While some jurisdictions — and Republicans — embrace the emerging medical marijuana industry, others seek to put the brakes on it; data collection on police interactions needs to go deeper, advocates say; Timothy Hyman, state’s longest serving employee who never took a sick day, to retire; under Warren Deschenaux, Legislative Services to be reorganized; former Del. Walter Dean dies; U.S. Rep. Van Hollen warns of medical service, research delays if government shuts down; the Rev. Bryant pulls out of race for U.S. Rep. Cummings’ seat; bricklayers union back Edwards for Senate; and GOP-lead Montgomery elections board shifts away from two voter-heavy early voting sites.
Month: September 2015
State school board to release new PARCC exam results in late fall with lower scores expected
Maryland’s State Board of Education on Tuesday confirmed plans to release PARCC assessment scores in late October and early December. The PARCC, which stands for the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, was administered for the first time in 11 states and the District of Columbia in the spring as a part of the Common Core Standards Initiative, a widespread but controversial effort to measure education in the United States.
State Roundup, September 22, 2015
Board of Revenue Estimates sees increased revenue, but Gov. Hogan, Comptroller Franchot remain cautious; Warren Deschenaux to take over Department of Legislative Services with retirement of Karl Aro; Maryland, Virginia lawmakers urge Republicans to keep federal government open as Montgomery County prepares for possibility; Arundel County Council takes up medical marijuana issue; citizens express frustration over “disenfranchisement” from gerrymandering; Maryland refugee programs prepare to aid in Syrian crisis; U.S. Rep. Cummings questions pharmaceutical firm over overnight price spike; and Maryland Live! gets OK to expand.
Deschenaux to replace Aro as head of legislature’s nonpartisan staff
The Department of Legislative Services, the legislature’s nonpartisan staff, will get new leadership and a reorganization next year as Executive Director Karl Aro retires, and Warren Deschenaux, director of policy analysis, takes his place. The move was announced late Monday afternoon by Senate President Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael Busch. With a staff of 384 and a budget of almost $48 million, Legislative Services performs most of the functions for the Maryland General Assembly
State Roundup, September 21, 2015
Following Charlestown killings, Maryland jurisdictions continue discussions over appropriateness of monuments to slave-holding south; state officials try to calm residents over effect of Purple Line cuts on environment, service; Maryland seeks postponement in prisoner’s Supreme Court case; Del. Proctor eulogized; former TU President Loeschke memorialized; Gov. Hogan proposes tearing down blocks of empty housing in Baltimore, creating green spaces; most District 8 congressional candidates back Iran deal; Van Hollen praises Trump stand; and SRB’s campaign fund likely to go to allies.
Del. Jim Proctor remembered as warm and gentle education advocate
Saturday’s funeral for Del. Jim Proctor, 79, a 25-year veteran of the House of Delegates who was vice chair of the Appropriations Committee, was marked with the same good humor and easy smiles that marked Proctor’s service in the legislature.
Rascovar: Hogan vs. Kamenetz, a preview of 2018?
In a bizarre twist, we might witness a preview of the 2018 gubernatorial campaign at the next Board of Public Works meeting. Then again, a threatened confrontation between Republican Gov. Larry Hogan Jr. and Democratic Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz may never occur. Even more bizarre is the issue that could bring these potential foes into a debate arena: air-conditioning.
State Roundup, September 18, 2015
Sen. Zirkin, some Republicans push back against Arundel Exec Schuh’s anti-medical marijuana stand; Hancock hears from grower on medical pot facility proposal; architect complains about unnecessary work delays caused by ‘secret’ state panel; Gov. Hogan, Mayor Rawlings-Blake meet to discuss Baltimore City issues; ethics panel won’t look into O’Malley furniture buy; citing poor fund-raising, Valerie Ervin ends race for Congress; more Eastern Shore residents objecting to growth of chicken farms; and Dan Rodricks to quit hosting WYPR’s Midday show.
Hogan heads back to hospital, but no rest for staff
Gov. Larry Hogan heads back to the hospital Friday for his fifth round of chemotherapy to treat stage 3 lymphatic cancer, but there’s no respite for his staff during his five-day stays. Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford said the steroids Hogan takes as part of his treatment keep him “up all night so he’s focused and concentrating,” shooting off emails and text messages to his staff throughout the night. “We have this long list of things to do” come the morning, and then “the last one he’s firing off is asking why we haven’t responded to the previous messages.”
State Roundup, September 17, 2015
Gov. Hogan, Comptroller Franchot go after Kamenetz over lack of air conditioning at Baltimore County Public Schools, but Kamenetz hits back with charts, challenge for more state funding; Board of Public Works also questions state contract with tech company that paid former Gov. O’Malley for speaking engagements; Sen. Mikulski, Virginia lawmakers ask Obama administration help in ensuring truth in seafood labeling; Baltimore County plans to use police body cameras and after years of work, Red Line cancellation leaves community members hanging.
Recent Comments