Pre-filed 2012 bills sponsored by Prince George's legislators

For months, state and county officials have been telling us they will have to raise taxes again because of huge deficits, despite having passed the largest tax increase in state history just four years ago.  But as they plan to reach into the pockets of most all people in the state, Senators Ramirez, Peters, and Rosapepe are introducing four bills to reduce revenues by giving tax breaks to various favored special interests groups.

We keep hearing about how there is not enough money to completely fund our public schools.  Nevertheless, Senator Ramirez, ignoring both the deficit in public school funding and constitutional provisions requiring separation of church and state and prohibiting government support of religion, is proposing a $50,000 handout to a church-run Roman Catholic school. Delegate Howard wants to divert more money away from classroom education with a new unfunded paperwork mandate.

And Senators Benson, Ramirez, Peters, and Rosapepe seek to spend money on more wasteful study commissions.

Bill number; date; sponsor (PG only, link is to other bills); title; committee; file code; comment

• HB5; 10/12 Pre-filed; Delegate Frush; Prince George's County - Development and Ethics Reform Act of 2012; Environmental Matters; Ethics; PG.Local
• HB6;  8/26 Pre-filed; Delegate Howard; Election Law - Use of Campaign Funds for Meeting and Conference Expenses; Ways and Means; Elections
• HB9;  8/26 Pre-filed; Delegate Howard; Education - Children and Youth - Reporting of Information Concerning Student Health, Well-Being, and Growth; Ways and Means; Primary and Secondary Education; Unfunded.Mandates
• HB18; 8/16 Pre-filed; Delegate Howard; Crimes - Requirement to Report Death or Disappearance of Minor - Penalties ("Caylee's Law"); Judiciary; Criminal Law - Substantive Crimes 
• SB4; 8/12 Pre-filed; Senator Ramirez; Maryland Consolidated Capital Bond Loan of 2010 - Prince George's County - Bladensburg Market Square II; Budget and Taxation; Prior Authorizations; Pork.Old; PG.Local
• SB11; 9/8 Pre-filed; Senators Peters and Rosapepe; State Lottery - Licenses - Veterans' Organizations; Budget and Taxation; Gaming; Gambling 
• SB15; 10/7 Pre-filed; Senator Benson; The Show Place Arena in Prince George's County - Study Commission; Health and Environmental Affairs; Economic and Community Development; PG.Local
• SB16;  10/17 Pre-filed; Senators Ramirez, Miller, Rosapepe, and Peters; Jury Service - Employers - Prohibited Acts; Judicial Proceedings; Courts and Court Personnel - Statewide
• SB17; 8/16 Pre-filed. Senator Ramirez; Sales and Use Tax - Tax-Free Week - School Supplies and Personal Computers; Budget and Taxation; Taxes - Sales and Use; Special.Tax.Breaks
• SB18; 9/8 Pre-filed; Senators Peters, Rosapepe, and Ramirez; Task Force on Military Service Members; Veterans, and the Courts; Judicial Proceedings; Courts and Court Personnel - Statewide;
• SB19; 9/23 Pre-filed; Senators Peters and Rosapepe; Sales and Use Tax - Exemption - Veterans' Organizations; Budget and Taxation; Taxes - Sales and Use; Special.Tax.Breaks
• SB28; 9/8Pre-filed; Senators Peters, Rosapepe, and Ramirez; Income Tax - Military Retirement Income, Budget and Taxation; Taxes - Income; Special.Tax.Breaks
• SB35;  10/4 Pre-filed; Senators Peters, Rosapepe, and Ramirez; Income Tax - Credit for Long-Term Care Premiums; Budget and Taxation; Taxes - Income; Special.Tax.Breaks
• SB39;  11/7 Pre-filed; Senator Ramirez; Creation of a State Debt - Prince George's County - Elizabeth Seton High School Window Upgrades; Budget and Taxation; State Debt (Bond Bills); PG.Pork ($50,000), PG.Local
• SB42; 10/5 Pre-filed; Senator Rosapepe; State Government - Commemorative Month - German-American Heritage Month; Education Health and Environmental Affairs; State Government - Agencies, Offices, and Officials