Len Lazarick, Author at MarylandReporter.com

Commentary on final GOP debate before N.H. primary

Not a strong first half of the debate, but a much better second half. It may have been a consequential night for the candidates. Not a good night for Rubio, certainly not in the first half of the debate; a strong night for Christie; a good night for Bush; a pretty good night for Kasich, Cruz and Trump, who was a little less egocentric and baiting than usual — a little. Commentary by Rick Vatz and Len Lazarick.

State Roundup, February 5, 2016

Court of Appeals overturns state’s ban on assault rifles, dealing blow to Maryland’s landmark gun control laws; with swearing in of Del. Zucker in Senate, override of Hogan veto on voting law for felons set to pass; Morhaim bills would help drug abusers get treatment; state set to get more court judges; Montgomery delegation skeptical that county’s liquor system is reforming; Arundel Exec Schuh pulls back on online legal notice move; new poll finds majority of Marylanders would reduce foreign aid and increase taxes on the wealthy to help balance the federal budget; and glitches mean touch screen voting machines won’t be used in early voting.

13 new Maryland judges proposed at cost of $4.1M

Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera told the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee Thursday that there are not enough Circuit and District judges in Maryland, which has resulted in courts being overloaded with cases. Barbera testified in favor of SB 117, a bill the judiciary asked for that would add a total of 13 judges around the state at a total estimated cost of $4.1 million including support staff in its first year. The judiciary has included $3.8 million in the fiscal 2017 budget to pay for the new judges.

House bill aims to increase and redistribute senior center funding

Del. Mary Washington believes the state has a duty to better fund senior citizen centers that enable seniors to age in place. That’s why the Baltimore Democrat is sponsoring a bill to increase the Senior Citizen Activities Center Operating Fund and also set a strict formula for its distribution, Washington told a Baltimore caucus at the United Seniors of Maryland Legislative Forum in Annapolis Wednesday.

State Roundup, February 4, 2016

Gov. Hogan’s 2nd State of the State was conciliatory, softer than first but Democrat want to see budgetary commitment while Republicans stay upbeat; but just before the speech, leaders from the Big 4 jurisdictions — Baltimore City and County, Prince George’s and Montgomery — criticize Hogan’s budget; Senate Pres Miller suggests he’s for an income tax cut; bill to allow cameras in court sentencings blasted; lawmakers want input into hiring of new state ed superintendent; state kills “calming” prison rescue pet program; Arundel Exec Schuh seeks to move public notices online, meets wrath of hard-copy newspapers; Del. Zucker to become a senator today; and activist files for Baltimore City mayor’s race becoming Candidate 13.

Tone of Hogan speech was bipartisan, but Dems aren’t singing along with familiar tune

The tone of Gov. Larry Hogan’s State of the State address to the legislature Wednesday was far more conciliatory than last year. But for many Democrats the tune was all too familiar, and they weren’t singing along. Addressing the Democrat-controlled General Assembly, he used the word “together” 26 times and the word “bipartisan” six times in his half-hour speech.

Senate Budget & Tax Committee discusses new ways to assess property taxes, PG hospital funding

Instead of conducting a physical property inspection, the state would use satellite imagery and other technologies to assess home values, under a bill presented to the Maryland Senate’s Budget and Tax committee on Wednesday. Senate President Mike Miller also testified in favor of a bill that would allocate state and county funding for a new local hospital in Prince George’s County.

State Roundup, February 3, 2016

Lawmakers push bill for mandatory paid sick leave, closing the gap for more than 700,000 Marylanders; delegate introduce bill to stop religious organizations “with known ties to terrorism” from claiming tax breaks; 2nd Amendment advocates rally in Annapolis; raw milk sales could be OK’d for those who own stake in the cow; Gov. Hogan to deliver State of the State address today; Frederick, Baltimore county lawmakers push for projects’ funding; candidate Trone fires three who attempted to infiltrate Matthews, Raskin campaigns; U.S. Rep. Cummings declares he’ll seek re-election; Del. Davis drops congressional bid; and what’s in store for O’Malley.

Big chicken companies would pay to remove manure, not farmers

Maryland legislators and contract farmers hired by companies to grow chickens are proposing the Poultry Litter Management Act that would require major animal agriculture companies to pay the cost of properly disposing excess manure on their contract farms. It’s a fairness issue, it has an adverse impact on our environment and we need to clean it up,” said Sen. Joan Carter Conway, D-Baltimore, “and those individuals who are making the mess need to clean up the mess.”

State Roundup, February 2, 2016

With Clinton and Sanders splitting Iowa caucus, O’Malley finally suspends presidential campaign; back in Maryland, Senate Pres Miller, Speaker Busch put forth proposals to close gender pay gap, help student college debt; grandmother lobbies Annapolis for better mental health care after baby grandson’s horrific death; Del. Moon seeks reforms in Montgomery School Board elections; U.S. Rep. Cummings hasn’t filed — for any office; Van Hollen continues to lead in Senate money race; Ivey leads fundraising in 4th Congressional District race; and Montgomery County Exec Leggett now willing to consider liquor system privatization.

Len Lazarick

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