Archbishop Lori, Gov. O’Malley and other death penalty opponents testify to repeal state law while some prosecutors urge retaining it; House of Delegates locks doors for photo shoot, keeps them locked while conducting public business; state Senate rejects Sen. Pipkin’s bill on mega-hearings and streaming Senate committee hearings; cost of teacher tax credit bill causes concern; U.S. Rep. Harris appointed to Appropriations Committee; former Arundel exec Leopold denied new trial; and Arundel Council members barred from seeking his seat.
Month: February 2013
Md. lawmakers asked to take final steps to implement Obamacare
The O’Malley administration is asking state legislators to take the final steps to implement the Affordable Care Act in Maryland, and pass another bill to pave the way for expanded health insurance under Obamacare. The proposed Maryland Health Progress Act of 2013 would dedicate funding to the state health exchange and make other changes required by federal law before the Jan. 1, 2014 deadline .
State Roundup, February 14, 2013
House lawmakers meet with lobbyists, experts on gun issue in private; meanwhile one NRA spokesman says reasonable licensing fees would be acceptable; and recent UM murder-suicide adds to the gun debate; murder victim’s mother lobbies for repeal of the death penalty as Gov. O’Malley gets ready to testify for the repeal; O’Malley testifies for off-shore wind proposal while some continue to find plan economically unsteady; bill would up tax incentives to attract filmmakers to the state; two state delegates send some sticky note love to their new district for Valentine’s Day; and Lt. Gov. Brown hires successful aide to Delaney campaign.
Proposal to webcast Senate committee voting shot down
Maryland citizens will have to wait at least another year to get remote access to one of the most important but least accessible parts of the legislative process: committee voting sessions in which bills are amended, killed or sent to the floor.
The Senate Rules Committee on Wednesday voted down a proposed amendment to Senate rules by Sen. Allan Kittleman, R-Howard, that would have required Senate committees to webcast the crucial voting sessions, as the committee hearings already are.
Older drivers involved in fewer crashes, MVA report says
Elderly drivers are sometimes viewed as hazards on the road due to poor eyesight and diminished reflexes, but a preliminary report by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration found that drivers between the ages of 75 and 89 actually had the lowest crash rate of all other age groups.
State Roundup, February 13, 2013
As Democrats toss around transportation funding ideas, Senate President Miller sees progress in talks but counties push back against imposing their own gas tax hike; fTreasure Kopp warns Senate panel over federal sequester’s effects on state credit rating, backs a bill to phase out faulty pension funding system; armers ride tractors into Annapolis to protest last year’s septic bill, saying it devalues their properties; changes in Gov. O’Malley’s gun control bill expected; bill would extend bicycle helmet law to all riders, no matter the age; and House GOP may seek leadership change.
State treasurer says Md. bonds face possible Moody’s downgrade
As fiscal brinkmanship continues in Congress, state treasurer Nancy Kopp warned a Maryland Senate committee that a federal sequester and the resulting cuts to the state budget could result in a downgrade of Maryland’s triple-A credit rating from Moody’s Analytics, one of America’s three major credit rating agencies.
Bills would phase out reduced funding for pensions
For most of the last decade, Maryland has been putting less money into the pension system for state employees and public school teachers than actuaries said it should, as much as $2.4 billion less.
For years, the trustees of the pension system have been urging the legislature to phase out the “corridor” method of funding. This year the General Assembly’s Joint Pension Committee has agreed to go along, and approved a plan to phase it out over the next 10 years.
Bills seek to slow the revolving door of public officials into lobbying
In hopes of slowing the political revolving door out of government to influence government as a lobbyist, House Minority Leader O’Donnell testified Tuesday for a package of four ethics measures he’s introduced.
The package seeks to renew and in some cases tighten up the ethics code, particularly as it relates to former government officials becoming lobbyists to advocate for issues they worked on and where their influence remains.
State Roundup, February 12, 2013
Bill to allow surcharge for gas pipeline improvements could pass this week; Sen. Pipkin seeks changes to accommodate mega-hearings such as last week’s on gun control; Attorney General Gansler sets May 11 for gun turn-in day; Shore delegation concerned that state regulations are impeding farm businesses; Baltimore City mayor offers “bold reforms” to regain sure financial footing; and Dan Bongino won’t seek Arundel county exec seat, MDGOP chairmanship.
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