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2009 Session
Report
From Delegate Brian J. Feldman
Chair, Montgomery County House Delegation
Chair, Banking, Economic Development, Science
and Technology Subcommittee
Chair, Joint Committee on Technology
Member, Economic Matters Committee
Dear Friend, The 426th Session of the Maryland General Assembly adjourned on April 13, 2009. The following is a summary of the highlights of the Session. I appreciate your taking the time to read this Report and if you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact my office at Brian.Feldman@house.state.md.us. BUDGET The economic crisis that our Country faces is reflected in the budget situation in Maryland. Mandated by law, the Legislature is required to pass a balanced budget each year. We passed a balanced General Fund Budget for FY 2010 in the amount of $13.8 billion, 3.3 % smaller than last year's budget, and smaller than our 2007 budget. We retained the State's AAA bond rating, the highest rating possible, one of only six states in the nation to have such a rating. To achieve a balanced budget without raising any taxes, the General Assembly had to make tough choices as we cut $825 million from the budget. Every agency in the State government made significant cuts to their budget, including the cumulative loss of 1,100 positions. Our State employees also made sacrifices this year, taking furloughs, losing 401K benefits and foregoing a cost of living adjustment. EDUCATION Even in the face of the global economic crisis, we maintained our commitment to providing the children of Maryland with a world class education. As we made difficult cuts to the budget, our funding priorities became clearer. This year, the State budgeted $5.5 billion for K-12 education, an increase of $132 million over last year, and $260 million in school construction to replace and renovate aging schools in Maryland. We are investing our State's scarce financial resources precisely where they need to be, in our children and in our future. These funding commitments have clearly paid off. Education Week recently ranked
Maryland's public schools first in the nation based on graduation rates and academic achievements. Additionally, the College Board recently ranked
Maryland's high schools first in the nation in AP test participation and achievement. Montgomery County Public Schools will receive $625 million, the largest amount they have ever received. An additional bonus for residents of Montgomery County is the fact that the Geographic Cost of Education Index (GCEI) which directs additional dollars to our County was fully funded for the first time. In total, Montgomery County received a 9.9% increase over last year in direct State education aid. Over 120,000 Marylanders are enrolled in our community colleges. This year, the State increased aid to community colleges by $84 million. We also froze tuition for the fourth year in a row at Maryland's public colleges and universities, the only state in the nation to do so. From 2002 to 2004, Maryland college students experienced a 33% increase in tuition until the legislature stepped in to freeze tuition rates. We thought it was important to continue the freeze for the 2009-2010 school year to help middle income families send their children to the colleges of their choice in Maryland.
PUBLIC SAFETY We spent a great deal of time this Session working to make Maryland families safer. We passed legislation to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers. The General Assembly also strengthened our drunk driving laws. Following the recommendations of a cross-jurisdictional panel of law enforcement and transportation officials, community members and the judiciary, the Legislature passed four bills which collectively take significant steps to implement the recommendations of the Task Force to Combat Driving Under the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol. The most significant of the bills imposes a mandatory one-year license suspension for a person convicted of drunk driving more than once in five years. Other bills tighten underage drinking laws and address repeat offenders. These new laws help stem the tragedy of drunk driving accidents on our roads. We also dealt with the difficult issue of the death penalty. In 2008, The Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment, chaired by former U.S. Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti, recommended the repeal of the death penalty in Maryland. The Governor made the repeal of the death penalty a priority for the 2009 Session and legislation was introduced in both Chambers to reflect the Commission's recommendation. Though support for a full repeal did not exist, the Legislature did establish some of the strictest standards in the nation for applying the death penalty. There must be biological or DNA evidence, a video recording linking the defendant to the murder, or a videotaped voluntary confession. This compromise will be signed into law by the Governor.
