Cynthia Prairie, Author at MarylandReporter.com

Credit rating firm helps state validate welfare recipients

State auditors hope to find less potential for fraud in their next audit of the Maryland Department of Human Resources, which recently partnered with an online credit bureau to validate that people receiving government assistance actually qualify.

State Roundup, June 29, 2015

With Gov. Hogan pulling the plug on the Red Line for Baltimore City, $288 million in prep work is lost, but city should focus on more sensible alternatives; “cop watching” takes on a more by-the-book approach; some Arundel residents intend to fly Confederate flag, even as U.S. Rep. Cummings calls for moves to pull flag a good first step; Maryland embracing solar power; Montgomery County prepares to cut its budget; one Democrat, two Republicans file to fun for U.S. Rep. Hoyer’s seat; and O’Malley finally hires a campaign manager.

With Red Line dead, what is Hogan’s ‘best way’ for Baltimore?

Key moments in Gov. Larry Hogan’s first term took place last week, but it is unclear how his cancer and much anticipated decisions on transit projects will define his term as governor. Those decisions left many unanswered questions about the financing of the Purple Line and what would be “the best way” to help Baltimore if the Red Line wasn’t it.

Rascovar: Hogan to Baltimore: ‘Drop Dead’

Larry Hogan Jr. never has had an affinity for Baltimore. He’s never lived in a big city. He’s a suburban Washington, suburban Annapolis kind of guy. Thus, it was easy for Governor Hogan to kill more than a decade worth of work, more than a quarter-billion dollars already spent and to forfeit $900 million in federal funds that would have gone toward building a pivotal rail-transit line for Baltimore, the Red Line.

State Roundup, June 26, 2015

Gov. Hogan gives thumbs up to Purple Line, thumbs down to Red Line; Red Line “wasteful boondoogle” and “fatally flawed” as Tweeted map excludes Baltimore City from Maryland and officials react with disappointment; slimmed-down Purple Line, however, gets much warmer reception from governor giving local officials reason to be upbeat; medical marijuana rules expected to be printed in Maryland Register today, setting stage for new industry; Hogan starts chemo Monday, expected to be in hospital for four days; high court upholds police non-disclosure of internal misconduct records; and former TU President Maravene Loeschke dies, beloved professor had stepped down from post due to illness.

State Roundup, June 25, 2015

Gov. Hogan to have major transportation announcement today, raising speculation on future of the proposed Purple Line; fate of myriad “racist symbols” uncertain; Judicial Watch files lawsuit over Maryland’s redistricting process; on Hogan and cancer: how much medical info should a public official reveal and Baltimore City prayer vigil for Hogan set for Friday; and Montgomery County’s move on paid sick leave could spur similar action by other jurisdictions.

Progressives Bump ‘n Grind in Silver Spring, wait for Purple Line

The Bump ‘n Grind is not a strip club in Baltimore, but a coffee bar in the new urbanized core of Silver Spring, a short walk to the D.C. line. Wednesday evening, it was briefly the center of progressives in the Maryland legislature, as Del. David Moon, about as left as they get in Annapolis, held a low-key fundraiser, heavy on the policy wonk from his fellow legislators. Advocates for the Purple Line were on hand as well.

State Roundup, June 24, 2015

Gov. Hogan signals intent to pull Confederate flag from vehicle tags as more debate changing symbols that many perceive as racist; as Lt. Gov. Rutherford heads up Board of Public Works, he comes down hard on department spending; more reaction to news of Hogan’s illness, treatment pours in from lawmakers, doctors; as lawmakers gather to discuss economic disparity, jobs and poverty issues in Baltimore City, autopsy reveals Freddie Gray suffered one, “high-energy injury;” Montgomery County passes paid sick leave legislation; U.S. Rep. Edwards picks up more labor support in Senate run; and Donald Trump stumps in Maryland.

Lt. governor scolds bureaucrats on spending for land, budget cushions

Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford came down hard on state department spending this Tuesday, as he covered for Gov. Larry Hogan at the first Board of Public works meeting since the governor announced he was starting treatment for cancer.

Rutherford lectured the Department of Natural Resources about their high land bids, the Department of Juvenile Services and the Department of Human Services for unnecessary budget “cushioning” in the millions, and shot down the Board of Elections’ request for $1.8 million for an informational ballot-campaign.

State Roundup, June 23, 2015

Gov. Larry Hogan announces he has non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, an aggressive but highly treatable illness that will take about 18 weeks for him to recover from. It’s in an advanced stage but he has met the illness with hope and humor; good wishes are sent to him from all political persuasions; Lt. Gov. Rutherford ready to take his place as needed; jail policy panel begins meeting to discuss cutting recidivism rates; officials begin looking closely at confederate symbols, places of honor in Maryland — including on license plates, park names, statues and the state song; Glenn Ivey picks up 1st labor endorsement in run for U.S. House; Van Hollen influence shows up in widening support; and Arundel exec to have shoulder surgery.

Cynthia Prairie

Support Our Work!

Recent Comments

Twitter

Facebook

Recent Articles