Tag: Kirwan Commission

Franchot backs education reform, but not mandated Blueprint

Like several of the nine Democratic candidates for governor, Comptroller Peter Franchot makes improving K-12 education part of his standard stump speech.
But Franchot refuses to even mention the Kirwan Commission and the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future the legislature enacted over the governor’s veto that establishes massive changes for public schools and pumps billions more into education.

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State Roundup: House of Delegates passes Kirwan education bill

Fifth Maryland case of covid-19 announced, as local advocates push for more help for elderly and homeless; Gov. Hogan set to hold another presser on the illness this afternoon; ban against discrimination based on natural hair set to pass; Maryland’s child support system could look to Colorado reforms for blueprint to overhaul; verbal sparring by legislative committee, lobbyist for Hogan over governor’s toll plan; and lawmakers push for changes to disclosure rules on police discipline records.

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State Roundup: Services tax would raise more than $3.7B in 5 years

Gov. Larry Hogan’s Change Maryland Fund to use $1.1 million in donations to launch ads blasting Democrats in the General Assembly over crime and taxes; proposed services tax to pay for Kirwan education plan would generate $3.7 billion over five years, fiscal analysis says; with no Maryland cases of COVID-19, state agencies, including the Port, businesses, hospitals and schools set plans in motion; twin bills would provide protections for hospital patients struggling with medical debt; Maryland judiciary seeks changes in filing court case documents in secret; lawmakers consider slew of campaign finance bills, including lifting ban on Prince George’s politicians taking donations from developers; and President Trump to name former first lady Kendel Ehrlich to lead Justice Dept. office on sex offenders.

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State Roundup: Poll supports Kirwan but not taxes

New Goucher Poll finds strong support for Kirwan education reforms but concern over hike in taxes, with some urging status quo on taxes and state services; former state Attorney General Gansler approves of minimum sentencing for those who commit gun crimes, especially repeat offenders; proposal would ban police from offering waivers to sex crime victims to end investigation; father pushes bill to allow children with seizure disorders to use medical cannabis at school; Senate passes bill to stop discrimination by landlords against those using housing vouchers; Montgomery delegate hopes to find relief for businesses currently suffering through Purple Line construction; and Takoma Park considers banning use of fossil fuels.

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State Roundup: Lawmakers review Kirwan plan

State lawmakers begin review of Kirwan education recommendations, funding possibilities and dire warnings should it not be funded; in the meantime, students, parents and teachers rally outside State House to support education overhaul plan; Gov. Hogan names first inspector general to oversee education spending; with aging population, Maryland faces crisis in lack of one-on-one health care workers; UMMS board member acknowledges ‘some knowledge’ of Healthy Holly dealings; Kweisi Mfume takes heat over supporting sentencing leniency for Catherine Pugh; and five named to District Court bench in Prince George’s.

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State Roundup: House OKs school funds

Maryland House OKs $2.2 billion school repair, construction bill to ease crowding, replace old buildings; four committees to hear Kirwan education recommendations today; bill would enable people targeted by false police calls to sue the callers for damages; opioid chief Schuh defends expenditures after critical audit; half of Gov. Hogan’s “Green Bag” appointments go to women; new Redskins stadium may just replace the old one; state, local solution sought to hemp farm stench; and attorneys for Catherine Pugh cite distress, economic loss in seeking 366-day sentence for Baltimore’s former mayor.

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New Senate budget chair Guzzone forecasts a phase-in for school reforms, spending

The new chairman of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, Howard County’s Guy Guzzone, sees a way forward by phasing in the recommendations without tax hikes – at least for the moment. “If you’re going to spend all this money, you want to see results,” Guzzone said in an interview. “What I believe by now at this point is that we have the resources right now to get this going. We have the resources to see improvements along the way.” “And we’re going to keep checking. And every time we check and realize that we’re succeeding and we’re reaching the next level of success, we can say, OK, let’s figure out how to fund that next level. I think that’s the right way to think about it.”

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