Cynthia Prairie, Author at MarylandReporter.com

Senate postpones vote on renewable energy veto

A Senate vote to increase the state’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard and override Gov. Larry Hogan’s veto from the 2016 session was postponed Thursday for a week. The bill would mandate that 25% of all electricity consumption in the state come from renewable energy sources by the year 2020. The measure ups the renewable energy goal from the current 20% by 2022. Senate Minority Whip Stephen Hershey said the vote scheduled this Thursday came earlier than expected and was anticipated to take place only after the House took up the RPS veto next week.

State Roundup, January 26, 2017

Board of Public Works chides Howard school officials over mold remediation, release $10 million to Baltimore City, Baltimore County schools for air conditioning; Gov. Hogan pushes for hike in the number of charter schools, easier path to open them; as fight looms over bail bond reforms, industry puts money where the votes are; advocates return again to seek death with dignity law; Judge Barbera says she’ll willing to cut $6.5 million for overall budget; former Hoyer aide tapped to fill former delegate’s seat; showdowns with White House expected over Bay funds, sanctuary cities; and Mayor Pugh says she is unconcerned over donation charges against two staffers.

Third try for the right to die legislation

After two years of dead ends, Maryland lawmakers have again introduced measures to give terminally ill Marylanders the right to die using doctor prescribed medications. The nation’s oldest end-of-life advocacy group, Compassion & Choices, brought nearly 200 supporters to Annapolis on Wednesday to urge lawmakers to pass the “Richard E. Israel and Roger ‘Pip’ Moyer End of Life Options Act.”

State Roundup, January 25, 2017

Gov. Hogan, Lt. Gov. Rutherford announce plans to attack heroin, opioid addiction, death crisis including limiting doctors’ prescription amounts; $1 billion in expected tax revenue disappears with weak stock market; death of ACA could mean $1.4 billion in lost revenue for the state; school supers to descend on Annapolis today for annual begathon; Senate Pres Miller apologizes for disclosure over Del. Morhaim probe; Prince George’s Exec Baker leans toward run for governor; and Howard County has marathon debate over sanctuary status

Lawmakers target escalating drug prices

Maryland House and Senate Democrats are moving to stamp out prescription drug price gouging and force drug makers to reveal how their drugs are priced. On Tuesday, policy analysts, advocates and an assistant attorney general testified before the Senate Finance Committee that prescription drug prices will remain unaffordable without more competition in the generic drug market and better transparency in drug pricing, where prices have increased by as much as 1000% in a one-year period.

State Roundup, January 24, 2017

State budget guru Deschenaux says Hogan budget proposal delays inevitable hard choices, discusses possible problems from new Trump administration; President Trump freezes new federal hiring, which could mean trouble for Maryland; Gov. Hogan says he won’t rebuild Baltimore City Detention Center; Hogan seeks support of veto of “sunshine tax,” but fact-checker finds no tax; Del. Clippinger tells of personal illness in urging paid sick leave passage; two hospital proposal in two counties could mean a fight; State Center developer to sue; Montgomery Exec Leggett vetoes $15 minimum wage; and Montgomery golf club decides to invite ex-Pres Obama.

Legislature’s fiscal chief presses for spending reform

Maryland’s legislative leaders are getting pressure to fix their approach to spending not just from Republican Gov. Larry Hogan but from their own top budget expert, Warren Deschenaux. In his analysis of the $43.5 billion state budget Hogan sent to the legislature last week, Deschenaux told legislators Monday, “This is another kick-the-can-down-the-road budget,” putting off hard choices about future spending.

State Roundup, January 23, 2017

Paid sick leave rallies — for and against — start this week as Gov. Hogan plans to introduce his own version; Maryland’s schools get a big infusion of casino funds — $1.7 billion in seven years. So why are they still in trouble?; Atty. Gen. Frosh says cash bail system likely unconstitutional; Hogan ups funding for Metro by $42 million; ethics panel hires lawyer in Del. Morhaim probe; Cardin among senators re-introducing Equal Rights Amendment; being in the minority a new experience for Jamie Raskin; and business joins Sen. Astle in running for Annapolis mayor.

Rascovar: Hogan politicizes ethics reforms

On Thursday, Hogan posed in front of the State House steps so he could rail against the “culture of corruption” in Maryland’s legislature – though evidence of this “culture” is limited to a handful of examples. Then he marched up the steps in photo-op fashion to present his ethics reform bills to House and Senate officials. Columnist Barry Rascovar writes that Hogan’s bombastic rhetoric on legislative corruption also was understandable. It’s all about positioning Hogan in his reelection bid as the white knight doing battle with evil Democrats in the General Assembly.

State Roundup, January 20, 2017

Eyeing scandals that have recently facing state lawmakers, Gov. Hogan proposes ethics package to rein in corruption, influence peddling; with Hogan’s blessing, Comptroller Franchot seeks more investigative, enforcement power; Baltimore lawmakers vow to work to reverse Hogan budget cuts to city; implementation of Justice Reinvestment Act could be rocky; state fiscal office says state could lose billions with ACA repeal, 260,000 Marylanders would lose insurance; Hogan again pushes redistricting reform; ex-aide to Del. Vogt talks about viral fake news, his future; Dems planning race for Baltimore County exec jockey for money; and Sen. Van Hollen to oppose three Trump nominees.

Cynthia Prairie

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