Friday, November 14, 2008
Legislative Leaders Preview 2009 Session
The Maryland General Assembly’s Democratic and Republican leaders discussed the upcoming legislative session during the Maryland Chamber’s Business Policy Conference last week. The leaders all expect the state’s budget deficit to dominate the session.
The 2010 budget is going to be a big challenge,” House Speaker Michael Busch (D-Dist. 30) said. “We are going to have to make the tough decisions on where to cut to make up $1 billion. I do not see any appetite in Annapolis for new taxes.”
House Minority Leader Tony O’Donnell (R-Dist. 29C) said the state has to do a better job controlling spending. “If we continue to spend at a level that is unsustainable, higher education will be jeopardized, health care will be jeopardized, the environment will be jeopardized, transportation funding will be jeopardized,” he said.
Other topics the lawmakers discussed included the re-emergence of legislation the Maryland Chamber has fought to defeat in the past, including last year’s green house gas bill, combined reporting legislation, and universal health care funded by a payroll tax on employers. With the prospect of rolling brownouts and blackouts by 2011, the legislative leaders also discussed Maryland’s looming energy crisis. They encouraged business people to stay informed and ensure their lawmakers know where they stand on important issues.
“This is where you as a chamber have to be on the alert,” Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller said. “The trend in the economy being what it is, you’ve got to be very watchful, very involved, because there are going to be some very tough issues that are not going to be, in my opinion, conducive to your best interests and conducive to the best interest of the state. “
On the Green House Gas Bill
Senate Minority Leader Allan Kittleman (R-Dist. 9) said, “It was pro-labor and pro-business folks coming together to defeat that bill last year. It was amazing to have the steelworkers and management come together on an issue like that. “
Busch said, “The question is what’s in the specific legislation. I think it’s important for your government affairs people to make sure that you know, within the legislation, what you can live with and what you can’t live with. Where are there areas to compromise?”
On Universal Health Care Funded by a Payroll Tax
Miller said, “There is going to be a move for a payroll tax to help pay for universal health care coverage. To me, it’s pie in the sky, it’s utopian. I don’t think it’s going to happen. Universal health care coverage is a good idea, but we certainly can’t afford it.“
Kittleman said, “We are taking on more spending in Maryland. While there may be good intentions behind some of the spending initiatives, we just don’t have the money. Health care is a big issue in that regard. We’ve got to find ways to reduce the cost of health care, not increase state spending.”
On Maryland’s Looming Energy Crisis
O’Donnell said, “2011 is looming. We have energy transmission problems and we have generation problems. One of the things we can do, although it won’t solve the problem immediately, is to produce generation that does not produce green house gas emissions. That includes nuclear. We very strongly need the third unit at Calvert Cliffs. It’s something this state needs desperately.”
