Conduit Street Podcast

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson revisit last week’s episode to clarify the means by which the “trigger” provision in the Kirwan Blueprint bill for education funding could take effect, discuss the politics and process of the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and explain how Maryland will distribute CARES Act funding to local jurisdi...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, David Juppe joins Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson to discuss the fiscal implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, examine the "trigger" provision in the Kirwan Blueprint bill for education funding , and explore the viability of dipping into the state's rainy day fund to respond to the coronavirus public health crisis. David Jupp...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Alex Butler joins Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson to discuss the fate of the "bag ban" bill from the 2020 legislative session. We also discuss the surprising connection between the bill and the COVID-19 pandemic. HB 209/ SB 313 - Plastic Bag Reduction Act , would have prohibited retailers from providing customers with certain plas...

On a special bonus episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, David Lublin joins Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson to discuss both the practical and legal questions around running elections amid the COVID-19 public health crisis. David Lubin, a professor of government in the School of Public Affairs at American University and the former Mayor of the Town of Chevy Chase, is an expert on American cam...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson discuss why the Old Line State's one-of-a-kind budget process makes Maryland's governor one of the most powerful in the country. While most state legislatures have the authority to increase or add an appropriation to the governor’s budget, Section 52 of Article III of the Maryland Constitution prohi...

On a special bonus episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Walter Olson joins Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson to examine the role of state and local emergency powers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Walter Olson is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute’s Center for Constitutional Studies. a libertarian think tank in Washington, D.C. A resident of Frederick County, Olson recently ser...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally, Michael Sanderson, Natasha Mehu, Drew Jabin, and Alex Butler recap MACo's advocacy in the 2020 session of the Maryland General Assembly . This year, for the first time in since the Civil War, the General Assembly closed session early on March 18, due to precautionary social distancing measures taken to curb the spread of COV...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson discuss the latest news and notes from Annapolis, including a recap of the final days of an abridged session of the Maryland General Assembly; a rundown of some significant bills that passed before lawmakers adjourned early for the first time since the Civil War due to concerns over the COVID-19 epidemic, and...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally, Michael Sanderson, and Natasha Mehu discuss the latest news on the novel strain of the coronavirus, known as COVID-19. Calvert County Health Officer, Dr. Larry Polsky, joins the podcast to discuss state and local efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19. MACo has made the podcast available through both iTunes and Google Play Musi...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson discuss the latest news and notes on the Kirwan Blueprint legislation -  which received its public hearing on February 17, and in the last several days has sprung to life, with House action appearing imminent. The House’s two committees with joint jurisdiction of the bill – Appropriations and Ways & Means...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally, Michael Sanderson, and Alex Butler discuss the latest news and notes from Annapolis, including the "bag ban" bill; a proposal that would require Maryland to establish a bottle deposit program; and interesting tidbits from the latest Goucher College Poll. MACo has made the podcast available through both iTunes and Google...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally, Michael Sanderson, and Natasha Mehu discuss the latest news and notes from Annapolis, including a recap of the hearing on the Blueprint for Maryland's Future - the bill to implement the recommendations from the [Kirwan] Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education; a new proposal to fund the Blueprint by "modern...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson discuss the latest news and notes from Annapolis, including a breakdown of  Kirwan Commission Blueprint bill, with far-reaching recommendations for school funding and outcomes; a bill to apply the sales and use tax to (some) services; a bill to ban most plastic bags, which, as introduced, would preempt severa...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson discuss the latest news and notes from Annapolis, including the long-awaited introduction of the Kirwan Commission bill, with far-reaching recommendations for school funding and outcomes; MACo’s partnership with LOCAL Maryland to fight against state preemption — including legislation to clarify the process fo...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally, Michael Sanderson, and Natasha Mehu discuss the latest news and notes from Annapolis, including a breakdown of multiple bills aimed at curbing tobacco use/vaping; a rare parliamentary maneuver on the House floor; a look at what's really going on during the first few weeks of session; and commentary on the first video live st...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson discuss the latest news and notes from Annapolis. This week, we break down the Built to Learn Act of 2020 -- which would drive an additional $2.2 billion in school construction funding, by leveraging casino “lockbox” revenues for bonds. MACo has made the podcast available through both iTunes and Google Play M...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson discuss the latest news and notes from Annapolis, including what Governor Hogan's fiscal year 2021 budget proposal means for counties; this week's economic briefing from Moody's Analytics to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee; and a slew of potential revenue-generating proposals being buz...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally, Natasha Mehu, and Michael Sanderson preview the 2020 session of the Maryland General Assembly. School funding, school construction, public health, mental health, taxes, revenues, preemption, public safety, and criminal justice issues are all hot topics. MACo has made the podcast available through both iTunes and Google Play Music...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Michael Sanderson and Kevin Kinnally join Maryland Senator Cory McCray for a live recording in Baltimore City. We talk with leaders of three of Baltimore’s anchor institutions, and discuss their visions for success. Special guests include Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) President Debra McCurdy, Baltimore City Schools CEO Sonja Santelises...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson discuss the latest news and notes from Annapolis, including a recap of the MACo Winter Conference; an overview of the county income tax -- and why some are calling for local flexibility to create “brackets” like most income tax systems (including the federal and state taxes on Marylanders); a breakdown of Mar...

Technological change continues to advance rapidly - public policy needs to catch up. Your county likely has cable television franchise agreements built for the 1980s, but what is your role in the telecommunications market of the 2020s? At this year's MACo Winter Conference, special guests joined Michael Sanderson and Kevin Kinnally for a live recording of the Conduit Street podcast. The fast-...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally, Natasha Mehu, and Michael Sanderson discuss the latest news and notes from Annapolis, including a new proposal from stakeholder groups supporting the Kirwan education plan to support tax reforms to help support its substantial costs -- including a slate of revenue proposals; the significance of a new report that says the proporti...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson discuss the latest news and notes from Annapolis, including a recap of the [Kirwan] Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education's latest meeting — which saw a deep reaction to the formula funding workgroup’s proposals to “phase-in” the Commission’s series of recommendations; the latest on a publ...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson discuss the latest news and notes from Annapolis, including some interesting races and intriguing ballot initiatives from Election Day, as well as a recap of the latest meeting of the [Kirwan] Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education – including the latest drama surrounding the panel as proponents...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally, Natasha Mehu, and Les Knapp discuss the latest news and notes from Annapolis, including longtime Senate President Mike Miller's decision to step down after presiding over the chamber for over thirty years; inmate Medicaid exclusion and healthcare in jails; a new state task force to examine the effects of vaping; the latest o...