Wednesday, January 11, 2012
In 2012 Resolve to Get Involved
The 2012 Session of the Maryland General Assembly begins today with some very difficult decisions facing the legislature. A billion dollar budget shortfall coupled with anticipated federal budget cuts will mean few new projects can be brought home to districts when dollars are so tight. Yet we need to do more to create and retain more high paying jobs in Maryland and improve our infrastructure.
Do you have ideas on how the legislature can do that? Here are a few ways Maryland Chamber members can easily get involved with issues that will be debated in Annapolis this session:
- Visit, or at least call, your state senator and delegates to let them know first-hand how your business is faring in the economic recovery. Many of them don’t have their own businesses so your input truly would help them learn, from an employer’s perspective, what it will take to hire more people at your location. Creating and retaining more jobs in Maryland is key to our recovery – and business people must share their expertise and viewpoints with decision makers to help them make the right choices. If you don’t know who your legislators are or how to reach them, use this website.
- Join more than 300 business leaders from throughout the State at the Maryland Chamber’s Annual Business Day in Annapolis at the Loews Annapolis Hotel on January 19 to learn what big issues will be debated. Congressman Christopher Van Hollen will speak after breakfast about the federal budget. Senate President Mike Miller and Minority Leader E.J. Pipkin and House Speaker Michael Busch and Minority Leader Tony O’Donnell will present their positions on issues like the state budget, taxes, workplace regulation, transportation funding and cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay. Learn More
- Visit our legislative blog to learn about the issues that impact employers. The daily write ups and videos keep you informed about the issues that impact our economy and your bottom-line. If you’d prefer to receive the updates via email, sign up here.
- Interested in what is happening on Capitol Hill? Join us again Monday, February 6 at Martin’s Crosswinds in Greenbelt for our Annual Maryland Congressional Delegation Dinner. Both US Senators and all eight Representatives have been invited to attend this town hall styled discussion of issues important to Maryland’s business community. Learn More
Each of us must take a few minutes to pay attention to the ideas and proposals offered by our legislative officials in Annapolis over the course of the next few months. They want to help Maryland overcome the recession and will debate issues with information they have available. Your viewpoints should be part of that discussion.
