The issues surrounding the latest gambling kerfuffle – whether to expand to a sixth casino and add table games – remain up in the air to the chagrin of politicians and some editorial boards; in the meantime, the knives are out and everyone has someone to blame or something to say; the attempt to bring state congressional redistricting to referendum falters; new rules to cover abortion clinics; Attorney General Gansler now heads national AG group; and Appeals Court to hear Daryl Jones council case.
Month: June 2012
State Roundup, June 22, 2012
A state audit has found that Maryland is owed $1.6 billion in unpaid debt; the fallout from the gambling workgroup failure continues as House Speaker Busch says there is still time for a special session but others say action will all have to wait till next year. Still, Prince George’s casino advocates continue to have hope while O’Malley chastises House leadership for lack of agreement; outsider candidates seeking to run in the Nov. 6 general election have until June 29 to file a declaration of intent; 141,000 Marylanders expected to get $28 million in health care rebates; and Baltimore County Exec Kamenetz continued to do legal work after taking office.
Online petition drives have made referendums easier
Maryland voters in November may face as many as three questions on the ballot to overturn laws passed by the General Assembly. Opponents of the third measure — a gerrymandered congressional district plan — are nearly halfway to reaching the signatures needed with a week left to go.
State Roundup, June 21, 2012
Gambling workgroup fails to reach consensus as three delegates say no to Prince George’s casino and lowered tax rates on operators. Gov. O’Malley unhappy with outcome, but not Comptroller Franchot; Will MGM Resorts pull out of National Harbor casino plan and was the study bolstering that site a conflict of interest?; meanwhile, state study finds that table games could add 1,900 jobs; and Blaine Young nears half-way point in fundraising goal for gubernatorial run.
Analysis: Special session nixed, but gambling fixes can still be made
The chairman of the workgroup on expanding gambling said the vote was 8 to 3 on its final recommendations, but truly the vote was 1 to 1, a deadlocked tie.
The state Senate was in favor and the House of Delegates was opposed, and it had been that way all along. The governor’s five representatives on the workgroup were really brokers and observers.
$500,000 contract to modify Medevac helicopters approved
The Board of Public Works voted Wednesday to grant $500,000 more to medevac helicopter manufacturer AugustaWestland despite prolonged protest from a citizen who insisted the state is getting gipped.
State Roundup, June 20, 2012
State hopes to finalize sale of Rocky Gap complex; Del. Afzali seeks feedback on a casino for Frederick; gambling panel meeting behind closed doors called legal; lawmakers hear concerns over pit bull ruling; Carroll Commissioners drop challenge to legislative redistricting; WBFF robocalls traced to conservative company; and, after conviction, Del. Alston defends actions.
Maryland needs more pension reform, study says
Maryland is in the same pension pickle as three-fifths of the other states, with its management of its long-term retirement obligations causing “serious concern” to the authors of a new study by the Pew Center on the States. Like 43 states facing similar problems, Maryland made substantial changes in its pension system last year. But the Pew Center report says additional reform will be needed, especially since Maryland and other states continue to short-change the recommended annual contributions to the pension system.
Bolton blasts Obama foreign policy at GOP dinner
Former Gov. Bob Ehrlich introduced former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton at a GOP dinner. “I think he’d look really good as Secretary of State in a Romney administration,” Ehrlich told the crowd. Bolton’s speech was a biting critique of President Obama. He said Obama “does not put American national security at the top of his priority list.”
State Roundup, June 19, 2012
The state work group on gambling may have met behind closed doors, but there were enough talkers to give us an idea of what happened as it tries to figure out whether to add a casino to Prince George’s County; Shore lawmakers pounce on reports on state’s job loss and whether the O’Malley administration is really business-friendly; a legislative task force to meet today on pit bulls; O’Malley, Busch to hold beach-side funder for same-sex marriage; and Anne Arundel Council considers tightening laws governing removing elected officials from office.
Recent Comments