A little bit of everything
Legislative analysts told lawmakers Monday that Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposed budget contains a number of fiscally responsible moves they had recommended in previous years and an unexpected $200 million drop in the cost of Medicaid health care. But it also extends for another five years $411 million in borrowing to replace cash from special funds used to finance other programs.
Read moreGov. Martin O’Malley on Wednesday proposed a total budget for fiscal 2014 of $37.3 billion, a $1.5 billion increase or 4.3% more than this year’s total spending, including money set aside as a surplus and rainy day fund.
Read moreFormer Sen. Chick Hagel knows that when he is confirmed as the next secretary of defense he will have to
Read moreHouse Speaker Michael Busch uses a PowerPoint presentation to debunk the war on rural Maryland, showing redistribution of state aid from higher income urban subdivisions to lower income and often more rural jurisdictions.
Read moreIn its annual scripted performance, the Spending Affordability Committee in Annapolis Thursday decided to just about eliminate the state’s structural deficit, but allow spending to rise about 4% next year, for an overall state budget of $37 billion in fiscal 2014. The Board of Revenue Estimates approved a slight uptick in revenues, but the big unknown is what will happen in Washington on the fiscal cliff.
Read moreHave you ever gone on a Nantucket Sleigh Ride? If you answer, “Yes,” then you’re an asshole. Now, some of
Read moreHouse Republicans rejected a deal proposed by the White House Thursday to avoid spending cuts and tax increases that will
Read moreA bi-partisan group called “Fix the Debt” has been set up to urge members of Congress to “compromise” and come up with “a grand bargain” that will avoid driving over the “fiscal cliff” of massive tax hikes and budget cuts scheduled for Jan. 1. The goal is “comprehensive and long-term solution to the debt problem,” said Michael Enright, former chief of staff of Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley. “The math involved in this is inescapable” and “it will involve pain and sacrifice for all of us.” “Everyone’s going to have to give a little bit,” said Chip DiPaula, former chief of staff for Republican Gov. Bob Ehrlich.
Read moreThe O’Malley administration is seeking authorization to float $750 million more in state debt over the next five years, a move Comptroller Peter Franchot objects to as potentially triggering a property tax hike.
Read moreCounty officials across Maryland are gearing up to push back against O’Malley administration policies that have cut state aid to the counties, piled on teacher pension costs with little say in how the pension system is run, and taken away local control over land use decisions.
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