Cynthia Prairie, Author at MarylandReporter.com

Rascovar: Procurement clash may be coming

First, the good news: Gov. Larry Hogan last week created a 19-member commission to come up with ways to fix Maryland’s maddeningly inefficient system for purchasing $7 billion worth of goods and services each year. Here comes the bad news: This group may wind up trying to re-invent the wheel because state legislators appear ready to pass legislation, based on three years of study, that could dramatically change state purchasing practices.

S.C. GOP debate: Free for all, Trump v. Bush, Rubio comes back, Kasich aggressively moderate

It is hard to say how the South Carolina or national electorate will react to the debate, but they should be stronger for Marco Rubio, John Kasich and Jeb Bush, in that order. Donald Trump sounded like Bernie Sanders on Iraq, and John Kasich called the Trump-Bush dust-up “crazy, just nuts.” Commentary by Rick Vatz and Len Lazarick.

State Roundup, February 12, 2016

Online fund-raising by state lawmakers could be in violation; Gov. Hogan seeks funds for vacant housing teardowns statewide; activists pushing to make rental evictions harder; tax breaks could bring more manufacturers into Maryland; food truck owners seek to streamline permitting statewide but restaurateurs cry foul; bill would end use of live animals for surgical training at Hopkins; Montgomery County weighs in for moving public notices away from hard copy newspapers; and 6th Congressional District candidate targets incumbent Delaney for not living in the district.

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.

Cynthia Prairie

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