The Maryland Senate has rejected five of Montgomery County’s 20 pork proposals, and it may be another two years before local groups that didn’t win money can reapply.
Gov. Martin O’Malley allocated $7.5 million to each General Assembly chamber this year for “bond bills” — legislation to provide funding for local projects. But in 2012 and 2013, state funding for bond bills would go to public schools if a Senate amendment makes it to the final version of the capital budget.
In the Senate, Montgomery lawmakers secured $1.3 million for bond bills — about $100,000 less than neighboring Prince George’s County — according to the Senate’s capital budget. Excluding Baltimore, the rest of the counties averaged $215,000 in pork.
Projects axed from Montgomery’s proposed earmarks include an after-school program serving Muslim children, a tai chi court in Rockville and an expansion of CASA of Maryland, a nonprofit that caters to Spanish-speaking residents.
Sen. Rona Kramer, D-Olney, sponsored a measure for Silver Spring’s Muslim Community Center to build a facility for youth programs.
“I’m surprised,” said Rashid A. Makhdoom, director of the center, when he heard the Senate rejected the proposal.
“Our youth are getting radicalized by ideas. We need to keep them occupied after school … and keep them from joining gangs,” he said.
Makhdoom said the youth facility would provide tutoring and sports activities.
A bill from Sen. Rob Garagiola, D-Poolesvile, to secure $40,000 for a tai chi court and “contemplation center” in Cabin John Park also failed in the Senate. The Montgomery County Park and Planning Board approved the project — which was supported by a petition signed by 700 residents — in May 2009.
Another bill from Sen. Jamie Raskin, D-Silver Spring, to provide $500,000 for expanding CASA’s Langley Park facility failed; but Sen. Jennie M. Forehand, D-Rockville, was still able to secure $30,000 for Identity House Inc., an activist group for Hispanic youth.
The Senate also approved funds for a number of school renovations, a new picnic pavillion in Montgomery Village, expansion of the Rockville Fitness Center, and $100,000 to upgrade streetlamps in Germantown’s Cinnamon Woods community.
