State leaders talk up Maryland’s solvency in wake of economic crisis; Baltimore City will lose seats in redistricting; Van Hollen named to budget-cutting “supercommittee;” Kipke and Smigiel may challenge House GOP leadership; McDonough thinks judge on petition case should withdraw.
Month: August 2011
Tax flight debate is one-sided, professor says
Professor Roy Meyers, the government budgeting expert at UMBC, says the focus of our ongoing stories and comment strings “on the flight/plight of the millionaires is a bit one-sided.”
State Roundup, August 11, 2011
O’Malley isn’t ruling out tax proposals during special session; same-sex couples are on the rise throughout Maryland, as is the older population; Public Works OKs high-tech lab rent; SHA launches 5-1-1 program; wife of former Gov. Blair Lee dies; and Prince George’s bond rating at risk.
Franchot sounds alarm as state gets close to approaching its debt limit
As the world is still reeling from the partisan gridlock in Washington over raising the federal debt ceiling, Comptroller Peter Franchot sounded the alarm on Wednesday over a project that may force Maryland to have to raise its own debt limit.
The project, a 20-year lease for the Maryland Economic Development Corporation to sell bonds to construct and equip a new state Public Health Laboratory in the Johns Hopkins University Science + Technology Park, will cost the state $15.3 million a year.
Immigration a hot topic at national conference; few Md. legislators attending
Immigration remains a hot topic in state legislatures around the country, but Maryland — as usual — bucks the national trend for laws proposed and enacted that crack down on illegal immigrants.
According to a report on immigration policy presented at the annual meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures in San Antonio, 1,592 bills related to immigrants and refugees were introduced in the 50 states this year. Forty states enacted 151 laws and adopted 95 resolutions.
Probation caseloads taken out of context, division chief says
Here is a response from the Division of Parole and Probation to Tuesday’s article, “Probation officers are stretched too thin.”
State Roundup, August 10, 2011
State officials are optimistic that despite its dependence on the federal government, Maryland will keep its triple-A credit rating; meanwhile, Maryland stocks rebounded after Monday’s drop; Maryland may seek waiver on federal education rules; state delegate sues Harford sheriff over towing enforcement; study urges sparring female crabs to save the population; and commissioner to run for new office of Cecil County executive.
Tax flight a reality for Frederick business owner
Our story last week on a national study, “Tax flight is a myth,” produced more reader comments than any we’ve posted this summer. Some supported the study’s conclusion, but most scoffed. One of the comments came from Frederick County businessman Mark Gaver, for whom fleeing from Maryland taxes is now a personal reality.
Briefs: S&P keeps Maryland’s AAA; Bongino in Discovery documentary
An S&P analyst has told Maryland officials the firm will take “no action” on the state’s current AAA bond rating given just last month, Treasurer Nancy Kopp announced; Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dan Bongino is in Los Angeles this week filming a documentary about the Secret Service, where he spent 12 years, including service as head of the presidential protection detail.
Friday’s redistricting hearing pushed up to accommodate Jewish Sabbath
The Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Committee’s plan to hold public hearings around the state ran into a hitch in the Baltimore metro area. Of the two hearings scheduled there, both conflicted with the Jewish Sabbath, an unexpected problem that has since been resolved by starting Friday’s hearing earlier.
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