Cynthia Prairie, Author at MarylandReporter.com

Rascovar: Baltimore needs a comprehensive revival plan

Nearly a year after violence, arson and widespread looting tore apart impoverished portions of Baltimore there still is no comprehensive, long-term plan for reviving and improving Baltimore from the governor’s office. Nor is there an all-inclusive recovery plan from the mayor’s office. Leadership is lacking.

State Roundup, March 21, 2016

Despite contentiousness between Gov. Hogan and the Dems, General Assembly agrees to bulk of the Republican’s agenda; House OKs ranking system of transit projects; bills offering tax relief for poor, corporations on path to approval; bill would set standards for giving life without parole; Baltimore City to now appoint its own liquor board members; study finds Maryland police misusing Tasers; Reps. Edwards, Van Hollen come out swinging in first debate; and more dead eagles found — this time in Delaware.

Analysis: If governor wants mandate relief, he should treat the legislature as an equal partner

Gov. Larry Hogan wants the General Assembly to reduce how mandated spending puts pressure on the state’s budget. His goal is a good one–only 17% of the state’s own-source spending in fiscal 2016 is flexible absent legislation. But if he wants to realize this goal, he needs to adopt an approach that matches his periodic rhetoric of bipartisanship.

State Roundup, March 18, 2016

Maryland Senate has passed Gov. Hogan’s $42 billion budget; Senate panel OKs tax relief package; House follows Senate in passing bill to cut greenhouse gas emissions; Senate strips divisive language from state song; bill to put healthy food in some vending machine just didn’t make the cut this year; Hogan says he likes Kasich for president but doesn’t denounce Trump; state expected to announce tax fraud indictments; Hogan could lose power to appoint city liquor board; Edwards, Van Hollen finally meet in first debate and forum; and propriety of ‘Hardball’ guest donations to Matthews’ campaign continue.

Senate passes budget unanimously; Hogan praises effort but has concerns

The Maryland Senate Thursday unanimously passed Gov. Hogan’s $42 billion budget. That earned praise from the Republican governor mixed with concern about reductions in the Rainy Day fund and highway user revenues, as well as $132 million in funds fenced off for legislative priorities. “Working in a bipartisan fashion to give our great state a sound fiscal foundation is a shared responsibility,” Hogan said in a statement, “and today’s vote shows both leadership and partnership toward a common goal.”

Senate committee proposes $100 million a year in income tax relief

The Senate Budget and Taxation committee approved a tax relief package that will save Marylanders about $100 million a year when fully implemented. The dollar amount was based on the total proposed in Gov. Larry Hogan’s package of tax reductions, but it was based more on the recommendation of the Augustine business competitiveness commission to reduce the top tax rate. Taxpayers with adjusted gross income over $100,000 would save 1-3% a year, the working poor making $50,000 would save about $375 a year through an Earned Income Tax Credit, and taxpayers in the middle would get higher personal exemptions, saving $16-20 per person.

State Roundup, March 17, 2016

State lawmakers condemn shackling, strip-searching of children in state juvenile centers; Gov. Hogan’s $42.3 billion budget gets preliminary OK in Senate; across-the-board tax relief plan expected; senators on both sides of aisle blast Hogan administration for lack of direction on some bills; lawmakers consider new ways to help students with school debt; Morgan State lobbies for tech advancement funds; support for Supreme Court nominee hearing falls along party lines; and Senate Pres Miller backs former Lt. Gov. Brown for U.S. House.

Hogan tours Frederick, again asks businesses to lobby legislators

Gov. Larry Hogan announced major transportation funding, visited businesses, strolled around downtown and toured local brewery in Republican stronghold Frederick County on Wednesday. Hogan, who took Frederick County with 63% of the vote, continued a call he made at a lunch for business leaders yesterday, asking them to contact their legislators in Annapolis to help move his agenda forward.

Opinion: From decriminalizing pot to a radical legalization of all drugs

As the General Assembly session moves towards its conclusion, the direction of the legislature on a number of issues is becoming clearer. One such issue is the legalization or decriminalization of drugs and drug-related crimes. But the drug legalization effort does not end with marijuana. It has become much more radical than simply legalizing pot, writes Greg Kline

Opinion: Trump a dilemma for Maryland Republicans

When Maryland’s Presidential Primary takes place next month, Donald Trump will be leading the field already narrowed to three with the departure of Marco Rubio. Early on many people did not take his candidacy seriously and therefore did little to oppose him. Now, however, he is stirring anxiety and alarm among increasing numbers of the party faithful. What will Maryland Republicans like Gov. Larry Hogan do? asks commentator Laslo Boyd

Cynthia Prairie

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