Author: Forward Baltimore Admin

General Assembly

State Retirees’ Rx Drug Benefit Redux

By Peta Richkus. Older retirees from State service remain in a hellacious limbo about their futures. Thanks only to a federal court injunction, and the handful of employees and their attorney who filed for it (Thank you, Ken Fitch, Deborah Heim, Mary Frye, and Deborah Holloway Hill, Esq.), Medicare-eligible State retirees continue to receive their prescription drug benefit. But for how long? Unfortunately, many legislators, … Continue reading State Retirees’ Rx Drug Benefit Redux

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Politics

M4A, ACA, UHC, Single Payer: Making Sense of Candidates’ Healthcare Policies

By Ron Lambert. Health Care is one of the key issues being debated by the democratic presidential candidates.  But it can be difficult to discern the differences between the candidates’ health care proposals.  Terms like Medicare for All, Single Payer, Public Option, and Universal Health Care can mean different things depending on their context.  Defining these terms will help clarify the candidates’ proposals. First, what … Continue reading M4A, ACA, UHC, Single Payer: Making Sense of Candidates’ Healthcare Policies

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County Government

A Chance to Reduce Crime: An Open Letter to Councilman Marks

By Fergal Mullally. On Tuesday, January 21st, Baltimore County Council will vote on the SAFE Act. If passed, the SAFE Act will require gun retailers in Baltimore County to make reasonable efforts to properly secure their stock of weapons. Legislation about guns is always controversial, and sends people to running to their ideological corners. But I urge you to consider this legislation from outside of … Continue reading A Chance to Reduce Crime: An Open Letter to Councilman Marks

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County Government

Time to get rid of a relic of Baltimore County’s checkered past

By David Plymyer. Anyone unfamiliar with the extensive history of corruption in Baltimore County should read  Eyes of Justice, the recently published book by James Cabezas, a long-time investigator for the Maryland State Prosecutor. Baltimore County’s quadrennial “Comprehensive Zoning Map Process” (CZMP) is a throwback to that checkered past, when government actions like zoning changes were bought and sold. The CZMP must be replaced with … Continue reading Time to get rid of a relic of Baltimore County’s checkered past

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County Government

Private School Bond Vote Should be Postponed

By Fergal Mullaly. As a resident of Towson, and the parent of two students attending Baltimore County Public Schools, I was concerned to learn about Resolution 145-19 introduced at the Council Work Session last Tuesday. Briefly, this bill would grant the ability to McDonogh School, a private fee-paying institution, to issue a 16 million dollar tax free bond (see page 9 of the Notes to … Continue reading Private School Bond Vote Should be Postponed

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Education

Kirwan For Naught Without ‘Build to Learn’

By Corey Johns. Without the passage of the Build to Learn Act in Annapolis this coming legislative session, Kirwan funding might be all for naught in Baltimore County. The Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education – nicknamed Kirwan Commission for short – is a road map to positively change the trajectory for Maryland schools and the thousands of students in the state. Even at … Continue reading Kirwan For Naught Without ‘Build to Learn’

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County Government

Scrutiny Required for County Attorney Nominee

By David Plymyer. The appointment of James R. Benjamin, Jr. by Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski to be the new County Attorney is subject to confirmation by an affirmative vote of at least four of the seven members of the County Council. If fewer than four members vote in favor of confirmation the appointment is rejected. The council has scheduled a public hearing on the … Continue reading Scrutiny Required for County Attorney Nominee

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County Government

Home Act Hearing Reveals Landlords Already Discriminating

By Forward Baltimore Editors. Our post from Corey Johns listed and debunked some of the myths that abound about the Home Act. At the Baltimore County Council work session this past Tuesday, we noticed an error in some testimony that we thought required addressing, as well. It was stated that landlords would have to install ramps for tenants if this bill passes, which would put … Continue reading Home Act Hearing Reveals Landlords Already Discriminating

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County Government

Letter to Kach: Please Support Home Act

Dear Councilman Kach- I write as a relatively new member of your district because I understand from the Baltimore Sun that you will vote against the HOME Act. I am not aware of your specific reasons for voting against the bill despite trying to find something on your website.  If you have issued a statement that explains with specificity your position please send it to me so … Continue reading Letter to Kach: Please Support Home Act

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County Government

Objections to Home Act Based on Myths

By Corey Johns. On October 7, 2019 the Housing Opportunity Made Equal (HOME) Act was introduced to the council council. The purpose of this bill is to prohibit housing discrimination based on source of income, such as alimony, child support, Social Security, disability benefits, inheritance, a pension, or, Housing Choice Vouchers. A housing voucher is a source of supplemental income that helps low income residents … Continue reading Objections to Home Act Based on Myths

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