Cynthia Prairie, Author at MarylandReporter.com

State Roundup, March 22, 2017

Late breaking: Gov. Hogan numbers are down in new Post poll; Gov. Hogan’s independent redistricting reform bill gets booted by Dems in favor of “neighbor-dependent” bill that relies on other state’s action; Senate OKs weakened version of bail reform; Hogan attempt to limit amount of painkillers doctors can prescribe turned back; Hogan says jurisdictions should aid immigration enforcement; and Hogan, Trump administration weigh in on Rockville teen’s rape by undocumented teens.

Relief for toll road penalties put on hold, Senate chairman says

A Senate bill to address “predatory” toll penalties, technical problems with transponders and poor customer service at E-ZPass will die in the Senate Finance Committee this session, its chairman said Tuesday, along with a watered down House version that delegates supported unanimously on Monday. Instead, Senate Finance Committee Chair Thomas “Mac” Middleton said he is holding off legislation for a year to give the Maryland Transportation Authority time to improve customer service and pursue new contracts with vendors to operate Maryland’s toll system.

Opinion: It’s great to be a gangster in Maryland!

Open borders. Marijuana. Relaxed rules on bail, lifer parole, and criminal sentencing. Anti-police legislators. It’s great to be a gangster in Maryland! Aspirations to make Maryland a sanctuary for undocumented migrants are getting rave reviews from the “maras” and the transnational human trafficking cartels which smuggle men, women, and children into our state.

State Roundup, March 21, 2017

House revises Trust Act, allowing some jurisdictions to continue working with ICE agents; House panel kills Gov. Hogan’s proposal for a nonpartisan redistricting commission; Attorney General Frosh may gain authority to sue price-gouging drug companies; Hogan’s statements on Senate President Miller during anti-fracking announcement disappoints Sen. Zirkin; Democratic congressmen rally to ask Hogan to come out against GOP Obamacare replacement; medical pot dispensary seeks OK for Arundel County site; Baltimore City Council OKs minimum wage hike; and Ed Hale Jr. plans to run for Baltimore County Council.

State Roundup, March 20, 2017

Gov. Hogan surprises just about everyone with announcement that he supports banning fracking in Maryland; Senate passes bill to monitor ways to prevent 400,000 Marylanders from losing health insurance under Trump administration; homeowners behind in water bill payment may get reprieve from home loss; House OKs brewery tap room sales bill; DHMH nominee gets a hearing; House approves ‘yes means yes’ standard for sex education in public schools; Trump win credited with revival of Democratic women’s club in Anne Arundel; and GOP lawmakers also push back over zeroing out of Chesapeake Bay program.

State commission would monitor health care coverage as Congress replaces ACA

The Maryland Senate on Friday adopted the Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Act to monitor congressional plans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act that could cost the state billions to maintain current coverage.

Rascovar: Saving the Preakness and Pimlico’s future

Thanks to revenue from Maryland’s successful slots casinos, the state’s thoroughbred racing industry has seen a re-birth that hints at prosperity for the Free State’s billion-dollar horse industry in future decades. To keep those good times a-rollin’, though, will require a major investment by Annapolis political leaders and by their counterparts in Baltimore City.

State Roundup, March 17, 2017

Black Caucus fails to sway Senate panel on bail reform as it approves only allowing misdemeanor cases released without bond; House passes revised Hogan budget, sends it on to Senate; Senate OKs paid sick leave with a veto-proof margin; Mongtomery senators seek to alter Gov. Hogan’s deal with Marriott International; fracking protesters arrested as Sen. Carter Conway says she’ll move bills out of committee; beer bills sure to foment brouhaha in Annapolis; House OKs bill to curb kiddie school expulsions; Maryland judges joins Hawaii in halting President Trump’s latest travel ban; and news outlets around Maryland begin looking at how Trump budget could affect the state.

Senate approves extra funding for Md. Public TV if Trump cuts aid

Starting next year live C-Span style deliberations of the Maryland House and Senate could be televised and live streamed during the last two weeks of each session, under a provision in a bill to support Maryland Public Television should Congress cut funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting as President Trump has proposed.

State Roundup, March 16, 2017

House of Delegates gives preliminary OK to Gov. Hogan’s $43.5 billion budget after restoring most of Hogan’s spending cuts; lawmakers compromise of transportation bill, delaying transit scoring for two years; Hogan promises veto of paid sick leave bills, calling them jobs killers and campaign tools; bill to lengthen statute of limitations of victims filing suit for child abuse likely to pass; another Hogan nominee withdraws from consideration; judicial panel orders Senate president, House speaker deposed on gerrymandering; and federal judge in Maryland joins Hawaii in blocking President Trump’s latest travel ban.

Cynthia Prairie

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