Len Lazarick, Author at MarylandReporter.com

State Roundup, June 28, 2017

Gov. Hogan cancels zero-waste landfill rules issued by his immediate predecessor, Gov. O’Malley; the Atlantic explores how and why Maryland got to be so gerrymandered; state cuts crab season short over concerns of juvenile crab population; Maryland’s new Planned Parenthood law may kick in earlier than expected; Divided Maryland Part 1: rural counties seek political clout; state school board’s five-star school rating system has yet to define the stars; HUD chief Carson expected in Baltimore, protests planned; after a month on the job, racism complaint officer for Anne Arundel has been let go; state ed board plans to hire independent investigator in Prince George’s grades probe; and Sentinel editor takes on White House press claims.

Maryland Divided Part 1: Rural counties hope to gain political clout

The first in a five-part series in the divide between rural Maryland and the rest of the state. Earlier this year when Gov. Larry Hogan took the stage in Annapolis at P.A.C.E., a conference dedicated to Western Maryland, he opened with the following: “When I was sworn in two years ago, I said the war on rural Maryland was over — and I meant what I said.”

State Roundup, June 27, 2017

Medical marijuana panel seeks to deny license to company it gave preliminary OK to; Gov. Hogan calls on business leaders to push lawmakers to sustain his veto of paid sick leave bill; biologists urge limit to fall crab harvest; judge upholds his stay on Purple Line work despite plea from state; hacked Howard County website is back up; Councilman Leventhal jumps into race for Montgomery County exec; Johnny Olszewski Jr. to announce run for Baltimore County exec; and U.S. Rep. Harris co-sponsors bill to celebrate bicentennial of Frederick Douglass’s birth.

MoCo Council candidate closing the gap on qualifying for public funding

Ed Amatetti may become the first Republican to qualify for up $125,000 in matching county funds in the 2018 elections. He is running for Montgomery County Council in District 2, the seat now held by Democrat Craig Rice, who is seeking reelection. Amatetti has raised $8,150 in small dollar donations of the $10,000 needed to qualify for the county’s new public campaign financing fund.

State Roundup, June 26, 2017

New laws will take effect on July 1, including funding help for Planned Parenthood and opioid addiction education in schools; association of medical marijuana growers, processors seeks standing in court case; under possible GOP health plan, Maryland may have to either cut coverage or spend a lot more; hearing today on Gov. Hogan’s decision to kill State Center project; Hogan asks state ed board to probe Prince George’s on grade adjustments; number of Prince George’s teachers on administrative leave soars; after federal notice, 30 Hispanic servers at one restaurant quit in fear of deportation; Sen. Muse to run for Democratic nomination for PG County exec; Hamza Khan reconsiders quitting District 39 delegate race; Howard government website hacked with pro-Islamic state posts; and seeking to celebrate diversity, Rockville wraps itself in a flag controversy.

Rascovar: Is Maryland like Georgia and Wisconsin?

Taken together, developments in Georgia (a special election) and Wisconsin (redistricting lawsuit) have been read by some Maryland Republicans as positive indicators that things finally are moving in their direction in a state overwhelmingly controlled by Democrats. a closer look at these two developments paints a far less rosy picture for Maryland’s minority party, outnumbered 2-1 by Free State Democrats.

State Roundup, June 23, 2017

Gov. Hogan joins centrists Republicans concerned about the effect of Obamacare rollback on Marylanders; gambling interests now push for legalized sports betting; state moves ahead with appealing judge’s decision on another Purple Line environmental study; state lawmakers now call for probe into claims that Prince George’s student grades were altered; attorney Shea joins race for democratic nomination for governor; U.S. Rep. Delaney delays decision on run for governor; and Anne Arundel signs inmate immigration screening pact with federal government.

Legalized sports betting being promoted for Maryland

Sports betting is the latest frontier for the expansion of legalized gambling in Maryland, panelists at the Maryland Live! casino Thursday made clear. It is crucial to “get the federal government out of the way” of sports gambling, said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association, which sponsored the event touting the industry’s contribution to local jobs and nonprofits.

Commentary: Why cut the $73M Bay program that provides billions in benefits?

There was more good news for the Bay this spring. There is clear consensus in the scientific community that the health of the Bay is improving. But the recovery is fragile and still could be undone with a loss of federal aid and the programs it supports.

State Roundup, June 22, 2017

The Maryland Insurance Administration hears bids to hike health premiums, as Cigna pulls out of market; meanwhile a majority of red state voters oppose House health care overhaul; Comptroller Franchot questions land purchase, BPW delays action; Maryland slips in removing stormwater pollutants, but largely on track with Bay restoration efforts; Sen. John Astle announces run for Annapolis mayor; incumbent District 39 General Assembly slate causes tumult as it taps a newcomer; Frederick Sheriff Jenkins touts immigration enforcement to U.S. Attorney General Sessions; and Rockville City Council rejects immigration enforcement cooperation.

Len Lazarick

Support Our Work!

Recent Comments

Twitter

Facebook

Recent Articles