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Politics

Hogan’s decision to withhold capital budget info irks Md. lawmakers
August 9, 2022 -

State agencies preparing their upcoming capital budgets are being ordered by the Hogan administration to withhold the release of budget data to legislative analysts through the use of executive privilege. The change, announced in an email from a top state budget official, comes as the state prepares for a new governor and for new legislative budget powers. Barring legislative analysts from summer capital budget planning meetings upends a decades-old practice and caught lawmakers and their budget experts flat-footed. Michael Ricci, a Hogan spokesman, downplayed the change and said it was necessary because of new budget powers granted to the General Assembly.

Read More: The Daily Record
Ehrlich to focus on fundraising, not cheerleading, for GOP candidates this fall
August 9, 2022 -

When Maryland Republican Party chair Dirk Haire and Rep. Andy Harris approached Bob Ehrlich about leading the GOP’s “2022 Victory campaign,” the former governor said he would be happy to do it. The party announced Ehrlich’s new role in a media release in which Haire called for Republicans to come together following the July 19 primary. “Now that we have nominees, we look forward to a spirited and unified front as our candidates fight for freedom and limited, efficient government in Maryland,” Haire said. “The Party looks forward to supporting all of our nominees up and down the ballot, just as the Party supported all of our nominees in all previous cycles.”

Read More: Maryland Matters
Raises for Baltimore County Executive, council and top official proposed
August 8, 2022 -

The Baltimore County Council is due to vote this month on legislation that would hike the salaries of the county executive, council members and the county’s head administrator by around 10% and do away with pension limits for council members. Two bills filed at the request of County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr.’s administration would amend bylaws to raise the pay of the county executive from $175,000 — the standard salary for the county chief since 2014 — to $192,000. Another proposal would increase County Administrative Officer Stacy Rodgers’ pay to $263,000.

Read More: The Baltimore Banner
SNAP enrollment drops sharply in Maryland; some say staffing shortages, policy shifts partially to blame
August 8, 2022 -

Nearly one in five Marylanders participating in a federal food assistance program dropped from the rolls between March and May, according to online Maryland Department of Human Services data. The sharp decline in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which used to be called food stamps, happened months after the state in January partially revived federally required eligibility check-ins, also called recertifications or redeterminations, which were paused during the pandemic, and just as food prices soared due to record inflation.

Read More: The Baltimore Banner
U.S. Senate passes major health, tax and climate bill in boost for Democrats
August 8, 2022 -

The U.S. Senate, along party lines, passed a sweeping energy, health care, climate and tax package Sunday afternoon, following an overnight marathon of votes that resulted in just a handful of notable changes to the legislation. The 755-page bill was passed after Vice President Kamala Harris broke a 50-50 tie in the evenly divided Senate. It now heads to the House, where Democratic leaders have announced they will take it up on Friday. “At last, we have arrived,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.  Democratic senators broke out into applause as Harris announced passage of the bill, expected to total more than $700 billion.

 

Read More: Maryland Matters
Tougher IRS enforcement central to Democrats’ economic package
August 8, 2022 -
After more than a decade of mostly losing out, the Internal Revenue Service may finally get the cash infusion it’s long wanted in the economic package that Democrats are working furiously to push through Congress before their August break. Under a deal worked out by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, the bill would spend an extra $79.6 billion on the beleaguered agency over the next 10 years. The plan would generate an additional $203.7 billion in revenue for the federal government over that time frame, for a net gain of more than $124 billion, the Congressional Budget Office projects.
Read More: The Daily Record
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Blair, trailing by 42 votes, will request recount in Montgomery County executive race
August 8, 2022 -

Businessman David Blair will request a recount in the race for Montgomery County executive, after another round of ballot counting on Saturday showed him down 42 votes to incumbent Marc Elrich. There are 34 ballots remaining to be reported, county elections officials said Saturday night. The razor-thin margin in the race means the recount of more than 110,000 ballots would be done at no cost to either candidate. “Given the extremely close margin, we will be requesting a full recount and are hopeful that the outcome will be in our favor,” Blair said in a statement.

 

Read More: Maryland Matters
Jan. 6 attack echoes on Maryland’s Eastern Shore as Democrat Heather Mizeur seeks inroads in ‘red’ district of Rep. Andy Harris
August 5, 2022 -

The Democratic congressional challenger walked up to the Republican candidates’ booth at the Cecil County Fair, smiled and introduced herself. “Hi, I’m Heather Mizeur. Nice to meet you,” she said. There, in a display hall surrounded by funnel cakes, corn dogs and tractors, she talked with a county Republican official about her platform of trying to bridge partisan political differences. Behind the booth hung banners with “GOP HQ” in red lettering, a gun raffle promotion and colorful signs for various Republican candidates, including U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, her opponent in the November election

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Nominee Cox wants party unity, but top GOP players turning a cold shoulder
August 5, 2022 -

The nomination of Dan Cox as the Republican candidate for governor has some GOP candidates running away from the top of the ticket, complicating the gubernatorial nominee’s hopes of uniting his party in time for the general election. Cox, who believes the election was stolen from former President Donald Trump, once branded Vice President Mike Pence “a traitor,” and sought to impeach Gov. Larry Hogan, soundly defeated his closest rival, Kelly Schulz, in last month’s primary.

Read More: The Daily Record
As vote count continues, Montgomery’s Democratic council field takes shape
August 5, 2022 -

The Democratic field for Montgomery County Council continues to take shape, with six more candidates — half of them women — projected to win the nominations, an outcome that could substantially change the makeup of a nine-person council that now has only one female member. At-large incumbents Gabe Albornoz, Will Jawando and Evan Glass are projected to win the Democratic nomination for their seats, while Marilyn Balcombe, Kate Stewart and Kristin Mink are projected to win the Democratic primaries in their districts.

Read More: Washington Post

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