Acting Transportation Secretary Slater says traffic congestion estimates stable, agency to work to find firms to minimize home loss to road construction; Gov. Hogan says westbound Bay Bridge lane to reopen before summer; with a slew of convictions in the General Assembly, Annapolis pushes new ethics laws for lawmakers; Mothers Demand Action, lawmakers push to fill “significant loophole” in gun laws; aid-in-dying bill returns, but chances of passage are debatable; and National Organization for Women objecting to Kweisi Mfume’s use of old endorsement, in light of more recent allegations;
Cynthia Prairie
State Roundup, January 28, 2020
Senate panel grills new nominees, three returnees to scandal-embattled UMMS board; new bill would push state into creating MARC commuter routes into N. Virginia; Prince George’s State’s Attorney outlines changes in attitude toward pot possession, approaches to prosecution; AARP blankets Annapolis over aging issues; Sen. Jennings says Preakness must stay in Baltimore; bill would allow some jurisdictions to set up commissions to address climate change; developers ask BPW to review contract over Maryland Insurance Commission offices; Gov. Hogan names Chanel Branch to replace former Del. Glenn; Baltimore’s Airbnbs generated $20 million in revenue in 2019; and first Marylander tested for coronavirus.
State Roundup, January 27, 2020
Republican Sid Saab asks that his name be removed from bill that would require the state to get approval from affected counties before building toll-financed roads; scientists question whether stream recovery projects are worth it; in fallout from Del. Glenn case, medical marijuana grower demands licenses be approved; lawmakers hope to repeal state’s archaic sex laws; Baltimore County community activist tapped to replace Del. Sydnor; before corruption, Del. Glenn found herself with mounting debt; bill would allow divorcing couples to remain under one roof; Del. Barve, Sen. Feldman consider running for comptroller; Kweisi Mfume seeks to regain seat he gave up to lead NAACP; Maryland schools, others begin to address coronavirus possibilities; Baltimore city business leaders seek new leadership in City Hall; and Arundel exec keeps tax hike option on the table.
State Roundup, January 23, 2020
Former Del. Glenn pleads guilty to taking bribes as names of business ‘associates’ remain sealed; bills seek to put legalizing sports betting to referendum; bipartisan group of lawmakers push for more business-friendly state before Maryland Chamber; Senate President Ferguson touts digital ad tax; lawmakers urge special elections to fill vacancies in General Assembly; bill would make it a crime to cause severe emotional distress to a disabled adult under one’s care; new Transit Caucus pushes for Washington County commuter train service, among other ideas; Sheriff Jenkins can enter into immigration enforcement agreement, but Frederick County doesn’t have to fund it; and who are the Republicans running for Elijah Cummings’ congressional seat?
State Roundup, January 22, 2020
Gov. Hogan is asking the federal government for more visas for foreign workers to aid the state’s seafood industry; override of vetoed bill to provide tuition exemption for some undocumented immigrants set for this month; lawmakers says Redskins owner pushing legalized sports betting to keep stadium in Maryland; state prisons severely understaffed; legislators unlikely to give boost to 5G firms to build towers; bill would offer tax credits to long-distance commuters; Hogan budget designated $7.6 million for Carroll County projects; 2022 gubernatorial hopeful Peter Franchot already has $1.6 million in campaign coffers; and Baltimore County OKs gun shop security bill.
State Roundup, January 21, 2020
State fiscal analysts urge legislative budget committees to do more to address structural deficit before Kirwan reforms, economic downturn; following Dem Party complaints, Hogan returns $63,000 in donations; WalletHub study finds Maryland 9th among states in race relations; in Martin Luther King Day address, Del. Mosby draws link from King to historic speakership of Adrienne Jones; $40,000 of $4.7 million to aid Garrett County’s clean water push; 7th Congressional District Democratic hopeful find room for disagreement; Prince George’s leading Montgomery as D.C. suburban job creator; and the Baltimore County Council will vote on bill to make gun shops, sales more secure.
State Roundup, January 20, 2020
Seven hundred shore-area residents pack PSC hearing on offshore wind proposal; bill would give jurisdictions veto over state-backed toll road projects; Gov. Hogan’s greenhouse gas plan called ‘truly vague;’ with left-leaning General Assembly, lawmakers expect more strict gun control regulations; with Chanel Branch’s nomination to fill Del. Glenn’s seat, General Assembly revives debate over filling vacancies; Maryland has highest rate of incarcerating black men ages 18-24; bill sets stage to keep Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, make Laurel Park year-round racing venue; and Allegany Board of Commissioners president defends board support of Dan’s Mountain wind project.
State Roundup, January 15, 2020
Gov. Larry Hogan previews his $47.9 billion budget, saying it shows fiscal responsibility while attacking crime problems and education without raising taxes; Sen. Smith offers bill to prevent landlord bias against housing voucher tenants; prosecutors seek to fix quirk in law that allows first-degree murderers, rapists to be eligible for parole earlier than second-degree offenders; carbon tax proposal returns with education funding component; four Montgomery County delegates to seek seats at Democratic National Convention; new poll finds Vignarajah leading Scott for Baltimore City mayor; and probe under way into death of 17-year-old special ed student.
State Roundup, January 14, 2020
New Prescription Drug Affordability Board learns about ethics of financial disclosure requirements in first meeting; eight Annapolis lawmakers are running for other offices; Gov. Hogan sets aside $9 million in tax credits to help those with student loan debt; formal portraits of former Senate President Mike Miller, late Sen. Verda Welcome hung in Senate chamber; Chanel Branch tapped to replace former Del. Cheryl Glenn; Board of Public Works OKs $18.8 million for Rural Legacy Program grants; NAACP, Prince George’s County sue Census Bureau over lack of preparation; following “Healthy Holly” book scandal, Baltimore City Council pursues ethics reforms; and Baltimore mayor signs off on plastic bag ban.
State Roundup, January 13, 2020
Medical marijuana brings in $10 million in tax revenues in FY2019; Southern Maryland officials plan to launch push to bring commuter rail to their communities; death with dignity bill could fall short again this year; tax proposed for online venues that host digital ads; legislature, workers have little confidence in handling of harassment, bias claims; two companies received a quarter of state tax abatements in 2019; with Baltimore City, Prince George’s concerned over Kirwan financial hit, lawmakers say they’ll study adjusting formula; federal lawmakers push to hold EPA accountable over Bay cleanup; dems seeking late Rep. Cummings’ seat hold forum; Prince George’s County Exec Alsobrooks slams law banning some fund-raising as biased; and is former Arundel County Exec Leopold running for AA school board?
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