Roundup: Maryland General Assembly 2010
Under the shadow of the looming fall election, state lawmakers return to Annapolis on Wednesday. They'll try to close a $2 billion by retaining last year's deep cuts and slashing even more. Can they do it without isolating voters?
Here are the top policy issues that have emerged so far:
Energy re-regulation: Repeal the state's 1999 decision to get out of the business of regulating energy.
Education: Increase the number of years it takes for teachers to achieve tenure and require unions to bargain over alternative pay.
Unemployment insurance: Require employers to use "alternative base period" in determining eligibility for unemployment insurance.
Death penalty: Add fingerprints and still photographs to the list of evidence acceptable in capital cases.
Gangs: Standardize reporting requirements between schools and law enforcement about gang activity.
Sex-offender registry: Review how major sex offenders from other states who move to Maryland are classified on the state sex offender registry.
Jobs: Give $3,000 tax credit to businesses for every unemployed Marylander they hire and put $10 million toward state guarantees of bank loans made to small businesses.
The Sun's editorial board promises a session with more headlines than a typical election year.
Other media weigh in with General Assembly predictions:
Associated Press
The Capital
The Gazette
Washington Post
The Daily Record (subscribers)
MarylandReporter.com (a roundup of roundups)
We'd like to hear from you. What do you think will -- or should -- be front and center for Maryland lawmakers this year?
Comments
I am upset by a factoid that is being tossed around by Maryland politicos, that there will be "no new taxes" this year in Maryland.
I suppose these folks have not spoken to State employees, who have taken numerous pay cuts and furlough days over the past two years. These cuts are essentially "taxes" on State Employees.
Furthermore, this "tax on state employees" has allowed other Marylanders who are employed in the private sector to avoid new or increased taxes on their income. This is wrong.
I also think it is funny that lawmakers have refused a raise this year, as if that makes anything better. I would be more impressed if they cut their salary by 5%, as most state employees have been forced to do.
Just my personal opinion.
Posted by: Andrew Kujan | January 11, 2010 4:45 PM