ENVIRONMENT Environmental initiatives fared well this year in Annapolis. I am keenly aware of the importance of these issues and co-sponsored the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act and the Smart and Sustainable Growth Act. Both bills passed and Marylanders will now benefit from these valuable green initiatives. The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act mandates that, by 2020, Maryland will reduce global warming pollutants by at least 25% below 2006 levels. The Smart and Sustainable Growth Act requires local planning commissions to create a specific plan for growth patterns in their jurisdictions. This will bring more accountability as we plan for future growth. The General Assembly also took a significant step forward in the Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts by requiring new and replacement septic systems in the Critical Area to include new nitrogen removal systems. A State grant fund will cover roughly half the cost of installing this enhanced system for homeowners. Additionally, I am pleased to have collaborated with Delegate Bronrott, District 16, to persuade the State to locate the Maryland Clean Energy Center in my legislative district at the Universities at Shady Grove in Montgomery
County. The Maryland Clean Energy
Center is the State's first clearinghouse to help drive the future of clean energy and green technologies. The Maryland Clean Energy Center will support the State's smart, green growth efforts through assistance to newly developed technologies, the collection, analysis and dissemination of industry data, outreach and technical support to the clean energy industry in Maryland.
FELDMAN INITIATIVES REVENUE Understanding that financial constraints on the Maryland budget made it difficult to move crucial legislative initiatives forward, I looked for ways the State could increase revenues without raising taxes. In that regard, I introduced and gained passage of legislation to create a tax amnesty program which provides incentives to those who have not filed tax returns or paid their taxes to come into compliance. This program will provide the State with a much needed injection of revenue. Historically, when there has been a tax amnesty program implemented, the revenue boost has been significant. In 2001, Maryland captured $39.2 million from a tax amnesty program. My hope is that we will realize that and more this year.
BIOTECHNOLOGY As Co-Chair of the Joint House and Senate Technology Oversight Committee, I continue to focus my attention on issues relating to our biotechnology sector. This Session, I introduced and gained passage of legislation to expand the jurisdiction of the Joint Technology Oversight Committee. The Committee will be renamed the Joint Information Technology and Biotechnology Committee and will focus on biotechnology as well as information technology issues. This joint committee will provide a forum to address and promote the development of these sectors in our State. I was also able to stop a proposed budget cut and/or possible elimination of funding for the Biotechnology Investment Tax Credit. This extremely successful tax credit program, which I authored in 2005, is important for fostering development of small, early stage biotechnology companies in our State. I offered an amendment on the House floor to restore its funding and the General Assembly ultimately fully funded the program.
CORPORATE LAW In the area of corporate law, I introduced and gained passage of legislation to update our corporate laws, allowing Maryland corporations to compete more effectively with businesses incorporated in other states. Additionally, as Chair of the House Banking, Economic Development, Science and Technology Subcommittee, I gained passage of legislation which brings Maryland's mortgage lending laws into compliance with newly established federal law, thus providing additional consumer protections for Marylanders and enabling our regulators to more easily combat mortgage fraud.
THE PREAKNESS The future of the Preakness, part of the famed Triple Crown, was in question during the final days of the 2009 Session. Because of its long history in Maryland and the financial and economic support that the race brings to the State's thoroughbred industry, emergency legislation was introduced which provides the State with additional tools to retain the Preakness. The Speaker of the House appointed me to a small workgroup which reviewed the legislation and made recommendations to the General Assembly. The legislation passed both the House and the Senate and has been signed by the Governor.
MONTGOMERY
COUNTY As the Chair of the Montgomery County House Delegation for the past two years, I have enjoyed the challenge of leading the State's largest delegation. The Delegation was successful again this year in obtaining a significant amount of capital funds for Montgomery County projects. To date, we have secured $26 million in school construction money, with $26 million in statewide school construction money yet to be allocated. An additional $17 million for capital projects is earmarked for Montgomery College and another $11 million has been awarded for a variety of other capital projects in our County. In total, approximately $58 million is included in the State's Capital Budget for
Montgomery
County projects. In closing, thank you for putting your trust in me by allowing me to represent you in Annapolis. I am always interested in hearing your thoughts and perspectives on the issues. Please stay in touch and if there is ever any way I can be of service, do not hesitate to contact my office at Brian.Feldman@house.state.md.us.
Sincerely,
What do you think? Contact Us
6 Bladen St. Room 223
Annapolis, MD 21401
301-858-3186
Brian.Feldman@house.state.md.us
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