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| Md. equal-pay bill for women moves to Gov. Hogan’s desk | Md. equal-pay bill for women moves to Gov. Hogan’s desk |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Maryland House of Delegates gave final legislative approval Saturday to a bill designed to help close the gender pay gap for women, sending the measure to Gov. Larry Hogan (R) two days before the end of the 2016 legislative session. | The Maryland House of Delegates gave final legislative approval Saturday to a bill designed to help close the gender pay gap for women, sending the measure to Gov. Larry Hogan (R) two days before the end of the 2016 legislative session. |
| The proposal, approved by the House in a 100-to-36 vote, would ban employers from providing lower wages or less-favorable job opportunities based on sex or gender identity as well as bar any workplace rules against discussing pay with colleagues. The governor has not taken a position on the legislation. | The proposal, approved by the House in a 100-to-36 vote, would ban employers from providing lower wages or less-favorable job opportunities based on sex or gender identity as well as bar any workplace rules against discussing pay with colleagues. The governor has not taken a position on the legislation. |
| “We are going to review it and will make a determination,” said Hogan spokesman Matt Clark. | “We are going to review it and will make a determination,” said Hogan spokesman Matt Clark. |
| The vote came on a busy day in Annapolis, during which lawmakers in the General Assembly rushed to pass bills and negotiate final agreements between the two chambers before the end of the session on Monday. | The vote came on a busy day in Annapolis, during which lawmakers in the General Assembly rushed to pass bills and negotiate final agreements between the two chambers before the end of the session on Monday. |
| The House also passed a bill to reduce taxes for middle-income residents and many businesses while expanding tax credits for the working poor, setting up a final round of negotiations with the Senate, which has approved a significantly different version. | The House also passed a bill to reduce taxes for middle-income residents and many businesses while expanding tax credits for the working poor, setting up a final round of negotiations with the Senate, which has approved a significantly different version. |
| House lawmakers voted 137 to 0 in favor of the bill, despite some Republicans’ voicing opposition to a provision that would allow multi-state corporations to base their tax rates on sales in Maryland rather than on a combination of sales, property and payroll in the state. | |
| Supporters of the single-sales method say it would benefit companies that move to Maryland or remain in the state, since many would face a lower tax burden under the policy. But several Republicans have raised concerns about how the change would affect other businesses. | Supporters of the single-sales method say it would benefit companies that move to Maryland or remain in the state, since many would face a lower tax burden under the policy. But several Republicans have raised concerns about how the change would affect other businesses. |
| The House version of the bill would provide a modest rate reduction for middle-income taxpayers. Individual filers would save $100 on their first $100,000 of income, while joint filers would save $150 on their first $150,000. | The House version of the bill would provide a modest rate reduction for middle-income taxpayers. Individual filers would save $100 on their first $100,000 of income, while joint filers would save $150 on their first $150,000. |
| The Senate measure would slightly increase the income-tax exemption for middle-income earners from $3,200 to $3,400 over four years and lower rates for households earning more than $150,000. | The Senate measure would slightly increase the income-tax exemption for middle-income earners from $3,200 to $3,400 over four years and lower rates for households earning more than $150,000. |
| Many Democrats have objected to the latter provision, saying it would benefit the wealthiest Marylanders at the expense of state services. | Many Democrats have objected to the latter provision, saying it would benefit the wealthiest Marylanders at the expense of state services. |
| The House and Senate versions of the bill would both expand eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit, extending the benefit for the working poor to taxpayers who are 18 and older. Under existing law, the credit applies only to low-income individuals with children. | The House and Senate versions of the bill would both expand eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit, extending the benefit for the working poor to taxpayers who are 18 and older. Under existing law, the credit applies only to low-income individuals with children. |
| The two chambers appointed lawmakers to a conference committee to work out differences between the measures. The governor has endorsed the Senate plan. | |
| The Senate also voted 45 to 1 in favor of a bill that would make sweeping changes to how police officers are hired, trained and disciplined in Maryland. With the Senate version differing from the House bill, the legislation will probably be settled on Monday. | |
| The proposal would require officers to receive psychological evaluations after traumatic incidents; give residents more time to file brutality complaints; reduce the amount of time given to officers accused of misconduct before they are required to cooperate with an internal investigation; and require a new commission to develop anti-discrimination and use-of-force de-escalation training for all officers. Lawmakers in the Senate and House disagreed over who should serve on police review boards. | |
| Larry Stafford, executive director of Progressive Maryland, applauded the movement on the bill and said he remains “hopeful that we get a meaningful piece of legislation that will address the problems in policing across the state.” | Larry Stafford, executive director of Progressive Maryland, applauded the movement on the bill and said he remains “hopeful that we get a meaningful piece of legislation that will address the problems in policing across the state.” |
| Sen. Justin D. Ready, who voted against the measure, said he opposes the premise of the bill. He argued that to truly improve police-community relations, the legislation must also consider the community’s role in the relationship. | Sen. Justin D. Ready, who voted against the measure, said he opposes the premise of the bill. He argued that to truly improve police-community relations, the legislation must also consider the community’s role in the relationship. |
| “My concern is this falls heavily on the rank-and-file police officers,” said Ready (R-Carroll). | “My concern is this falls heavily on the rank-and-file police officers,” said Ready (R-Carroll). |
| The Senate also voted 30 to 16 on a bill that would raise the maximum weekly amount that individuals who lose their jobs can receive in unemployment benefits from $430 to $445. | The Senate also voted 30 to 16 on a bill that would raise the maximum weekly amount that individuals who lose their jobs can receive in unemployment benefits from $430 to $445. |
| Some lawmakers opposed the increase, saying it would hurt small businesses. But others, including Sen. Delores G. Kelley (D-Baltimore County), said the money “is going back into the economy” when people go to the grocery store, pay their rent and otherwise spend the benefit. | |
| The bill will move to the House for consideration. | The bill will move to the House for consideration. |
| Also on Saturday, the Senate gave preliminary approval to a bill that would allow dentists, podiatrists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners to write prescriptions for medical marijuana. | Also on Saturday, the Senate gave preliminary approval to a bill that would allow dentists, podiatrists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners to write prescriptions for medical marijuana. |
| Several lawmakers said they worried about whether that legislation went too far. But Sen. Robert A. Zirkin (D-Baltimore County) said he saw it as an extension of the state’s approval of allowing medical marijuana, ensuring that all who are licensed to prescribe marijuana have the ability to do so. | Several lawmakers said they worried about whether that legislation went too far. But Sen. Robert A. Zirkin (D-Baltimore County) said he saw it as an extension of the state’s approval of allowing medical marijuana, ensuring that all who are licensed to prescribe marijuana have the ability to do so. |
| “We’re either going to treat it as medication or we’re not,” Zirkin said. | “We’re either going to treat it as medication or we’re not,” Zirkin said. |