Tag: John Bohanan
Historic Republican gains in Maryland as Hogan wins; GOP picks up execs, House and Senate seats
Maryland Republicans made historic gains in Tuesday’s election. Larry Hogan Jr. became just the third Republican elected governor in the past 50 years, winning by almost the same 51.5% margin and carrying almost the same number of counties as Gov. Bob Ehrlich, the last Republican chief executive 12 years ago. Sen. Allan Kittleman became just the second Republican Howard County executive in its history, and Del. Steve Schuh, as expected, kept the Anne Arundel County executive office in GOP hands. On the Lower Shore, Bob Culver defeated Democrat Richard Pollitt, the first Wicomico County executive.
Read MoreHouse approves budget, rejects swipe at Common Core
The House of Delegates approved its version of Gov. Martin O’Malley’s $38.7 billion budget Thursday by a vote of 100-38, but not before Republicans got in some licks about high taxes, Common Core and the lack of a vote on their own pay raises.
Read More$37 billion budget passes easily, including cut in pension funding
A $36.9 billion state budget for fiscal 2014 easily passed the House of Delegates and state Senate Friday, with less Republican opposition than last year. The budget raises overall spending 3% and is $500 million less than Gov. Martin O’Malley originally proposed, largely by setting aside funds in case federal budget cuts impact state revenues.
Read MoreHouse of Delegates rejects proposal to return $1 billion taken from highway funds
During floor debate over the state budget, the Maryland House of Delegates rejected an amendment that would restore $1.1 billion in funds that had been taken from highway user revenues to pay the state’s bills during budget shortfalls since 2003. Del. Susan Krebs, R- Carroll, who introduced the amendment, argued Wednesday that the state had an obligation to restore these highway revenues before asking motorists to pay additional tolls and gas taxes.
Read MoreHouse approves $35.8 billion budget and pension shift
The House of Delegates approved their version of the state’s $35.8 billion budget Friday, moving the process into its final stage to resolve differences with the Senate.
The budget bill was approved 95-43, but not before Republican lawmakers attempted one last time to derail its passage.
$925 million capital budget passes House
The House of Delegates approved $925 million in new debt in its capital budget on Tuesday – but not before several attempts were made to trim the amount that the state was going to borrow. The capital budget is funded through bonds, and the money is spent on infrastructure projects across the state.
Read MoreHouse passes budget; Senate committee makes retirement changes
The Maryland House of Delegates passed a slightly trimmed version of Gov. Martin O’Malley’s $34 billion budget on a straight party-line vote Thursday evening. About 90 minutes before, the members of the Senate Budget & Taxation Committee passed its own version of the same budget. They agreed to most of the changes made by the House which had been suggested by the Department of Legislative Services, but they disagreed on a few key points.
Read MoreHouse gives tentative OK to $34 billion budget, rejecting GOP cuts
The full House of Delegates gave preliminary approval Wednesday night to an overall state budget of $34 billion for fiscal 2012, 2.8% higher than this year. After nearly 4½ hours of debate, the budget as passed by the House Appropriations Committee emerged unscathed. The House rejected a series of 14 amendments to cut the budget with various components of the Republican budget proposal or to add pieces of failed bills.
Read MoreCommittee hikes school aid to keep spending per pupil the same
As expected, the education appropriations subcommittee in the House boosted school aid for fiscal 2012 so that all local school systems will receive the same amount per-pupil as they did last year. In his budget, Gov. Martin O’Malley had proposed freezing education funding, but enrollment growth was going to produce less money per student. Education advocates and teachers unions had lobbied heavily for a restoration of the aid.
Read MoreVideo: An interview on school funding and teacher pensions with Del. John Bohanan
Len Lazarick and Bryan Sears interview Del. John Bohanan, chair of the education appropriations subcommittee, on school funding and teacher pensions. (After the interview was taped, the House Appropriations Committee delayed its decisions on the governor’s budget for a week.)
Read MoreLegislature approves $32 billion budget GOP predicts it will lead to tax hikes
By Andy Rosen [email protected] The state’s $32 billion budget for fiscal 2011 becomes law today, as the House gave final approval to its compromise with the Senate. The bill is unique in the Maryland General Assembly,...
Read MoreConferees agree on pizza as they nibble at their budget differences
By Len Lazarick [email protected] House and Senate negotiators could at least agree to eat pizza Tuesday night as they continued to hash out about $100 million in differences in their separate versions of the governor’s...
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