ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Del. Heather Mizeur, who is running for Maryland governor, has proposed a state-run retirement savings program to help workers who don't have retirement plans from their employers.
Mizeur, a Democrat, announced plans Wednesday for promoting the health, safety and security of Maryland's elderly population. She also wants to seek more funds for Alzheimer's research and create a registry of long-term care workers found guilty of abuse.
She estimates that the retirement savings program would become self-sufficient after a $360,000 start-up cost, and would have enough participants to make the user fees lower than alternative plans.
Participating employees would contribute at least 3 percent of their salaries through payroll deductions.
Del. Tom Hucker and Sen. Jim Rosapepe proposed a similar program this year, but their bills died in legislative committees.
Doug Gansler
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Attorney General Doug Gansler, a gubernatorial candidate in the Democratic primary, says Maryland should do away with the state prosecutor's office, an independent unit that investigates public corruption.
Gansler says it has no legal authority that isn't covered by other state and federal attorney offices. He believes the state could save $1.2 million by reassigning its employees to other law enforcement agencies.
The state established the unit within the Attorney General's Office in 1977 to investigate election law violations, bribery, perjury and other offenses by public officials and employees.
Since 2008, it has brought embezzlement charges against former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon and misconduct charges against former Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold.
Gansler's suggestion was part of a plan he released Tuesday on how Maryland could eliminate unnecessary spending.
