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| Maryland House approves Gov. Hogan’s $42 billion budget | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Maryland House of Delegates on Wednesday approved Gov. Larry Hogan’s $42 billion operating budget, with lawmakers applauding the bill as a bipartisan plan that moved through the General Assembly with greater ease than any other spending blueprint they have seen in years. | The Maryland House of Delegates on Wednesday approved Gov. Larry Hogan’s $42 billion operating budget, with lawmakers applauding the bill as a bipartisan plan that moved through the General Assembly with greater ease than any other spending blueprint they have seen in years. |
| The Senate and the House have both passed the legislation, but with dozens of minor amendments that must be reconciled in conference committee before going back to both chambers for final approval. The budget passed 46 to 0 in the Senate and 133 to 5 in the House. | The Senate and the House have both passed the legislation, but with dozens of minor amendments that must be reconciled in conference committee before going back to both chambers for final approval. The budget passed 46 to 0 in the Senate and 133 to 5 in the House. |
| The budget fully funds all of Maryland’s spending formulas and the pension system while giving state employees raises and providing ample money for the social safety net, said Del. Maggie L. McIntosh (D-Baltimore), the chair of the House Appropriations Committee. She said it leaves a projected $1.4 billion in surplus and reserves. | The budget fully funds all of Maryland’s spending formulas and the pension system while giving state employees raises and providing ample money for the social safety net, said Del. Maggie L. McIntosh (D-Baltimore), the chair of the House Appropriations Committee. She said it leaves a projected $1.4 billion in surplus and reserves. |
| “We have shown the people of Maryland and America that compromise and good policy are possible,” House Minority Leader Nicholaus R. Kipke (R-Anne Arundel) said. | “We have shown the people of Maryland and America that compromise and good policy are possible,” House Minority Leader Nicholaus R. Kipke (R-Anne Arundel) said. |
| Hogan (R) praised the legislature’s passage of the budget, but said he remains concerned about reductions in the state’s rainy-day fund and about whether lawmakers will approve his bill to weaken spending mandates during economic hard times. | Hogan (R) praised the legislature’s passage of the budget, but said he remains concerned about reductions in the state’s rainy-day fund and about whether lawmakers will approve his bill to weaken spending mandates during economic hard times. |
| “I urge the legislature to continue to ensure that the state operates within its means and remain focused on meaningful dialogue about mandate and tax relief for all Marylanders,” the governor said in a statement. | “I urge the legislature to continue to ensure that the state operates within its means and remain focused on meaningful dialogue about mandate and tax relief for all Marylanders,” the governor said in a statement. |
| The Senate also gave initial approval to a criminal-justice reform bill that is supposed to reduce the prison population and prison costs and address what advocates said are overly harsh sentencing policies for nonviolent drug offenders. | The Senate also gave initial approval to a criminal-justice reform bill that is supposed to reduce the prison population and prison costs and address what advocates said are overly harsh sentencing policies for nonviolent drug offenders. |
| The bill was delayed for two days this week amid questions from the Legislative Black Caucus and others on whether changes in sentences for parole violators would result in a significant reduction in prison population and costs. | The bill was delayed for two days this week amid questions from the Legislative Black Caucus and others on whether changes in sentences for parole violators would result in a significant reduction in prison population and costs. |
| Initially, changes from the bill were supposed to bring savings of nearly $250 million over 10 years. But an analysis of the impact of several amendments adopted by the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee suggested the savings would be closer to $34 million over that time period. The committee changed one amendment Monday, and its chair said the bill would still offer substantial cost savings. | Initially, changes from the bill were supposed to bring savings of nearly $250 million over 10 years. But an analysis of the impact of several amendments adopted by the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee suggested the savings would be closer to $34 million over that time period. The committee changed one amendment Monday, and its chair said the bill would still offer substantial cost savings. |
| [‘Landmark’ criminal justice bill delayed as its impact is questioned] | [‘Landmark’ criminal justice bill delayed as its impact is questioned] |
| There was no debate on the floor about the issue Wednesday, and no new amendments were offered. A final Senate vote on the bill is scheduled for Thursday. If approved, it will then be sent to the House. | There was no debate on the floor about the issue Wednesday, and no new amendments were offered. A final Senate vote on the bill is scheduled for Thursday. If approved, it will then be sent to the House. |
| Before Wednesday's Senate session, the black lawmakers met privately to discuss the bill. Reporters were not permitted to attend, and none of the legislators, including the caucus chair, Del. Barbara A. Robinson (D-Baltimore City), would comment on what action the group planned to take. | Before Wednesday's Senate session, the black lawmakers met privately to discuss the bill. Reporters were not permitted to attend, and none of the legislators, including the caucus chair, Del. Barbara A. Robinson (D-Baltimore City), would comment on what action the group planned to take. |
| But applause — and raised voices — were audible outside the meeting room at times, and Del. Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk (D-Prince George’s) could be heard pushing the caucus to take a stand. | But applause — and raised voices — were audible outside the meeting room at times, and Del. Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk (D-Prince George’s) could be heard pushing the caucus to take a stand. |
| “We are 47 black members and we can make a difference,” she said. “This is an issue that we can make a difference on.” | “We are 47 black members and we can make a difference,” she said. “This is an issue that we can make a difference on.” |
| The Senate gave final approval to a bill that would allow voters to decide in November whether daily fantasy sports should be legal in Maryland. The measure now heads to the House. | The Senate gave final approval to a bill that would allow voters to decide in November whether daily fantasy sports should be legal in Maryland. The measure now heads to the House. |
| Senators delayed action on a pay-equity bill after a protracted debate about the effect it would have on small businesses. | Senators delayed action on a pay-equity bill after a protracted debate about the effect it would have on small businesses. |
| The bill would prohibit private-sector employers from punishing workers who talk about their salaries and from providing women with less-favorable advancement opportunities, such as restricting them from management positions under the assumption that they will become pregnant. It also changes the statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit regarding pay equity. Instead of having to file within three years of the time of the incident, people would have three years from the time they discover they were allegedly being discriminated against. | The bill would prohibit private-sector employers from punishing workers who talk about their salaries and from providing women with less-favorable advancement opportunities, such as restricting them from management positions under the assumption that they will become pregnant. It also changes the statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit regarding pay equity. Instead of having to file within three years of the time of the incident, people would have three years from the time they discover they were allegedly being discriminated against. |
| “This is going to hurt small businesses like myself,” said state Sen. Wayne Norman (R-Harford), who is an attorney. | “This is going to hurt small businesses like myself,” said state Sen. Wayne Norman (R-Harford), who is an attorney. |
| Also on Wednesday, advocates who are pushing a bill that would require schools to teach students about sex-abuse awareness and prevention held a rally in Annapolis. | Also on Wednesday, advocates who are pushing a bill that would require schools to teach students about sex-abuse awareness and prevention held a rally in Annapolis. |
| [She was abused as a child. Now she pushes for sex-abuse prevention laws.] | [She was abused as a child. Now she pushes for sex-abuse prevention laws.] |
| Under the bill, the state Department of Education and non-public schools that receive state funds would be required to develop and implement age-appropriate curriculum on the awareness and prevention of sexual abuse and assault. | Under the bill, the state Department of Education and non-public schools that receive state funds would be required to develop and implement age-appropriate curriculum on the awareness and prevention of sexual abuse and assault. |
| The measure, which has passed the House, had a hearing Wednesday in the Senate Health Education and Environmental Affairs Committee. | The measure, which has passed the House, had a hearing Wednesday in the Senate Health Education and Environmental Affairs Committee. |