Gov. O’Malley’s wind energy plan heads to his desk for his signature; committee tinkers with gas tax, making hikes more gradual; early voting passes out of committee, heads to the full House; General Assembly leaders back $1 billion, seven-year Baltimore City school reconstruction plan; O’Malley bill could make education funding distribution more equitable; Senate panel kills anti-gender ID discrimination bill; Senate OKs Lockheed Martin hotel tax exemption; former Arundel County exec Leopold won’t get Cheerios, OJ or floss in jail; and Post paywall is on its way.
Month: March 2013
O’Malley gas tax lockbox is easy pickings
The lockbox for the Transportation Trust Fund provided in Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposed gas tax hike is about as secure as the metal cash box at a PTA bake sale. The House Ways & Means Committee approved a gas tax increase with some amendments to O’Malley’s plan on Monday, but apparently without changing the lockbox provision.
State Roundup, March 18, 2013
Death penalty repeal passes the House of Delegates, now heads to governor’s desk for his signature; the House also passes Gov. O’Malley’s budget, largely along party lines; Gov. O’Malley’s gun control bill to go to the House later this week; protestors, supporters swarm Annapolis over proposed gas tax hike; bill to decriminalize pot heads to the state Senate; multi-state panel to address keeping polls open during a crisis; O’Malley trip to Israel back on; and veteran State House reporter Lou Davis gets lox of love.
Hearing on gas taxes draws hundreds to Annapolis
The House Ways and Means Committee heard four hours of testimony about HB1515, a bill that would boost gas taxes and vehicle registration fees in order to raise revenue for Maryland’s transportation network. If passed, the legislation would provide billions of dollars to maintain Maryland roads, bridges, and public transit and would fund the construction of new rail lines and highways.
Gas tax hike would make Maryland rate fifth highest in country
Dozens of people gathered outside the State House Friday to protest a proposed hike on the gas tax. Wielding paper stop signs that said “Stop the Gas Tax,” the group rallied around their spokesman, Nick Loffer, a grassroots director for Americans for Prosperity. “We’re talking about a 60% gas tax hike which, if enacted, will give us the fifth highest gas tax in the country,” said Loffer.
The ides of March: From the humorous to the deadly
Friday in Annapolis went from the humorous to the deadly serious, from naming a breakfast plate for a veteran journalist to abolishing the death penalty.
State Roundup, March 15, 2013
As the death penalty repeal campaign continues, former death row inmate Kirk Bloodsworth is Exhibit A around Annapolis; state House extends law allowing DNA collection of some arrestees even as the Supreme Court considers killing it; legislation would allow shielding of some misdemeanor offenses; two dozen testify against smart meters; Senate and House remain on opposite sides of the fence over dog bite legislation; tuition bills could help some attain college dream; former state GOP chief Mooney confirms move to West Virginia; former Arundel exec Leopold gets jail time; and longtime Bay and watermen’s advocate dies.
Senate budgeters cut pension contribution by $100 million
The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee voted Thursday to cut $100 million in contributions to the State Retirement and Pension System for fiscal 2014. The committee tied the unexpected move to passage of legislation that will eventually ensure the state puts aside enough money for employee and teachers pensions. But the cut also adds a year to achieving long-term funding goals for those pensions.
Democratic committee chair surprised when Republicans oppose pro-business bill
A Democratic committee chairman in House debate Thursday said that he felt like he was in the “twilight zone” because he was arguing on behalf of business, and his Republican opponent was voicing concern for state consumers.
Del. Dereck Davis, D-Prince George’s County, was stunned by the resistance he faced from Anne Arundel County Republican Herbert McMillan during the debate over a bill which halves the number of free 411 calls that Verizon’s customers can make from their residential land-line phones.
State Roundup, March 14, 2013
Some House lawmakers hope to reshape death penalty repeal bill to include exceptions for “worst of the worst,” but 18 amendments were turned back as vote likely to occur Friday; Republicans reiterate that referendum to repeal death penalty repeal is unlikely; House passes Gov. O’Malley’s $37 billion budget with only minor changes and rejecting an attempt to restore $1.1 billion in highway user revenues; bill would require elected officials to pay back legal fees incurred in defense of their wrongdoing; the Montgomery County Council is chafing over two Annapolis bills that its says will harm the county’s budget; spay-neuter plan could help reduce homeless animal population; Carl Snowden gets 10 days in jail; and former Arundel Exec Leopold to be sentenced today.
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