State fires lead health exchange contract Noridian, replaces it with Columbia firm; Del. Ivey blasts Lt. Gov. Brown’s MIA status during health committee hearings in gubernatorial campaign-lawmaking mashup; as lawmakers prepare to hear proposed marijuana legislation today, police chiefs to fight legalization; Towson attorney emerges as GOP candidate for attorney general; state Senate candidate Julius Henson blames Senate Prez Miller on probation-violation warning, but Miller says he knows nothing; GOP gubernatorial candidate Lollar names his running mate; and federal military downsizing will impact Maryland contractors.
Month: February 2014
Legislative staff recommends cutting raises, benefits of state employees just ratified in contract
State employees last Wednesday ratified a new one-year contract that provided 2% raises, regular step increases, health premium holidays and other financial benefits they had been denied in the lean years of the Great Recession.
Two days later, the legislature’s budget staff recommended rolling back about half the negotiated increases, moves that took the largest state union by surprise, calling them “alarming” and “disturbing.”
State Roundup, February 24, 2014
State meets downsized goal for health care signups; more Marylanders support legalizing marijuana than oppose it; pair of bills would strengthen domestic violence laws; bill to seek reparations from firms that participated in Holocaust returns to State House; proposed law would cut time banks can seek deficiency judgment following a foreclosure; “House of Cards” tax credit causing agitation in Annapolis; dog bite bill back on track; candidate filing deadline is tomorrow; Del. Eckardt seeks to oust Sen. Colburn; former Miller, Busch aide seeks District 34 A seat; Hogan on the hustings; political analysts say Gansler needs a message; and polls and more on O’Malley and a potential run for president.
Off to the Races: Decision time for candidates; running mates needed; incumbent senators challenged; Hogan appeals to Korean-Americans
The filing deadline for state and county offices is tomorrow (Tuesday) at 9 p.m., and candidates are trying to make up their minds to jump in or jump out.
Senators object to bill that would force most legislators to commute
Sen. Allan Kittleman’s colleagues on a Senate committee were clearly unhappy with his legislation that would force most of them to commute and no longer reimburse their lodging in Annapolis during the session.
Kittleman, R-Howard and Carroll, has again introduced legislation that would restrict the housing stipend legislators are permitted during session – a maximum $101 per day – to those living more than 50 miles from Annapolis.
Rascovar: Is O’Malley’s presidential bid for real?
Yes, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley is running for president, but his target isn’t 2016. It’s 2024.
O’Malley’s evolving presidential bid amounts to preliminary maneuvering aimed at securing his future in the next Democratic administration.
State Roundup, February 21, 2014
House of Delegates passes bill to allow higher speed limit; O’Malley backs bill to help workers access retirement accounts; rain tax repeal shot down in Senate committee; some products targeted for bans; Gansler says his AG office will look into recouping health exchange money from contractors; some lawmakers push back against limits on hotel stipend; Del. Hough to challenge Sen. Brinkley; Del. Dwyer files for re-election; and major cyber attack at University of Maryland.
Knight Foundation makes $50K grant to MarylandReporter.com; Ethics and Excellence Journalism Foundation renews support
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has awarded a $50,000 grant to MarylandReporter.com over the next two years to help grow and diversify its revenue and audience.
In addition, the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation has given its second grant to MarylandReporter.com, providing $25,000 over the next year to “support expanded accountability journalism on Maryland government.”
Bill would provide more information on Md. government contracts
Greater transparency in Maryland government contracting is the goal of legislation that would provide more information about each contract on a state website.
The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee is considering a bill that would pour $1.4 million into the growth of the website that allows the public to view payments made to state contractors.
State Roundup, February 20, 2014
Some court administrators seek to toss ruling that poor defendants have right to lawyers during first bail hearing; head of highway task force urges against restoring local funding cuts; state’s top health official blasts lead contractor on health exchange for “misrepresentation;” despite health web site troubles, most Marylanders support Obamacare; state Senate rescinds 1862 vote to protect slavery; Julius Henson’s candidacy for state Senate may violate his probation – and he doesn’t care; state Sen. Colburn’s divorce file opened 10 days early; Gansler clarifies corporate tax plan, saying it would be phased in over nine years; Brown seeks to boost minority-owned busineses; Joanna Conti drops out of Arundel exec race; and former Sun columnist Gregory Kane dies.
Recent Comments