Tag: Thomas Mac Middleton
Higher pay sought for caregivers of disabled
With the governor and legislators pushing for an increase in Maryland’s state minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, advocates of people with disabilities want to make sure their paid caregivers get higher wages, since the state now only reimburses them at $9.82 an hour.
Read MoreMd. health insurance exchange to open this fall at cost of $200M
The cost of implementing Maryland’s new health insurance exchange program – a component of President Barack Obama’s signature health care law – will reach nearly $200 million as the exchange opens for business Oct. 1. The $200 million will pay for the program to get underway, and the state is kicking in more than $20 million of that, despite early assurances that federal funds would pay for implementation of the program.
Read MoreProposal to webcast Senate committee voting shot down
Maryland citizens will have to wait at least another year to get remote access to one of the most important but least accessible parts of the legislative process: committee voting sessions in which bills are amended, killed or sent to the floor.
The Senate Rules Committee on Wednesday voted down a proposed amendment to Senate rules by Sen. Allan Kittleman, R-Howard, that would have required Senate committees to webcast the crucial voting sessions, as the committee hearings already are.
Read MoreSenate rejects monthly surcharge for some utility customers
The Senate on Wednesday shot down a bill to compel the Public Service Commission to approve a $2 monthly surcharge for customers of Washington Gas Light that was rejected in November. The bill was reconsidered Wednesday after it was voted down 22-23 Tuesday, picking up another no vote in the second tally.
Read MoreCaregivers are angry over unspent disabilities funding
Health Secretary Joshua Sharfstein will try to explain to the Senate Finance Committee Wednesday how the Developmental Disabilities Administration left $38 million unspent over the last two years while 6,500 patients sit on a waiting list for state services. Most of the caregivers and advocates for the disabled were angry and upset after MarylandReporter.com reported about the unspent money three weeks ago, a surplus that forced $25 million in potential state aid to be reverted to the general fund. We profile three of the affected families.
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UPDATE: Expanded union rights for private state contractors passes Senate
As governors and legislatures in the Midwest battle over rolling back collective bargaining rights for government workers, Maryland lawmakers are on the verge of establishing more union rights for private home health aides paid by the state. The Senate gave final approval to the bill Friday afternoon in a 31 to 16 vote with several Democrats joining the dozen Republicans opposing the bill.
Read MoreBlog Update: Discrimination bill dies; collective bargaining for home health workers revived
A fiercely debated bill allowing lawsuits in state courts over discrimination in stores, restaurants and airports was sent back to a Senate committee Wednesday, effectively killing the bill, as about 20 blind people who had lobbied for the measure sat disappointed in the gallery.
Read MoreBlog: Discrimination stories, frivolous lawsuits dominate Senate debate
A bill to create a state option for people who feel they have been discriminated against by hotels, bars and restaurants, theaters and stores led senators into an impassioned discussion of discrimination, the woes of small business and frivolous lawsuits on Thursday morning.
Read MoreVideo: Senate Finance Chairman outlines health care reform efforts
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Thomas Mac Middleton talks about why Maryland is implementing health care reform so quickly.
Read MoreMore renewable energy policies aim to save money and environment
The push to use more renewable energy sources from the governor and legislators is one of the green themes of this year’s General Assembly, and the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday heard mixed testimony on six bills to enhance the state’s renewable energy policy, including trash talk from the chairman.
Read MoreCrime Stoppers wants full anonymity for tipsters; senator wants more rights for identity theft victims
Maryland’s Crime Stoppers organizations are fighting for legislation for the right to be able to guarantee tipsters anonymity when they call to report crimes or details about crimes. However, they might not be able to guarantee total anonymity.
Read MoreHalfway through the session, much remains to be done
By Len Lazarick [email protected] The 2010 session of the Maryland General Assembly is halfway over, with just six weeks left to go. Little of importance has been accomplished, which could be either bad or good depending...
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