The Senate voted 26-20 for a late amendment to a bill that would raise the state income tax by .25% for most Marylanders. The added amendment goes a step further, raising the bill’s proposed tax rate for anyone making over $500,000 from 5.5% to 5.75% for every dollar earned. The new provision would raise an additional $30 million in new revenue for aging schools.
Len Lazarick
Smoking ban in vehicles with children passes Senate
A controversial bill that would ban smoking in any vehicle with a passenger younger than 8 passed the state Senate 27-19 on Wednesday after debate that centered largely over the role of government.
O’Malley pitches sales tax on gas, called job creator and a job killer
Gov. Martin O’Malley’s plan to raise transportation funds with a 6% sales tax on gasoline was hailed both as a way to raise money for needed infrastructure projects as well as a way to kill local jobs in gas stations and trucking companies at hearings in House and Senate committees Wednesday.
Department of General Services docked $500,000 until release of secret study on Housing Dept. move
As part of its preliminary approval of the state budget, the Senate voted to withhold $500,000 in general funds from Department of General Services until it document the costs for moving the Housing Department’s headquarters from a state-owned property in Crownsville to a proposed development at New Carrollton Metro station.
6th District Democratic primary is long on negative ads and releases, but short on issues
Sixth Congressional District candidate John Delaney racked up another high profile endorsement Tuesday from Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot, while Rob Garagiola collected his latest union endorsement from the United Auto Workers. Yet the race that’s been bolstered with regular negative attacks from both sides remains largely silent on policy differences between the candidates.
House of Delegates gives Maryland judges raises up to $14,500
The House of Delegates passed pay increases of up to $14,500 for Maryland judges Tuesday in an 84-47 vote. The delegates were convinced they were out of time to get the Senate to agree to a smaller increase of $4,800, before an automatic $29,000 raise took effect on Thursday.
House Republicans offer budget with no spending increases (Blog with a podcast)
In their annual exercise in futility, House Republicans offered an alternative budget Tuesday that does not increase spending and level funds most programs from fiscal 2012 to fiscal 2013.
“It is a level-headed idea to level fund,” said Del. Sue Aumann, R-Baltimore County, a member of the Appropriations Committee.
Republicans try to create a state inspector general
Republicans in the General Assembly are proposing a constitutional amendment to create an elected state inspector general to root out waste, fraud and financial problems in state agencies.
Bill to waive tuition for higher education workers faces rare defeat
A bill that would waive college tuition for employees of the Maryland Higher Education Commission and their children was handily defeated in the Senate Tuesday morning.
With a 12-33 vote, it was a rare defeat for a bill that had made it so far along in the legislative process.
Lawmakers reject freeze on judges’ salaries, pay hike expected
Lawmakers rejected an amendment Monday night to freeze judges salaries at the current range of $127,000 to $181,000 a year, and a final vote on raises of up to $14,500 over three years is expected Tuesday.
Recent Comments