Wednesday, October 30, 2024 | Baltimore, MD
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Politics

Maryland’s unprecedented surplus grows by $1.6 billion, setting stage for renewed tax cut debate

Maryland’s already swollen bank accounts are expected to grow by $1.6 billion, state forecasters said Thursday, setting the stage for renewed debate on how to spend the state’s historic surplus. Democrats have pushed extra funding for schools, child care and tax breaks on necessities such as diapers and medical equipment. Republicans have called for across-the-board tax breaks for retirees.

Harris embraces call for war crimes probe of Russia

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday embraced calls for an international war crimes investigation of Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, citing the “atrocities” of bombing civilians, including a maternity hospital. Speaking alongside Polish President Andrzej Duda at a press conference in Warsaw, where she is demonstrating U.S. support for NATO’s eastern flank allies, Harris expressed outrage over the bombing Wednesday of the maternity hospital and scenes of bloodied pregnant women being evacuated, as well as other attacks on civilians. She stopped short of directly accusing Russia of having committed war crimes.

Read More: Times-News
Pittman, Ball support commission to study health, environmental impacts of BWI airport on neighboring areas

Anne Arundel and Howard county executives said their constituents’ health and quality of life have been negatively affected by changes to flight paths at BWI Marshall Airport. At a hearing Wednesday, they advocated for a bill that would create a commission to study the impact the airport has on neighboring areas. The bill, co-sponsored by Sens. Clarence Lam, Sarah Elfreth, Guy Guzzone, Katie Fry Hester and Ed Reilly, would create a Maryland Aviation Infrastructure Impacts Commission to study the health and environmental impacts of the airport. The Senate Finance Committee met Wednesday to discuss the proposed commission, which would be composed of residents from Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard and Montgomery counties.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Governor, top lawmakers agree to pause Maryland gas tax 30 days amid surging fuel prices

Gov. Larry Hogan and top leaders in the Maryland General Assembly agreed to lift the state’s tax on gasoline and diesel to help blunt sharply rising costs for motorists. Lawmakers plan to act in the coming days to pass the monthlong tax break for drivers, House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones and Senate President Bill Ferguson, both Democrats, said in a joint statement Thursday. Hours earlier, Hogan, a Republican, had called for a temporary suspension of the gas tax “to help with the pain at the pump.”

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Baltimore County submits new redistricting map, but opponents remain concerned

The Baltimore County Council filed a new redistricting plan late Tuesday after a federal judge ruled last month that the council’s first proposal likely violated the Voting Rights Act. The new map creates an additional majority-minority district, but does not create two majority-Black districts, as critics argued it should. “With the map we submitted today, the opportunities exist now more than ever for people of color to get elected in Baltimore County,” County Council Chairman Julian E. Jones Jr. said in an emailed statement.

After Republican Amendment Attempts, House Moves Forward with Abortion Access Bills

The Democratic majority in the Maryland House of Delegates gave initial approval to abortion rights legislation on Wednesday after a lengthy debate and attempts to amend the legislation by Republicans. The House ultimately gave approval to two abortion rights bills, including a measure sponsored by House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County), House Bill 1171, which would allow voters to decide whether to enshrine access to abortion services in the Maryland Constitution.

Congress Passes USPS Reform Bill That Could Bring Relief To The Baltimore Area
A long-awaited bill to fix the nation’s deteriorating mail service has passed in both chambers of Congress. The Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 will shore up the U.S. Postal Service and ensure six-day-a-week mail delivery.  It comes after many across the country and locally were seeing sporadic mail service.  “It’s like two days a week we’ll get mail,” said Frank Austin, a Dundalk resident.
Read More: WJZ
Biden orders sweeping cryptocurrency review, setting stage for regulation

President Biden signed an executive order Wednesday for a sweeping review of the government’s approach to cryptocurrencies, aiming to secure the nation’s position as a leader in the rapidly growing industry while containing risks to consumers and the financial system itself. Ultimately, some structure could be imposed on what has been a fractured regulatory response to the rise of digital assets in a global market now valued at roughly $1.85 trillion.

Maryland poised to become second state in U.S. to ban declawing cats

Move over, liquor lobby. Step aside, Big Pharma. The cat lobby has arrived in Annapolis and already notched a win: Maryland is poised to become the second state in the country to ban declawing. The procedure, commonly performed for decades but now deemed barbaric and unnecessary by pet owners and some veterinarians, is banned in many parts of the world and also in several cities across the country, including Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Denver. New York passed a statewide ban in 2019.

Floor Report: Lawmakers Seek to Limit Possible Primary Election Delay, Introduce Russian Divestment Bill, and More

Lawmakers amended a proposed elections cost-sharing agreement to ban election officials from asking courts to push back the upcoming primary election beyond July 12 during a Tuesday morning floor session. The amendment, introduced by Del. Jheanelle K. Wilkins (D-Montgomery), would mean that election officials wouldn’t be able to ask for an extension beyond two weeks after the currently scheduled June 28 primary election if the bill passes.

The Morning Rundown

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