As members of the General Assembly began their last day of the 2012 session on Monday, they reflected on the session, what has been accomplished, and what is still left undone. Duane Keenan filed this podcast.
Len Lazarick
Budget stalemate persists as Senate and House fail to compromise
NOW WITH VIDEO
It’s called Sine Die — without a day — but it actually might be doomsday, with budget cuts substituting for the tax hikes House and Senate refuse to agree on.
With the end of the legislative session 10 hours away, members of the Senate and House of Delegates met again and decided not to compromise.
Doubling flush tax almost certain, Bay Restoration Fund still vulnerable to future raids
Most Marylanders will see their flush tax bill double from $30 to $60 beginning July 1, but the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund will remain vulnerable to raids that have climbed to $290 million since 2010.
The Senate approved the fee increase in 28-18 vote late Saturday, with an amendment that exempts residents far western Maryland and the Ocean City area that are not part of the Chesapeake Bay drainage area.
Senate advances public-private partnership bill without controversial House amendments
With the final day left of this year’s legislative session, the Senate gave preliminary approval to its own version of a public-private partnership bill on Saturday that scraps two contentious amendments adopted by the House of Delegates and supported by the O’Malley administration.
New website Baltimore Post-Examiner launches
Blogs and websites come and go these days, but Maryland got itself a new comprehensive news website on Friday with the launch of the Baltimore Post-Examiner. The site offers an eclectic mix of news, sports, entertainment, commentary and blogs.
House passes septic bill, rural lawmakers make last stand
Floor debate in the House over the administration’s signature land preservation bill invoked common themes from Republicans about growing state control over rural and agricultural land, but the bill passed with a vote of 93-45.
State Roundup, April 6, 2012
Compromise offered in budget stalemate; McConkey offers an amendment to help reinstate his real estate license; Turner says casino and table games proposal will either see changes or not see a vote; gas tax likely dead; online disclosure may be halted over identity theft concerns; Delaney win dissected.
Senate offers compromise on taxes, pension shift to lift budget stalemate with House
The stalemate on the $35 billion budget between the House of Delegates and Senate shifted somewhat on Thursday evening, as senators offered a compromise on taxes and the teacher pension shift to the counties. This compromise leaves rates alone for people making less than $100,000, and has steeper increases for people in higher income brackets.
House votes to increase public school dropout age to 17
The House of Delegates voted to increase the mandatory age Maryland children are required to attend public school to 17 years old after a lengthy debate on Thursday.
Online financial disclosure faces problems in House committee
A Senate bill to require online financial disclosures of state and county officials hit a wall of skepticism Wednesday from House Environmental Committee Chair Maggie McIntosh. She said the time to consider the privacy ramifications for legislators was running out in the closing days of the legislative session.
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