A major campaign finance reform bill cleared the House of Delegates Thursday, and a Senate version of the bill is now being considered in committee.
The bill would increase campaign contribution limits and stiffen penalties for those who fail to disclose their contributions. It was unanimously passed by the House of Delegates.
Expanding on last year’s Maintenance of Effort requirements mandating counties’ levels of funding for K-12 education, Montgomery County senators are seeking to establish similar requirements for county critical services throughout the state. Representatives of county governments think it’s a bad idea.
A bill to raise Maryland’s minimum wage to $10 an hour died in the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday. It was defeated in an 8-3 vote with several senators explaining that they opposed the legislation in spite of their sympathy for low-wage workers because the timing was not right for a wage increase.
The gas tax to fund transportation projects is on the fast-track for approval despite GOP complaints; state Senate easily passes $36.8 billion operating budget, which now goes to conference committee to hash out differences with House bill; Sen. Jennings introduces bill to stop suspensions of kids who mimic using guns; Republican delegates want more time to ponder Baltimore City schools reconstruction plan; legislation would require everyone in a car to wear a seatbelt; and a bill to allow medical marijuana heads to the House.
Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposed gasoline tax hike that was late arriving for this year’s General Assembly session is now clearly on a fast track for passage. The House of Delegates gave it preliminary approval Wednesday night — just five days after its first hearing. The Democrat-dominated House easily beat back Republican attempts to modify the bill, HB1515, indicating more than enough Democrats are on board to pass it as early as Thursday.
Gov. Martin O’Malley’s budget passed the Senate in a landslide vote, with only five Republicans voting against it and seven Republicans voting in favor along with 35 of their Democratic colleagues.
The passage of a $36.8 billion budget was preceded by an exceptionally short debate, which lasted only an hour and included no Republican proposals to cut state spending in fiscal year 2014.
Facing the prospect of same-day registration for early voters, Republican delegates battled Wednesday to pass amendments intended to safeguard elections from fraud. Republicans feel that voter fraud is a widespread problem across the state and that most efforts to expand voting access further weaken the integrity of the vote.
Some assault weapons may remain legal; state Senate OKs decriminalizing small possession of small amounts of marijuana, although a House panel is unlikely to be thrilled by it; despite wind legislation passage, turbine construction is years away; Senate honors former Gov. Mandel on his 93rd birthday; state GOP plans to shadow Gov. O’Malley on out-of-state trips but one GOP blogger calls it “totally insane;” and Washington Examiner to end local coverage and layoff 87.
The Washington Examiner, the right-leaning tabloid, is not officially dying, but its owner announced Tuesday it is ceasing daily publication and laying off its local staff, including its Maryland reporters at the State House and in Montgomery County. It will retain its name but become a national weekly on politics.
In a rare turn of events, a bill prohibiting double jeopardy prosecution in Maryland was defeated on third reading in the House of Delegates, 89 votes against to 46 in favor.
Sponsored by Del. Curt Anderson, D-Baltimore City, HB 152 sought to prohibit the state prosecution of a defendant who was acquitted in a federal court for the same crime.
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