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| Maryland General Assembly opens a new era in Annapolis | Maryland General Assembly opens a new era in Annapolis |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Maryland lawmakers launched a new era for the General Assembly on Wednesday, electing Baltimore City Democrat Bill Ferguson as the successor to longtime Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. and choosing African American women for the top two House leadership posts. | Maryland lawmakers launched a new era for the General Assembly on Wednesday, electing Baltimore City Democrat Bill Ferguson as the successor to longtime Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. and choosing African American women for the top two House leadership posts. |
| In early morning interviews in Annapolis, both Ferguson and House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County) focused on plans to overhaul the state’s education system, while Gov. Larry Hogan (R) continued to stress holding public officials accountable for misconduct. | |
| Hogan announced Tuesday that he would include a bill to toughen the state’s ethics laws in his legislative package, with increased penalties for state lawmakers convicted of wrongdoing. | Hogan announced Tuesday that he would include a bill to toughen the state’s ethics laws in his legislative package, with increased penalties for state lawmakers convicted of wrongdoing. |
| Six current or former Democratic lawmakers have been charged with or convicted of corruption in recent years, including two at the end of 2019. Hogan has dubbed the 90-day legislative session that opens Wednesday the “accountability” session, and Maryland Republicans are trying to raise money off the ethics scandals that happened across the aisle. | Six current or former Democratic lawmakers have been charged with or convicted of corruption in recent years, including two at the end of 2019. Hogan has dubbed the 90-day legislative session that opens Wednesday the “accountability” session, and Maryland Republicans are trying to raise money off the ethics scandals that happened across the aisle. |
| But Hogan faced questions himself about ethics during a traditional opening-day interview by radio host Marc Steiner at the Calvert House in Annapolis. Steiner asked the governor about his real estate company’s business dealings, citing a report in the Washington Monthly that questioned whether he has adequately separated himself the company since taking office in 2015. | But Hogan faced questions himself about ethics during a traditional opening-day interview by radio host Marc Steiner at the Calvert House in Annapolis. Steiner asked the governor about his real estate company’s business dealings, citing a report in the Washington Monthly that questioned whether he has adequately separated himself the company since taking office in 2015. |
| The report described major state transportation projects that have advanced during Hogan’s tenure and are located near Hogan-owned properties, and quoted government ethics watchdogs and Democrats concerned that the governor has not put the business in a blind trust or specifically recused himself from transportation decisions. | The report described major state transportation projects that have advanced during Hogan’s tenure and are located near Hogan-owned properties, and quoted government ethics watchdogs and Democrats concerned that the governor has not put the business in a blind trust or specifically recused himself from transportation decisions. |
| Hogan, who turned control of the real estate company over to his brother when he became governor, called the report “completely false” and said it was orchestrated by Democratic operatives. He told Steiner he is complying with all applicable laws and following a process approved by the state Ethics Commission that is supposed to ensure transparency. | Hogan, who turned control of the real estate company over to his brother when he became governor, called the report “completely false” and said it was orchestrated by Democratic operatives. He told Steiner he is complying with all applicable laws and following a process approved by the state Ethics Commission that is supposed to ensure transparency. |
| “We were completely transparent,” the governor said. “Every single thing that we have interest in we turn over to the Ethics Commission.” | “We were completely transparent,” the governor said. “Every single thing that we have interest in we turn over to the Ethics Commission.” |
| Asked about the issue, Jones said she expects the House Appropriations Committee to scrutinize state transportation projects. | Asked about the issue, Jones said she expects the House Appropriations Committee to scrutinize state transportation projects. |
| Her chief of staff, Alexandra Hughes, later elaborated in a statement, saying: “Speaker Jones looks forward to reviewing all transportation projects as a part of the regular budget process ... Maryland’s Governor has the strongest budget and transportation authority of any governor in the country. The Speaker has instructed the House transportation subcommittee chairs to ask the tough questions to ensure that there is transparency and accountability for projects in the transportation budget.” | Her chief of staff, Alexandra Hughes, later elaborated in a statement, saying: “Speaker Jones looks forward to reviewing all transportation projects as a part of the regular budget process ... Maryland’s Governor has the strongest budget and transportation authority of any governor in the country. The Speaker has instructed the House transportation subcommittee chairs to ask the tough questions to ensure that there is transparency and accountability for projects in the transportation budget.” |
