Tag: Peta Richkus

County Government

Time for a New Baltimore County Economic Analyst?

By Peta Richkus. Editor’s note: We are pleased to publish testimony presented by Ms. Richkus to the Baltimore County Council during their June 25, 2019 Work Session concerning the proposed contract award: Agenda Item FM-17, Economic Consultant to the County Council. The proposed award would be a Sole Source contract to Sage Policy Group, Anirban Basu, Chairman and CEO. The contract award will be voted … Continue reading Time for a New Baltimore County Economic Analyst?

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Health

Plan to Rob State Retirees of Prescription Drug Benefit on Hold; Next Steps?

Fact: The State had a contract with its employees; the terms of the contract, including the scope of the work (the job description) and the compensation (salary and benefits), were agreed to by both parties. The State has violated that contract. Fact: 40% of the cost of retirees’ prescription drug plan is paid for by the retirees themselves plus federal funds paid to the State. … Continue reading Plan to Rob State Retirees of Prescription Drug Benefit on Hold; Next Steps?

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County Government

Executive’s Budget Paves Way for Better, Stronger Baltimore County

By Peta Richkus. Tuesday evening, April 30,2019, the hearing on the budget proposed by County Executive John Olszewski was held in the Council chambers in front of a standing-room-only crowd. Residents were invited to testify, and the “sign-up sheet” filled five pages. Over the next two weeks, County agency budgets will be reviewed. All of the budget meetings are open to the public. Budget deliberations … Continue reading Executive’s Budget Paves Way for Better, Stronger Baltimore County

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Health

Last Chance Missed to Rectify State Retiree Drug Benefit Theft?

by Peta Richkus. Editor’s note: This piece is a follow-up to our earlier post “Don’t Use Inaccuracies to Sell A Bad State Retiree Drug Plan,” which was an open letter from Peta Richkus outlining how data was being used inaccurately to justify changes to prescription drug coverage from the State’s Medicare-eligible retired employees. The State Senate and House subsequently passed a bill (“SB946”) that did … Continue reading Last Chance Missed to Rectify State Retiree Drug Benefit Theft?

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Don’t Use Inaccuracies to Sell A Bad State Retiree Drug Plan

by Peta Richkus. Note from editors: What if you retired from your job with the State of Maryland with all your retirement ducks in a row, only to learn later that your drug prescription benefits were being taken away? Benefits that were negotiated in good faith? This menacing scenario is not a “what if” after all, but a saga playing out over the last eight … Continue reading Don’t Use Inaccuracies to Sell A Bad State Retiree Drug Plan

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