PublicPolicy

When Maryland state lawmakers return to Annapolis this week to begin the annual legislative session, raising the minimum wage, the state online health insurance exchange, and stormwater fees are expected to be leading items on the agenda. The session comes this year in the midst of an election season where campaigning overlaps with lawmaking. The filing deadline is February and many sitting lawmakers are running for higher office. In an article in The Baltimore Sun, public policy professor and chair Donald Norris said legislative sessions during election years tend to be politics-heavy  without significant legislative achievements. “I suspect there will… Continue Reading Donald Norris, Public Policy, in The Baltimore Sun

Rebecca Pearce, Maryland’s health insurance exchange director, resigned on Friday after ongoing technical issues and criticism surrounding a recent Caribbean vacation she took while the state health secretary was being questioned by lawmakers about ongoing problems with the system. Pearce was hired two years ago to create the exchange and her resignation comes as officials are trying to fix the system which has had low enrollment numbers since it was launched on October 1. Public policy professor and chair Donald Norris was interviewed by The Baltimore Sun about Pearce’s resignation and decision to take the vacation amid the ongoing problems. “That’s pretty… Continue Reading Donald Norris, Public Policy, in The Baltimore Sun

Puerto Rico currently has a per capita debt load of $19,000 and its 2013 deficit was around $2.2 billion.  In the midst of a prolonged recession, there has been widespread debate on how to solve the debt crisis. Justin Vélez-Hagan, Public Policy Ph.D. student and executive director of The National Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce, co-authored an article published in Forbes that suggested bankruptcy might be the only solution to reforming the economy. “Puerto Rico has to restructure. They can’t keep borrowing at 8 and 9%, raising taxes on the only ones paying any, and chasing away its brightest contributors to the… Continue Reading Justin Vélez-Hagan, Public Policy, in Forbes

Heather Mizeur, a Democratic candidate in the Maryland gubernatorial race, has announced she will participate in the state’s public financing system next year. Mizeur will limit overall spending in exchange for matching funds, and is the first candidate in 20 years to do so. Public policy professor and chair Donald Norris was interviewed by The Washington Post for an article about Mizeur’s decision.  With Mizeur running against two candidates with greater name recognition in Attorney General Douglas Gansler and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, Norris said the move is needed for Mizeur to remain competitive. “It may be a principled matter, but it’s… Continue Reading Donald Norris, Public Policy, in The Washington Post

Attorney General Douglas Gansler and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown both put forth campaign pledge proposals last week in what has become a hotly contested Democratic primary in the Maryland race for governor. Gansler asked fellow Democrats to sign a pledge discouraging outside spending on the race. Brown then proposed abandoning all negative ads in the campaign.  The candidates campaign’s have gone back and forth in recent days attacking the proposals. Del. Heather Mizeur, a third candidate in the race, has largely stayed out of the disputes. Public policy professor and chair Donald Norris was interviewed by The Washington Post for an article… Continue Reading Donald Norris, Public Policy, in The Washington Post

Tokyo recently won the right to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, and the start of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia is just a few months away. As the Olympics have made headlines in recent weeks, Public Policy Professor John Rennie Short has been in the news for his proposal that the Summer Olympics should be held at a permanent site every four years.  He was recently interviewed by Radio New Zealand on its award-winning program “This Way Up” about the idea. “Moving it every four years seems to be incredibly expensive and socially disruptive when why don’t… Continue Reading John Rennie Short, Public Policy, on Radio New Zealand

The start of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia is just three months away, and the deadline to apply to host the 2022 Winter Olympics is Thursday. John Rennie Short, professor of public policy, was interviewed by KCBS News Radio in San Francisco about his proposal for a permanent site for the Summer Olympics. “It seemed like it was becoming more and more expensive and more and more disruptive for cities to host the games,” Short said. With stiff competition to host the Olympic Games and economic benefits for host cities that can often be smaller in scope… Continue Reading John Rennie Short, Public Policy, on KCBS News Radio

Election-year calls for tax cuts in Maryland have triggered several campaigns to ensure they are kept. Many advocates of environmental, health and social service programs have formed focus groups and commissioned studies to support their cause and demonstrate their taxes serve a public good. Some politicians have called for a stormwater fee repeal, the corporate tax rate to be cut, and relief for the business community. With the economy improving, many new taxes and fees have become targets, launching campaigns to support those taxes. Donald Norris, public policy professor and chair, was interviewed for an article in The Baltimore Sun about the… Continue Reading Donald Norris, Public Policy, in The Baltimore Sun

In a letter sent out Thursday by his federal political action committee, Gov. Martin O’Malley called for support for a higher minimum wage in Maryland. The letter was coordinated with a social media push urging supporters to sign a petition for an increased minimum wage. Public Policy Professor and Chair Donald Norris was interviewed for an article in The Baltimore Sun about O’Malley’s call for support. By sending out the message through his federal PAC, he is reaching a national audience while considering a run for president in 2016.   “He’s using his federal PAC to say, ‘Here’s what I’m in favor… Continue Reading Donald Norris, Public Policy, in The Baltimore Sun

Baltimore is updating its comprehensive zoning plan for the first time since 1971. The goal is to make the city more pedestrian friendly and to increase use of public transportation. Public Policy Assistant Professor Eric Zeemering was interviewed by WYPR for a story about the new plan, which is called “Transform Baltimore.” He says increased neighborhood accessibility that integrates work, life, and entertainment should be a key part of the planning process. “Baltimore will benefit from thinking about how to keep residents satisfied and happy within the individual neighborhoods rather than requiring them to get into their cars and drive… Continue Reading Eric Zeemering, Public Policy, on WYPR