Len Lazarick, Author at MarylandReporter.com

Opening day roundup: Miller begins 30th year as Senate president, veto overrides postponed

Amid a sea of Maryland state-flag neckties and toddlers in suits, legislators of the Maryland General Assembly were gaveled in for the first day of the 2016 session. Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller Jr. and House Speaker Michael Busch, both Democrats, were reinstated in their leadership positions. It is Miller’s 30th legislative session as president, the longest-serving presiding officer in any U.S. legislature. Miller, 73, is now also the longest-serving member of the Maryland General Assembly, first elected to the House of Delegates in 1970.

Rascovar: Hold off on Internet hotel tax

Among the most controversial bills the legislature will consider next week is a vetoed bill concerning a dispute between large hotel operators, like Bethesda-based Marriott and Rockville-based Choice Hotels, and Internet travel companies. The fight is over tax payments to the state by those Internet companies when they book in-state hotel rooms. Gov. Larry Hogan, Jr. vetoed this bill for the most sensible of reasons: Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot already is suing an Internet company, Travelocity, over what he claims is $6 million in unpaid taxes on those service fees between 2003 and 2011.

State Roundup, January 13, 2016

Gov. Hogan eyes tax breaks for small businesses and manufacturing, which Del. McIntosh also backs; despite Hogan’s high approval ratings, Democrats are expected to give him a rough start to the session; police lobby to keep public use of pot illegal, right to seize some cash; religious leaders push for paid sick leave bill; Catholics back school tax credit; Baltimore County Exec Kamenetz to push for school construction aid; Congress hopeful Matthews hits the airwaves; and President Obama to address House Dem conference in Baltimore City.

Hogan ‘can’t imagine how anyone could vote against’ proposed tax cuts

Tax cuts plans Gov. Larry Hogan offered Tuesday were so modest and mainstream that the worst a Democratic Party spokesman could say about them was that two copied proposals by Democrats and Hogan didn’t say how he would pay for them. The $480 million in tax relief spread out over five years targets tax breaks for new manufacturing, businesses, retirees, and families making less than $53,000.

Harford exec Glassman won’t run for U.S. Senate

To the surprise of practically no one in Republican circles, Harford County Executive Barry Glassman announced Tuesday night in his State of the County speech that he would not be running for U.S. Senate. What had been a surprise was that Glassman was considering a run for Senate at all, having just been elected in 2014 to what he described as a boyhood dream.

State Roundup, January 12, 2016

Gov. Hogan pushes for $400 million in tax relief, but that’s looked upon as “surprisingly modest;” Sun editorial board agrees with Hogan, says mandated spending amount is unsustainable; police panel offers sweeping changes, but union says it won’t support any policy changes; worried about funding, state charities gather in Annapolis to lay out their legislative priorities; Senate Pres Miller yuks it up with recycled McCain joke; Sierra Club backs Van Hollen for Senate, but not without controversy; in race for House, Matthews picks up a number of high-profile endorsements; and Montgomery Exec Leggett says county police won’t aid any federal deportations.

State teachers recommend special ed students get to opt out of testing

Despite limited mental capacity, a feeding tube, a wheelchair and the inability to speak, a child with cerebral palsy must take the same standardized tests in Maryland as his classmates. But the Maryland State Education Association wants to give students with disabilities the chance to opt out of grade-level testing, depending on their needs, parents’ wishes and any testing accommodations allowed.

Taxpayer group urges dropping personal property tax for small business

Maryland should concentrate on assisting the smallest firms — particularly during their formative stage, the first five years when the majority of failures occur. In this commentary, William Campbell says a review of the Maryland taxes, fees, and regulatory overhead provides an excellent starting point. Not all taxes and fees are equal, and the personal property taxes looks like an excellent place to begin.

State Roundup, January 11, 2016

Upcoming session, which starts Wednesday, promises to hold interest for Democrats and Republicans alike; environmental advocates hope to keep climate a legislative priority; Maryland public schools rank 4th in Education Week survey; a crowded Republican 6th Congressional District candidates falters, then sparks; as O’Malley’s poll numbers slip, he barely would qualify for next Democratic debate; Carson puts forth 5-point education plan; and Arundel County Councilman Grasso called before ethics board.

Eight Republicans vie to challenge Delaney in 6th Congressional District

A “debate” with eight candidates — or 10 or 12 — is not really a debate, as the televised Republican presidential debates last year have shown. They are hampered by uneven questioning and unfair allocation of time. Both those qualities hurt Thursday night’s “debate” by eight Republican candidates running for the chance to unseat Democrat John Delaney in the 6th Congressional District, one of Maryland’s eight gerrymandered House seats that might be seriously in play. This story includes links to other coverage, and a full video of the forum.

Len Lazarick

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