Cynthia Prairie, Author at MarylandReporter.com

Rascovar on Mandel part 2: Marvin the Manipulator

Former Maryland Gov. Marvin Mandel died last week at 95 after a life of enormous achievements and puzzling contradictions. On the surface he could be wise, funny, kind, brilliant and farsighted. Yet there was a darker side behind the implacable façade he showed to the public.

State Roundup, September 8, 2015

Gov. Hogan seeks spending cuts that could also mean layoffs at two Baltimore-based colleges; Bethesda man’s lawsuit against Maryland’s congressional districts to go before Supreme Court; more Dems come out against Hogan’s redistricting reform proposal; environment department to send out 87,000 letters to landlords who haven’t registered under lead paint reduction rules; Freddie Gray, cop accused in his death had led parallel lives; O’Malley says he’s surprised by furniture purchase controversy; U.S. Sen. Cardin comes out against Iran deal; U.S. Rep. Sarbanes says he’s for it; two well-known politicians jump into race for Baltimore City mayor; and presidential candidate O’Malley wants U.S. to accept 65,000 Syrian refugees.

Rascovar on Mandel Part 1: Marvin the Magician

Simply put, Marvin Mandel — who was laid to rest last week at age 95 — ranks as the greatest and most effective Maryland governor of the 20th century. Only Gov. Albert C. Ritchie (1920-35) comes close to matching Mandel as a government reformer. But Mandel was far more ambitious in his efforts to improve society, expand the reach of government and anticipate future trends.

State Roundup, September 4, 2015

State reports $295 million surplus, but Franchot, Hogan agree to keep tight reins on spending; Maryland’s dropping SAT scores following nationwide trend, calls into question college readiness; as Gov. Mandel laid to rest, family remembers his devotion to his family. He is also remembered for promoting civil rights; Del. Wilson seeks road to preventing child abuse; Attorney General Frosh questions Hogan’s stands on environment, eyes rising heroin problem; DGS-Annapolis director dismissed: He developed O’Malley “junk” furniture purchase formula; and report criticizes Chevy Chase officials in “stealth” write-in victory.

Testing chipping away at teaching, educators say

Standardized testing is chipping away at “so many layers” of a public school classroom these days, a panel of educators said during a town hall meeting — taking away from teacher autonomy to curriculum and even technology hubs placed in schools to help students learn and connect to a high-tech world.

State Roundup, September 3, 2015

Late former Gov. Mandel honored by Gov. Hogan, former governors and others at State House;Former Calvert super Smith named interim state schools chief after Lowery’s surprise resignation; EPA calls Maryland’s efforts to aid Chesapeake Bay “robust;” former delegate candidate sues state over redistricting; Hogan names two more to Port Commission; and Sen. Mikulski hands President Obama a victory on Iran deal.

IRS data again shows taxpayers leaving Maryland

Recently released data from the IRS shows that about 5,500 more taxpayers left Maryland in 2012 than moved to the state.

Long-cited by tax critics as annual data that show the migration of taxpayers to lower-taxed states, some experts caution that not too much should be read into year-to-year changes.

State Roundup, September 2, 2015

Panel probing use, regulation of police body cameras to suggest restricting public access to videos by amending state Public Information Act; state lawmaker says state’s juvenile detention center plan should be shelved; Van Hollen asks for federal probe into lead paint settlement purchases; friends defend embattled housing Secty Ken Holt; Baltimore County tackling zoning laws in budding medical marijuana industry; Gov. Hogan is two-thirds through chemotherapy; hearings begin today in Freddie Gray case, Montgomery County sends extra police as protests expected; nonbiological parent in same-sex divorce sees limited visitation; and Howard County sets up fund to aid victims of human trafficking.

Struggles of low-paid Marylanders misrepresented in flawed report

The insinuation that Marylanders would rather receive public assistance than work is not only insulting, but factually incorrect. The reality is that the safety net provides many Maryland families with support at critical moments, particularly when they aren’t paid enough to meet the cost of necessities.

Md. welfare benefits better than most European countries, think-tank claims

A new report by libertarian think-tank Cato Institute asserts that Maryland’s welfare benefits are higher than almost every European country, with the exception of Denmark and the United Kingdom.

“It’s clear that welfare benefits in Maryland are sufficiently high that they can act as a disincentive to work,” said Michael Tanner, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and lead author of the study. “Maryland should be re-examining its welfare policies to put more emphasis on work.”

Cynthia Prairie

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