Cynthia Prairie, Author at MarylandReporter.com

State Roundup, March 15, 2017

Attorney General Frosh blasts industry-backed bail reform bill as undermining court rule to curb money in release; sick leave, transportation scoring compromise bills go before Senate; delegate wants Medicaid coverage for adult dental work; Gov. Hogan criticized for more Facebook editing: posting news stories with doctored headlines; Hogan nominees met with skepticism; Republican Arundel councilman to run for delegate; and Maryland challenge to President Trump travel ban goes before a federal judge.

Columbia at 50 Part 9 ENVIRONMENT: Respecting the Land While Building a City

“To respect the land” was one of the four basic goals for Columbia often repeated by developer James Rouse more than 50 years ago as he pitched his proposal “to build a complete city” on 14,000 acres of farmland, woods and stream valleys. The goals seem almost a contradiction. If he wanted to “respect the land,” why not just leave the fields and forest as they were? Because they were not going to stay that way for long as suburban development spread from Baltimore and Washington along the new interstate highways.

Trump and Clinton voters in Maryland followed 2012 pattern

By William G. Rothstein For MarylandReporter.com The reasons for the election of Donald Trump as president can be better understood by an analysis of voting patterns in Maryland counties. Hillary Clinton received 60% of the total Maryland vote and President Trump 36%....

State Roundup, March 14, 2017

Senate nominations committee rejects Hogan pick for to head planning as administration cries sexism; in joint hearing, DNR chief Belton mum on firing of crab program manager, which occurred week after Hogan admin met with watermen concerned about regulations; Senate panel OKs compromise on transportation scoring; Baltimore County delegation OKs its own version of brewery bill; Maryland gains jobs in January; and University of Maryland to create coordinator to aid undocumented students.

Collins: “Trust Act” means flouting immigration law

By Michael Collins For MarylandReporter.com Many communities in Maryland are openly flouting federal laws regarding immigration by establishing themselves as “sanctuary cities,” and, by doing so; they are creating a troublesome precedent. These “sanctuary cities”...

State Roundup, March 13, 2017

Gov. Hogan’s $43 billion budget gets preliminary approval, but his private school grant program gets cut; Maryland residents are leaving in search of medical marijuana-friendly states; Senate alters paid sick leave requirement, bill set for a final vote this week; House passes fracking ban, sends it over to Senate; House also ousts governor from parole decisions; Sunshine Week draws attention to struggle for opening up government; bill to tax short-term home rentals likely to die; and Attorney General Frosh to sue federal government over latest immigrant travel ban.

Hogan’s budget moves to House floor, growth in private school scholarships cut

The House Appropriations Committee on Friday sent Gov. Larry Hogan’s $43 billion budget to the House floor for votes this week. It made $90 million in trims to general fund spending while adding back $74 million in other areas, including $8.4 million more to fund a 3.5% pay hike for caregivers of the developmentally disabled and $15 million restored for a Prince George’s regional hospital. The longest and most substantial debate occurred over a nearly $5 million cut in Hogan’s proposed funding of the BOOST Program to pay for scholarships of low-income students to private schools, including religious ones.

Sick leave votes in Senate signal trouble for bill

A few Senate Democrats last week raised significant questions about paid sick leave legislation that had finally come to the floor. The votes on the dozen amendments to SB230 that were rejected also showed that the legislation does not have a veto-proof majority, with four or five Democrats joining with Republicans favoring less comprehensive coverage.

Rascovar: Hogan’s Trump trouble

The 2018 election is looking more and more like a national referendum on Donald Trump’s manic, unpredictable presidency. If that become the case, Hogan’s continuation in office could hang by a thread.

State Roundup, March 10, 2017

Gov. Hogan announces $200 million in tech upgrades to coordinate social services agencies, improve outreach; Comptroller Franchot banking on federal hiring freeze to cause shortfall in revenue projections; Maryland retailers again seek tax for online merchants; state’s new puppy mill law hits major snag with federal U.S. Ag Dept. database takedown; lawmakers to hold hearing on Hogan administration firing of long time crab manager; and U.S. Rep. Sarbanes gets an insider’s view as Republicans replace Obamacare.

Cynthia Prairie

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