Cynthia Prairie, Author at MarylandReporter.com

Limits proposed on standardized school testing — 2% of class time

Instead of waiting for a state commission to finish studying overtesting in Maryland’s public schools, legislators working with teachers and parents are pushing a standardized testing limit of 2% of annual instructional time. Organizations representing school superintendents and school boards across Maryland are urging lawmakers to reject the proposal, HB141, and wait for the testing commission’s initial recommendations due July 1.

State Roundup, February 11, 2016

Despite court ruling on assault weapons, top Dems return to Annapolis with new laws to curb gun use; Gov. Hogan sets up panel to reform state procurement process; Senate seeks stronger role in naming state school superintendents; applications for medical marijuana dispensaries are cut; committee begins to address new lyrics to state song; Howard County delegation addressing perceived lack of transparency in its local school system; and filling Sen. Zucker’s former delegate seat now an issue.

Advocates push for phase out of subminimum wages for workers with disabilities

Disabilities rights groups called on lawmakers Wednesday to support a bill that would eventually eliminate a sub-minimum wage law that discriminates against employees with disabilities. The bill, referred to as the Ken Capone Equal Employment Act, HB 420, would prohibit the Commissioner of Labor and Industry from allowing sheltered workshops and work activities center employers to pay workers with disabilities less than the minimum wage.

Unusual political coalition for redistricting reform battles intransigent Democrats

The ongoing issue of redistricting in Maryland represents one of the most unique political alignments in state politics in some time. Republican Gov. Larry Hogan has found common cause on this issue with not only his Republican base, but independent voters as well as progressive and “good government” Democrats. Liberal special interest groups have endorsed Hogan’s plan and criticized the state’s Democratic leadership. Even the editorial boards of the state’s leading newspapers have overwhelmingly supported the governor’s cause on this issue.

Democrats introduce more gun control legislation

Days after the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals sent Maryland’s assault weapon ban back to a lower court for strict review, top Democrats in the state legislature announced new measures to strengthen gun safety laws. One bans guns on college campuses; one bans anyone on the FBI’s terrorist watch list from purchasing a gun in Maryland; and the third requires judges to inform anyone convicted of a domestic violence offense that they must surrender their weapons

State Roundup, February 10, 2016

To the displeasure of Gov. Hogan, and with Sen. Zucker’s vote, the Senate overrides the veto to allow probationary, paroled felons to vote; Sen. Raskin proposes a “two-state solution” to congressional gerrymandering; insurance companies scoff at proposal to allow victims of drunk drivers to sue for punitive damages; Senate bill would offer a way for jurisdictions to manage blighted properties; Hogan’s campaign coffers grew by $1.7 million in last year; and DNC, House rival Matthews slam Trone over Obama reference in campaign ad.

Maryland Senate overrides Hogan’s veto of felon voting rights

After a 29-18 vote in the Senate, the bill passed and expanded the voting rights of nearly 40,000 ex-felons in the state, according to supporters of the bill.

Large exemptions proposed on pension income

Believing senior citizens are fleeing Maryland due to high taxes on retirement income, Del. Karen Young, D-Frederick, is proposing to exempt as much as $75,000 on pension income. The bill, HB 311, which mirrors a proposal she introduced last year, would expand existing pension exemptions for eligible seniors and disabled Marylanders and would be phased in over seven years. The House Ways & Means Committee considered the bill on Tuesday.

State Roundup, February 9, 2016

GOP chief Cluster urges Sen. Zucker to recuse himself from 2nd veto override vote; MD-DC-VA given deadline to create Metro oversight body; as local opposition to industrial chicken farms grows, politicians seeks solutions; Sen. King pushes legislation to allow jurisdictions to decide on venue for public notices; environmentalists seek new bag fee to help curb trash; bill calls for more accountability from for-profit colleges; Arundel Dems rename Jefferson-Jackson Dinner; in 8th Congressional race, Jawando criticizes Raskin, Barve, Raskin pick up union endorsements and Trone can’t make candidates forum; and for first time in 42 years, no African-American sits on Arundel County Board of Education.

The drawn-out lawsuit that could reshape Maryland’s public universities

In a development well off the radar screen, a federal judge in Baltimore last week issued an order that marks the most recent stage in a controversy that has been percolating for years. The so-called “Coalition Case” involves a lawsuit against the state brought by supporters of Morgan State University and the three other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Maryland. The plaintiffs have been seeking a judicial order requiring Maryland to provide a range of specific remedial actions to make the HBCUs more viable and competitive with other universities in the state.

Cynthia Prairie

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