Federal court hears challenge to congressional remapping; state subsidies sought for slots at racetracks, Board of Public Works expected to OK Arundel slots purchase, while Rocky Gap license is delayed; state mulls selling lottery tickets on-line; jobless rate drops; jurisdictions take a close look at new General Assembly remapping; and Arundel Council considers two bills to oust councilman before jail term.
Month: December 2011
April 3 primary in doubt as federal judges hear redistricting arguments
Arguments before a three-judge panel in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt Tuesday morning left state officials and a group of black voters opposed to the new congressional districts watching the clock to find out if April’s primary election can proceed as scheduled.
State Roundup, December 20, 2011
Amid opposition, O’Malley signs PlanMaryland into law; congressional redistricting plan goes to court; state increases borrowing; state legislative redistricting plan draws fire over minority representation, cuts some counties’ delegations, hikes others; Baltimore County Council passes revised ethics laws; and WBAL’s Ron Smith dies.
O’Malley orders implementation of PlanMaryland as state policy
Comments have been heard, changes have been incorporated, and now PlanMaryland is an official state policy. Gov. Martin O’Malley received the final draft of the planning document from Planning Secretary Richard Hall at a State House ceremony Monday morning. O’Malley issued an executive order declaring that the plan will now be recognized as the official state development plan.
Higher state borrowing proposed over Franchot’s objection
A state debt committee voted to increase Maryland’s borrowing by $150 million next year to almost $1.1 billion, and the decision left Comptroller Peter Franchot steaming. “One week we are taking in less money, and the next week we are spending more,” Franchot said in an interview, referring to a write down of estimated revenues Dec. 9. “We are doubling down with a vote on a failed economic model” – that higher taxes, more spending and more debt can reduce unemployment.
State Roundup, December 19, 2011
State legislative redistricting could mean more minority districts in DC suburbs, some Republicans will have to faceoff for a seat and Jacobs, Dwyer and Brochin among legislators who could see big changes; judge dismisses General Services countersuit over State Center; O’Malley’s off-shore wind plan expected to be debated for 2012; bill to ban arsenic from animal feed to make a comeback; Maryland again gets share in Race to the Top education funds; and state courts FBI HQ for Prince George’s.
Analysis: Legislative redistricting has Republicans frowning
The two top Democrats in the General Assembly are pretty happy with the legislative district maps they helped draw, safely slicing the pie to protect their super-majorities. Republicans, on the other hand, are not pasting smiley face stickers on the plan submitted Friday evening, which could force some incumbents to run against each other.
State Roundup, December 16, 2011
Spending committee recommends O’Malley cut structural deficit in half, but Republicans could not require all of the reduction come from cuts; O’Malley touts benefits of Constellation-Exelon merger; redistricting maps expected before Christmas; Del. Tiffany Alston indicted on charges of using taxpayer funds to pay a private employee; PlanMaryland will go to O’Malley next week; O’Malley plans January “tweetup.”
Spending committee recommends halving next year’s deficit; both cuts and tax hikes possible
Legislative leaders Thursday night embraced a “balanced approach” to balancing next year’s state budget, recommending that the governor halve the ongoing billion-dollar deficit using both unspecified spending cuts and possible tax hikes.
Maryland fifth best in tracking where subsidy money goes, but still earns C+
Maryland is one of the best states in requiring quantifiable job creation and employee wage and benefit data for business tax subsidies, the authors of a new study found, but they still gave the state a grade of C+ for its efforts. “That means states have a long way to go to make themselves accountable,” said Philip Mattera, research director for Good Jobs First, a policy group focusing on economic development accountability.
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