Boyd Rutherford

State Roundup, January 23, 2020

Former Del. Glenn pleads guilty to taking bribes as names of business ‘associates’ remain sealed; bills seek to put legalizing sports betting to referendum; bipartisan group of lawmakers push for more business-friendly state before Maryland Chamber; Senate President Ferguson touts digital ad tax; lawmakers urge special elections to fill vacancies in General Assembly; bill would make it a crime to cause severe emotional distress to a disabled adult under one’s care; new Transit Caucus pushes for Washington County commuter train service, among other ideas; Sheriff Jenkins can enter into immigration enforcement agreement, but Frederick County doesn’t have to fund it; and who are the Republicans running for Elijah Cummings’ congressional seat?

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State Roundup, January 22, 2020

Gov. Hogan is asking the federal government for more visas for foreign workers to aid the state’s seafood industry; override of vetoed bill to provide tuition exemption for some undocumented immigrants set for this month; lawmakers says Redskins owner pushing legalized sports betting to keep stadium in Maryland; state prisons severely understaffed; legislators unlikely to give boost to 5G firms to build towers; bill would offer tax credits to long-distance commuters; Hogan budget designated $7.6 million for Carroll County projects; 2022 gubernatorial hopeful Peter Franchot already has $1.6 million in campaign coffers; and Baltimore County OKs gun shop security bill.

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State Roundup, January 21, 2020

State fiscal analysts urge legislative budget committees to do more to address structural deficit before Kirwan reforms, economic downturn; following Dem Party complaints, Hogan returns $63,000 in donations; WalletHub study finds Maryland 9th among states in race relations; in Martin Luther King Day address, Del. Mosby draws link from King to historic speakership of Adrienne Jones; $40,000 of $4.7 million to aid Garrett County’s clean water push; 7th Congressional District Democratic hopeful find room for disagreement; Prince George’s leading Montgomery as D.C. suburban job creator; and the Baltimore County Council will vote on bill to make gun shops, sales more secure.

State Roundup, January 20, 2020

Seven hundred shore-area residents pack PSC hearing on offshore wind proposal; bill would give jurisdictions veto over state-backed toll road projects; Gov. Hogan’s greenhouse gas plan called ‘truly vague;’ with left-leaning General Assembly, lawmakers expect more strict gun control regulations; with Chanel Branch’s nomination to fill Del. Glenn’s seat, General Assembly revives debate over filling vacancies; Maryland has highest rate of incarcerating black men ages 18-24; bill sets stage to keep Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, make Laurel Park year-round racing venue; and Allegany Board of Commissioners president defends board support of Dan’s Mountain wind project.

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State Roundup, January 15, 2020

Gov. Larry Hogan previews his $47.9 billion budget, saying it shows fiscal responsibility while attacking crime problems and education without raising taxes; Sen. Smith offers bill to prevent landlord bias against housing voucher tenants; prosecutors seek to fix quirk in law that allows first-degree murderers, rapists to be eligible for parole earlier than second-degree offenders; carbon tax proposal returns with education funding component; four Montgomery County delegates to seek seats at Democratic National Convention; new poll finds Vignarajah leading Scott for Baltimore City mayor; and probe under way into death of 17-year-old special ed student.

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State Roundup, January 14, 2020

New Prescription Drug Affordability Board learns about ethics of financial disclosure requirements in first meeting; eight Annapolis lawmakers are running for other offices; Gov. Hogan sets aside $9 million in tax credits to help those with student loan debt; formal portraits of former Senate President Mike Miller, late Sen. Verda Welcome hung in Senate chamber; Chanel Branch tapped to replace former Del. Cheryl Glenn; Board of Public Works OKs $18.8 million for Rural Legacy Program grants; NAACP, Prince George’s County sue Census Bureau over lack of preparation; following “Healthy Holly” book scandal, Baltimore City Council pursues ethics reforms; and Baltimore mayor signs off on plastic bag ban.

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State Roundup, January 13, 2020

Medical marijuana brings in $10 million in tax revenues in FY2019; Southern Maryland officials plan to launch push to bring commuter rail to their communities; death with dignity bill could fall short again this year; tax proposed for online venues that host digital ads; legislature, workers have little confidence in handling of harassment, bias claims; two companies received a quarter of state tax abatements in 2019; with Baltimore City, Prince George’s concerned over Kirwan financial hit, lawmakers say they’ll study adjusting formula; federal lawmakers push to hold EPA accountable over Bay cleanup; dems seeking late Rep. Cummings’ seat hold forum; Prince George’s County Exec Alsobrooks slams law banning some fund-raising as biased; and is former Arundel County Exec Leopold running for AA school board?

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State Roundup, January 9, 2020

Board of Public Works approves 2-1 Gov. Hogan’s Capital Beltway, I-270 roads plan with compromises; opening day of 441st General Assembly session launches era of younger, more diverse leadership, talk of bipartisan cooperation; as Adrienne Jones becomes new speaker, late Speaker Michael Busch is remembered; Gov. Hogan dismisses as false Washington Monthly article on business dealings, ethics while Jones, Senate President Ferguson express concern; cash-strapped Prince George’s, Baltimore to seek changes in Kirwan education formula; statewide, police departments have destroyed 270 rape kits in past two years; Maryland Insurance Agency to remain in downtown Baltimore location; gun issues among variety of Frederick lawmakers’ concerns; and Hogan asks Attorney General Frosh to sue Pennsylvania, EPA over Bay watershed cleanup plan.

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State Roundup, January 8, 2020

Comptroller Franchot tells crowd he’s running for governor in 2022; with the General Assembly session opening today, the Statehouse will see new House and Senate leaders: Speaker Adrienne Jones brings a quiet style to her post while incoming Senate President Bill Ferguson seeks stability during the transition; pay attention to the up and comers within the House and Senate; who are the six new members of the House and Senate?; as Gov. Hogan sets his top priorities as crime and corruption, he brushes off questions about his real estate business deals following Washington Monthly report; proposed I-270 monorail between Frederick and Montgomery counties gains traction; and with Amazon blooming in Arlington County, Va., the economic split between it and Montgomery County, Md., grows.

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State Roundup, January 7, 2020

While Gov. Hogan may not like a lot of what President Trump is doing, the way the two real estate executives have handled their private business affairs while in office is strikingly similar; Hogan faced a bumpy, windy road on the way to compromises over his Capital-area highway widening plans; a top Hogan aide is leaving to take government relations job with highway construction firm; on the eve of the General Assembly’s 441st session, Kirwan education reforms expected to remain top issue in Annapolis; with new leadership in the House of Delegates and the Senate comes uncertainty; new prescription drug board kicks off with bipartisanship, hope of reining in costs; Gonzales Poll finds Hogan’s popularity continues; and former U.S. Treasury official joins race for Baltimore mayor.