A House bill refining guidelines for public-private partnerships (P3s) was signed into law by Gov. Martin O’Malley Tuesday after finally passing the House and Senate in the closing days of the session. The idea is to leverage private financing and construction contracting to build infrastructure projects the state wants more efficiently without adding to bond debt.
Month: April 2013
Early birds are first to file for 2014; Nathan-Pulliam to challenge Jones-Rodwell for Senate
Tuesday was the first day candidates could file for the 2014 election, and 11 candidates took the plunge, including four Montgomery County legislators filing for reelection. Del. Shirley Nathan-Pulliam, a 20-year veteran Democrat currently representing Baltimore County District 10, filed to run for state Senate in the redrawn District 44 currently represented by Sen. Verna Jones-Rodwell.
State Roundup, April 9, 2013
The Maryland General Assembly’s 90-day session ends in an orderly fashion with passage of campaign finance reform, cell phone use restrictions and a study on medical marijuana; all agree – some unhappily – that the session was a victory for a a more liberal agenda in Maryland; a last minute attempt by Republicans to filibuster a “weak” Transportation Trust Fund lockbox bill fails; environmentalists see the session as a mixed bag for their causes; a compromise on pit bull legislation dies without action, disappointing animal advocates; Lockheed Martin gets its hotel tax exemption; and John LaFerla says he’ll file to run for U.S. Rep. Harris’ seat.
Transportation fund ‘lockbox’ sent to voters
Voters next year will be asked to approve a constitutional amendment creating a “lockbox” to prevent raids on the Transportation Trust Fund for other purposes, but Republican opponents said the measure was a sham that would provide little protection. The measure provides that money can only be taken out of the Transportation Trust Fund after a three-fifths vote of both houses of the Maryland General Assembly once the governor has declared a state of “fiscal emergency.”
‘Rain tax’ on property owners for Bay cleanup survives attempt to delay it
An attempt to delay implementation of stormwater clean-up fees that will cost Maryland property owners millions come July failed in the legislature’s final day. The delay died after it was attached to a bill exempting nonprofits and government agencies from the fees called “the rain tax” by critics.
Lynette’s Law supporters disappointed therapy abuse will not become crime
After a difficult few months of fighting to pass Lynette’s Law — a bill to prohibit sexual abuse by therapists — Heather Lynette Sinclair and bill co-sponsors got less than half of what they wanted.
State Roundup, April 8, 2013
In just a few hours, the Maryland General Assembly’s legislative session will recess. There are still bills that must be acted on. In the meantime, despite the repeal of the death penalty, five inmates remain on death row; the 2013 session was completely different from last year’s contentious session not only for Gov. O’Malley, who was able to push through his agenda, but for legislators, who found they were able to work together in relative calm. Still, conservative legislators are unhappy with a lot of the legislation; O’Malley was able to get gun control through despite loud opposition, and it could end up being petitioned to referendum; and disagreements continue within the Maryland GOP.
Internal fight over state GOP chair reflects factional rifts
The beleaguered Maryland Republican Party, which has won only one statewide election in decades, is having yet another bitter internal contest over who will chair the state central committee. Three candidates representing various factions in the party are running: interim chairman Diana Waterman, attorney Greg Kline, and businessman Collins Bailey.
$37 billion budget passes easily, including cut in pension funding
A $36.9 billion state budget for fiscal 2014 easily passed the House of Delegates and state Senate Friday, with less Republican opposition than last year. The budget raises overall spending 3% and is $500 million less than Gov. Martin O’Malley originally proposed, largely by setting aside funds in case federal budget cuts impact state revenues.
Legislature extends Md. driver’s licenses for immigrants here illegally
A bill granting immigrants in the country illegally with access to a legal driver’s license passed in the House of Delegates Friday after heated debate. The bill has already been approved in the Senate and awaits the governor’s signature.
The legislation extends a program allowing Marylanders to obtain a driver’s license without proving they are in the country legally or have a valid Social Security number – bringing issues of immigration, terrorism and compassion to the debate.
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