Maryland state government is going to be moving to cloud-based e-mail, after a divided Board of Public Works approved a contract for up to $56 million with California-based SADA Systems on Wednesday. The state currently has 57 different e-mail systems leading to duplication, inefficiency and extra costs.
Month: September 2011
Me and Walter Cronkite: ‘What Do You Know About… ?’
So I said to Walter Cronkite in the downstairs bar at the fabled Greenbrier resort in the mountains of West Virginia: “What do you know about community journalism?” My encounter with the famous newsman, and the interview that followed months later.
State Roundup, September 21, 2011
Housing Department move a boon for New Carrollton, a bust for Anne Arundel County; McDonough accuses O’Malley of “hate speech;” Exelon urged to freeze Maryland rate hikes as a sweetener to merger; two Western Maryland wind projects considered; Washington County fire association blasted for hoarding funds; Montgomery curbs take-home vehicle use; Conaway seeks prosecution of race winner; and future of Jewish Times in court’s hands.
AG Gansler bags a fundraising lead in governor’s race
Attorney General Doug Gansler expects to raise upwards of $750,000 at a single fundraiser Thursday in Bethesda, where Friends of Doug Gansler will host his 14th annual fundraiser. There will be no shortage of big name donors contributing to the potential 2014 Democratic candidate for governor, according to the hundreds of names on the host committee in the invitation.
Human Resources head promises better enforcement and information
State Human Resources Secretary Theodore Dallas told legislators that Improving enforcement, collections and information quality are top priorities during a hearing on three scathing reports about divisions he oversees.
State Roundup, September 20, 2011
Cordish hopes to lure wealthy Chinese to invest in his casino; O’Malley asks state to nix Constellation sale to Exelon; Garagiola pushes for gas tax for transportation needs; Del. Mizeur wants Dems to reject tar sands pipeline; what’s your GPI?; Western Maryland counties consider forming coalition to lobby in Annapolis; Frederick County could add hours to the 35-hour workweek; while Baltimore County is seeking to cut workforce by 200; it’s primary day for Leslie Johnson’s Prince George’s seat; and an undecided and interesting council race in Baltimore.
Transportation advocates see 2012 as “last chance” for raising revenues
Advocates for increased funding for Maryland transportation projects say next year’s General Assembly session is “the last chance” to get any new revenues passed. “This is probably our last opportunity in a four-year term,” said Don Fry, president of the Greater Baltimore Committee and a former legislator. “In the third and fourth year of the legislative term we don’t see that type of initiative,” as lawmakers focus on their re-election.
State Roundup, September 19, 2011
Maryland loses more jobs, O’Malley not discouraged; state Housing Dept. to move to New Carrollton Metro station; state to get federal disaster aid, but Anne Arundel left out of the mix; tightened vehicular manslaughter law set to take effect; a colorful State House dome draws fans; former Del. McKee released from prison; Prince George’s puts on a business-friendly face; and Wicomico begins charter review work with committee appointments.
Republican official shares Democrats’ redistricting plan
A Republican official passed along a version of a congressional redistricting map that he was told was one of the top options for Democratic leaders. The map and the accompanying chart of population and voting statistics suggest that this is a credible option for how Democratic officials would redraw the 6th Congressional District to make Republican Rep. Roscoe Bartlett vulnerable in 2012.
Dome blog barely scratched the colorful surface
My blog a month ago on the paint job on the State House dome barely scratched the surface of the colorful controversy.
I reported then that while painters had discovered the original color of parts of the dome were yellow (called “straw” in one of the original 18th century designs), the state was going to repaint it white as it had been for at least 100 years.
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