O’Malley, Busch, Miller to meet tomorrow, and Miller says yes to some income tax hikes, nixes tying them to gambling; meanwhile, trade unions urge gambling expansion while Prince George’s exec readies for none; state taps new public schools superintendent from Delaware system; Maryland women continue to see wage gap; Bay’s crab population hits 19-year high while U.S. House hopes to stick curbs on Bay states’ pollution diet; Carl Snowden, busted with minute amount of pot, announces sabbatical to pursue case against Arundel County Exec Leopold; and Del. Vallario suffers minor injuries in crash.
Month: April 2012
Video: Four journalists look ahead to special session
At a forum sponsored by Maryland Business for Responsive Government last week, four journalists wrap up the legislative session and look ahead to the prospects for a special session to resolve the budget mess. The panel included Andy Green of the Baltimore Sun, Kenneth Burns of WBAL and WNAV, Len Lazarick of MarylandReporter.com and John Rydell of Fox 45.
State Roundup, April 20, 2012
O’Malley emails Democrats asking for party unity, decrying Republican cheers for doomsday budget; Maryland’s corporate tax rates are unfavorably compared to D.C.; Leggett says Montgomery County is better off under the “doomsday budget;” University of Maryland College Park students protest potential tuition increases under current budget; blue crab population continues to grow; Franchot wants school year to start after Labor Day.
Longtime political reporter Lou Panos inducted into press Hall of Fame
Lou Panos, who covered 40 sessions of the Maryland General Assembly during his 60 years as a working journalist, was inducted in the Hall of Fame of the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association Thursday night. He spent 20 years at the Associated Press, a reporter and columnist for the Evening Sun and spent five years as press secretary to Gov. Harry Hughes. He retired as political editor of Patuxent Publishing in 2007.
State Roundup, April 19, 2012
Senate Pres Mike Miller denies forcing doomsday budget with gambling bill but House Speaker Busch continues to blame him; MSEA unveils “doomsday clock” in urging O’Malley to call special session; meanwhile, university students to protest cuts this afternoon; O’Malley says a special session is getting closer; and BPW keeps state property tax rate steady while Franchot warns of major state debt problems.
House gambling chairman wants no gaming bills in special session
The chair of the gambling subcommittee in the House of Delegates said Wednesday he hopes there are no gaming bills in any special session to fix the current budget mess — there are not enough votes to pass a 6th casino.
Doomsday clock records budget countdown
With 73 days until the implementation of the “doomsday budget,” a coalition of Marylanders affected by the potential $500 million in cuts unveiled a countdown clock at a news conference Wednesday.
BWI taxicab contract extended despite continuing protests
After more than a year of controversy, the Board of Public Works approved a contract granting a Maryland taxi franchise the continuing exclusive right to operate and manage the cab service at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
State Roundup, April 18, 2012
O’Malley says progress being made toward special session; but fiscal conservatives are fighting it; Chesapeake Bay’s pollution grade drops once again; retired state Sen. Walter Baker dies at 84; Bongino addresses brother’s involvement in Secret Service prostitution scandal; and Wicomico, Frederick counties must face likely cuts from state doomsday budget.
Republicans oppose calling special session, as unions organize to support one
Republican legislators and conservative groups are mounting a campaign against a special session of the legislature to raise taxes, as teachers and public employees advocates are organizing to bring the lawmakers back to Annapolis to do just that.
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