| Jones and Ferguson have ascended to powerful new roles in Annapolis this session, presiding over the House and Senate, respectively. Both chambers have supermajorities of Democrats. | Jones and Ferguson have ascended to powerful new roles in Annapolis this session, presiding over the House and Senate, respectively. Both chambers have supermajorities of Democrats. |
| Jones last spring replaced former speaker Michael E. Busch, who died unexpectedly at the end of the 2019 session and was Maryland’s longest-serving speaker. She is the first woman and the first African American to lead a Maryland state house chamber. | Jones last spring replaced former speaker Michael E. Busch, who died unexpectedly at the end of the 2019 session and was Maryland’s longest-serving speaker. She is the first woman and the first African American to lead a Maryland state house chamber. |
| Miller (D-Calvert) is ailing from cancer and decided to step down as president and become a rank-and-file senator. | Miller (D-Calvert) is ailing from cancer and decided to step down as president and become a rank-and-file senator. |
| Both Ferguson and Jones have vowed to shepherd through a sweeping education reform package — known as the Kirwan recommendations — that aims to end disparities and elevate Maryland schools to become the envy of the world. | Both Ferguson and Jones have vowed to shepherd through a sweeping education reform package — known as the Kirwan recommendations — that aims to end disparities and elevate Maryland schools to become the envy of the world. |
| The program, which carries an eventual $4 billion annual price tag, has been dismissed by Hogan and other Republicans as too expensive. | The program, which carries an eventual $4 billion annual price tag, has been dismissed by Hogan and other Republicans as too expensive. |
| “There is no formula for where the money comes from,” Hogan said during the morning interview. “It’s just all make-believe at this point.” | “There is no formula for where the money comes from,” Hogan said during the morning interview. “It’s just all make-believe at this point.” |
| But Ferguson said that with only 1 in 4 Maryland high school graduates earning a college degree or an industry-recognized certificate within 10 years of finishing high school, the state over the next decade faces not just an “education problem — we have an economic crisis on our hands.” | But Ferguson said that with only 1 in 4 Maryland high school graduates earning a college degree or an industry-recognized certificate within 10 years of finishing high school, the state over the next decade faces not just an “education problem — we have an economic crisis on our hands.” |
| “The cost of doing nothing is something the state of Maryland cannot bear,” he said. | “The cost of doing nothing is something the state of Maryland cannot bear,” he said. |
| Ferguson said the state has identified funding for the first three years of Kirwan recommendations that do not involve raising property or income taxes. But, he said, a time will come when the state will need to look at the state’s tax structure and consider taxing new industries, such as online music sales. | Ferguson said the state has identified funding for the first three years of Kirwan recommendations that do not involve raising property or income taxes. But, he said, a time will come when the state will need to look at the state’s tax structure and consider taxing new industries, such as online music sales. |
| “We cannot rely on a 19th century tax system,” he said. | “We cannot rely on a 19th century tax system,” he said. |
| Jones said the General Assembly will probably pass legislation to put sports betting on the ballot to help generate money for schools, and Ferguson suggested that some tobacco taxes could be directed toward education as well. | Jones said the General Assembly will probably pass legislation to put sports betting on the ballot to help generate money for schools, and Ferguson suggested that some tobacco taxes could be directed toward education as well. |
| Other top agenda items for Democrats this session include: a ban on flavored vaping, background checks on private sales of rifles, a settlement for historically black colleges and universities, the future of horse racing and health care. | Other top agenda items for Democrats this session include: a ban on flavored vaping, background checks on private sales of rifles, a settlement for historically black colleges and universities, the future of horse racing and health care. |
| Hogan is not expected to formally welcome lawmakers to Annapolis on Wednesday, as he would normally do on the first day of session. | Hogan is not expected to formally welcome lawmakers to Annapolis on Wednesday, as he would normally do on the first day of session. |
| The governor will be presiding over a Board of Public Works meeting in the morning where a major contract for toll lanes will be considered. In his place, Lt. Boyd Rutherford (R) will address the House and Senate when the legislature convenes. | The governor will be presiding over a Board of Public Works meeting in the morning where a major contract for toll lanes will be considered. In his place, Lt. Boyd Rutherford (R) will address the House and Senate when the legislature convenes. |
| Maryland approves $9 million settlement for five wrongly convicted men | Maryland approves $9 million settlement for five wrongly convicted men |
| ‘We lost our speaker’: Maryland lawmakers mourn Busch as they adjourn | ‘We lost our speaker’: Maryland lawmakers mourn Busch as they adjourn |
| Maryland panel approves new school funding formula that calls for heavy investment | Maryland panel approves new school funding formula that calls for heavy investment |
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