Politics

A bill that would create a Maryland Rail Administration to expand the state’s rail network and oversee financing, construction and maintenance of the system is likely facing strong headwinds in the Maryland General Assembly this session. The bill, introduced for a second year by House Majority Leader Marc Korman (D-Montgomery), would create a funding source for expansion of the state’s rail program by increasing tolls around the state and tapping into toll revenues collected by the Maryland Transportation Authority. That money, however, is already dedicated to pay for upkeep of the state’s toll tunnels, bridges and the Intercounty Connector, and used as a dedicated revenue source to pay the debt service of bonds that transportation authority sells to fund projects.

A proposed agreement for Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. to maintain the city’s underground conduit system is moving quickly and could be put to Baltimore’s spending board for consideration in the next month, city officials said Wednesday. The details of the agreement, which have yet to be fully released and which officials say are still being negotiated, call for BGE to take over maintenance of the 700-mile terra cotta pipe system that runs beneath the city and contains telephone, electric and fiber-optic cables. In exchange, BGE would no longer pay to rent space in the system. BGE is the largest user to the system, which dates to 1898, and it currently occupies 76% of the conduit.

Members of Congress receive thousands of threats a year, though just a fraction of the people who call, mail or email will ever be prosecuted — a situation that’s of great concern to the police who guard members. Just 22 of the 7,501 threats lobbed at members during 2022 led to prosecution, the U.S. Capitol Police confirmed to States Newsroom on Tuesday. It’s a statistic the chief of police has said needs to change. “Recognizing that threat cases are difficult to prosecute, it is disheartening to me that our prosecution rate remains low,” USCP Chief Thomas Manger said during a recent congressional hearing while talking about the 2021 numbers.

As Gov. Wes Moore (D) delivered his first State of the State address on Wednesday, he highlighted six Marylanders for their service to their communities and the state. Judy Roopnaraine has worked the last eight years for the state’s Department of General Services doing maintenance work mostly inside the State House. Wednesday marked the first time she watched the State of the State address in person, seated next to first lady Dawn Moore and the governor’s family. “Tens of thousands of government workers through our state serve our people,” Moore said before Roopnaraine blew a kiss toward him from her perch in the House of Delegates gallery. “They do so despite the fact the pay could be better, the incoming complaints could be fewer, the challenges could be easier. They do it because, like you and I, they love our state.”

The Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Tuesday heard comments for and against two pieces of legislation. The first is about drag racing and other types of dangerous driving that local Maryland governments and their police forces say are becoming bigger problems. The bill, sponsored by Anne Arundel County Democrat state Sen. Pam Beidle, would increase the fines and even allow police to arrest drivers engaged in both street racing and what’s defined as “exhibition driving.” Cars could also be impounded. The law is modeled after one crafted for Ocean City after an event organized on social media called H2Oi started showing and causing problems there.

Alonzo Washington’s exit from the House of Delegates for the Maryland Senate has prompted yet another series of changes on State House scorecards. Del. Jheanelle Wilkins (D-Montgomery) will replace Washington as vice chair of the Ways and Means Committee, House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County) announced Tuesday. Wilkins, the recently elected chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, had been the House parliamentarian, but Stephanie M. Smith (D-Baltimore City) now steps up to that position, Jones said. Smith, who chairs the Baltimore City House delegation, is chair of the Appropriations Committee’s Education and Economic Development Subcommittee.

The price of a flood prevention project in Ellicott City which saw two major flooding events in 2016 and 2018, has skyrocketed by nearly $50 million. According to Howard County officials, building the “extended north tunnel” is now expected to cost $130 million, compared to the $82 million price tag that was initially announced along with the project in 2019. County Executive Calvin Ball (D) put much of the blame on inflation. “While we understood the sizable investment required when we began this project in 2019, we could not foresee the present inflationary pressures,” Ball said. According to Ball, construction and building costs in Maryland over the past year have increased by nearly 15% and more than 21%, respectively.

Maryland has joined the U.S. Climate Alliance and is supporting efforts to address climate change, including reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, land preservation, and other actions, Gov. Wes Moore announced last week. Moore’s $63.1 billion budget proposal, released Jan. 20, includes $422 million for environmental protection in Maryland. The investment would be made through programs funded by the transfer tax supporting land preservation, operations, and capital projects for state parks. It would accompany $129 million in general funds for the Great Maryland Outdoors Act’s revision of the transfer tax repayment provision.