The State Of The State, A Bill To Speed FDA Drug Approvals, and A Bill To Strip Pensions From Officials Convicted Of Crimes Committed While In Office

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Governor Martin O'Malley says that "the state of the state is strong." That comment was part of his annual State of the State address, which he delivered before lawmakers in Annapolis yesterday. O'Malley talked about creating jobs during the speech, as well as some revenue-raising measured designed to pay for new projects... including a sales tax on gasoline, a higher "flush tax," and a plan to raise more income tax revenue from Maryland's top wage-earners. WYPR's Joel McCord attended the speech -- and reports on O'Malley's ambitious agenda here. More on the speech here from marylandreporter.com and here from the Baltimore Sun.

O'Malley also talked about his bill to legalize same-sex marriage during the State of the State address -- and highlighted the protections the bill would provide to the children of same-sex couples. The measure got a first hearing in a State Senate Committee earlier this week... and yesterday, it was introduced in the House of Delegates. The bill will need 71 votes to pass the House; the measure has 56 co-sponsors, including Speaker of the House Michael Busch (via the Baltimore Sun). 

Politicans who are convicted of crimes committed while in office could lose their pensions, under a bill now moving through the General Assembly. Currently, elected officials lose their pensions if they're convicted while in office, but if they resign before conviction, they get to keep their pensions... and if their cases are resolved after they leave office -- as was the situation with former Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson -- they also get to keep their pensions. Republican Delegate Ron George has introduced introduced a bill that would deny officeholders of their pensions if it can be proved that their crimes were committed while in office. The measure has more than 60 co-sponsors in the House of Delegates (via the Baltimore Sun). 

Democratic Senator Barbara Mikulski is introducing a bill that would speed up FDA approval for drugs that treat chronic conditions; Mikulski says the measure will save lives and money (via the Baltimore Sun). 

Maryland university officials are supporting Governor Martin O'Malley's proposed increase in higher-education spending (via the Baltimore Sun). 

Maryland's Public Service Commission is taking away the small extra fee utilities charge to cover losses after a power outage. The PSC hopes removing the fee will speed up power restoration -- but a spokesperson for BGE says the utility has always worked to get the power back as quickly as possible (via our wire service; more here from WJZ). BGE's parent company, Constellation Energy, is hoping that its plans to merge with Chigago-based Exelon will get approval from the Public Service Commission... and the two companies have announced plans for a new Baltimore headquarters if that merger is approved. They say they'll put up a new building at Harbor Point, a project being led by developer John Paterakis Sr. The PSC says decide whether to approve the Constellation/Exelon merger by February 17th (via the Baltimore Sun and the Baltimore Business Journal).

A state panel is saying the Carroll County Board of Commissioners violated Maryland's Open Meetings Act (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun). 

The Harford County teachers union and school board say they've reached a tentative deal on a proposed $625 bonus for teachers (via our wire service and the Baltimore Sun). 

And: the city of Cumberland in Western Maryland hosted a Groundhog Day celebration this morning -- with their own weather-prognosticating whistle pig, known as "Mountain Maryland Murray." Did Murray see his shadow? YES. Murry agreed with Punxsutawney Phil that we're in store for six more weeks of winter (via WCBC radio).

And if (for some reason) you want to hear Nathan's ludicrous on-air celebration of Groundhog Day, check it out here.