherine Pugh becomes law. The bill would prohibit employers from using credit checks to make hiring decisions, unless the employee would be working for a financial institution or an investment house.
State Roundup, February 10, 2011
The state’s growing and changing demographics will be the talk of the town for a while as Maryland population grows larger and more diverse, although Baltimore city’s declines; gay marriage is still the hottest topic in Annapolis — Sen. Jim Brochin finds the anti-gay testimony “appalling,” and will likely change his stand; slots now proposed for BWI; under pressure, Del. Curt Anderson drops Tea Party affiliation; Pat McDonough says he’ll challenge Dutch in Congress; and Pepco chief to forgo bonus bucks.
Democratic delegate quits Tea Party Caucus under pressure from Baltimore Democrats
Democratic Del. Curt Anderson, chairman of the Baltimore City delegation, resigned from the Tea Party Caucus in the Maryland House of Delegates after his fellow city delegates threatened to remove him as chair. Anderson kept the city delegation chair post he has held for four years after he apologized profusely and got a tongue-lashing from his fellow Democrats, who said they were disappointed and disrespected by his action.
Flexibility urged for maintenance of effort for school funding
A bill providing more reasons to excuse a county from maintaining its public education budget when financial times are difficult received wide support in the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday.
Changing how students are counted for funding gets chilly reception
A bill that would change the way public school funding is calculated, looking at a school district’s average attendance figures instead of a one-time enrollment snapshot, was shot down by members of the House Ways and Means Committee as soon as Del. Anthony O’Donnell finished presenting it.
State Roundup, February 9, 2011
Gay marriage gets a hearing and Mike Miller gives passage a better than even chance; school autonomy, fiscal transparency and voter identification all proposed; a third of senators back 10-cent gas hike; Worcester County moves to kill liquor board; Del. Anderson mulls running for city council pres; Senate Dems seek more input on policy, choosing leadership; another half-ton of fish found in nets; and Pepco gets brunt of ire at utilities hearing.
Health insurance brokers fear loss of business in new benefits exchange program
Independent health insurance brokers and their clients lobbied legislators in Annapolis on Tuesday to try to prevent being put out of a business by a new health benefit exchange program proposed by Gov. Martin O’Malley.
“A new health insurance exchange is going to be a new public bureaucracy,” Gary Livengood, co-chairman of the Health Insurance Buyers & Brokers Coalition of Maryland, told about 100 coalition members.
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