2009 Legislative Wrap Up

April 16, 2009

Good afternoon. I am pleased to see that so many of our legislators could join us today. I know that this legislative session was particularly demanding, and I appreciate everyone making the time to come to Oregon Ridge as we consider the results for Baltimore County of this year's legislative session.

The 2009 Maryland General Assembly session was undeniably grueling, and our legislators faced significant challenges to the continued progress of our State and our County. It was only November of 2007 that Maryland addressed a $1.7 billion structural deficit, an effort that was promptly followed by the most severe recession since the Great Depression.

Recession Effects Everyone

There is no community in our State that has escaped the effects of this recession. I am certain that every Senator and Delegate in this room could share the stories of how this downturn is affecting their constituents - stories of mothers and fathers who have taken second jobs just to feed their families and pay their mortgage or small business owners who struggle to pay their employees with dwindling revenues or senior citizens who cut their pills in half to make their prescription drugs go further.

And, as families across Maryland struggle to deal with this economic downturn, we see an unprecedented need for government resources, much from people who have never before asked for assistance. Sadly, it is becoming harder and harder for government to respond to the pressing needs.

During the past two years, State revenues have plummeted and projections for next year are grim. In order to keep our State financially stable, difficult decisions had to be made. There were significant cuts in the State's 2010 budget that reduced state funding of local governments and boards of education by millions of dollars.

Although this session was not an easy one, the people of Baltimore County are fortunate to have a dedicated and focused delegation representing us in the halls of Annapolis. In spite of the economic downturn, our delegation was able to work toward solutions to seemingly intractable problems and to achieve real progress for Baltimore County and the entire State.

Education Funding

Although the State formula for the funding of education was reduced, more State money than in the current year was approved for education, and local responsibility for teacher retirement was taken off the table.

We thank the delegation for its support of education funding and for its support of school renovation and construction capital funding. Our delegation worked together with Governor Martin O'Malley to allocate $260 million in school construction funding statewide. And I am pleased to report that Baltimore County has already been awarded $25.4 million dollars of those funds, which adds to the $178 million in state school construction funding already received since 2003. This year's state money will allow us to move forward with the replacement of the George Washington Carver Center for the Arts and Technology and break ground on the West Towson Elementary School, as well as to continue other high school renovation projects.

While the quality of our classrooms and school buildings is integral to a vibrant school system, we also know that success in school depends on the availability of quality early childhood education programs. Maryland's Infants and Toddlers program provides important educational support. In FY09, Governor O'Malley included an additional $4.6 million for this program, increasing it to a total $10.4 million. Baltimore County received $1.5 million of this appropriation.

Our Youngest Citizens

In a year when Maryland's finances were forcing our general assembly to make tough decisions on every issue, the infants and toddlers advocates reached out to our senators and delegates, and with their support $10.4 million is again available for 2010. I thank Kelli Nelson and all of our infants and toddlers advocates for their tireless efforts on behalf of our youngest citizens.

Public Safety

Public safety is a fundamental responsibility of government at every level and the foundation critical to every community's quality of life. Baltimore County is fortunate to have outstanding police and fire departments, led by Police Chief Jim Johnson and Fire Chief John Hohman. They work tirelessly to keep the people of Baltimore County safe where they live, work, and shop.

During 2009, our delegation took the lead in supporting two pieces of legislation that will allow law enforcement officials in Baltimore County and throughout the State to identify and retrieve stolen property, and apprehend the thieves.

First to our success: Thanks to the passage of SB 597, pawnshops will now be required to report acquisitions electronically to their local Police Department. That Police Department will upload this information to a regional database, enabling our Baltimore County Police and law enforcement agencies across Maryland to check pawned property promptly against burglary and other theft records.

Police departments across the State will be able to share and access information from these dealers quickly and effectively. Our communities will be safer as a result of the prompt arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.

Unfortunately, our other theft related bill requiring scrap and precious metal dealers to report transactions daily to the Police did not pass. This was important legislation because of the dramatic rise since 2003 in the theft of valuable metals such as aluminum, steel, bronze, lead, copper, and catalytic converters. The police need this valuable tool to combat this troubling crime trend. While we are disappointed the bill failed for a third year, we are committed to pursuing this legislation, even if we have to do this on the local level. I thank Baltimore County Officer Shawn Vinson, who spent many, many hours working on the scrap metal bill.

Thanks to the work of our legislative delegation, the speed of vehicles around our schools should be slower. With our delegation's support of the statewide speed camera legislation, local government is now empowered to use speed-monitoring technology to reduce dangerous speeding within a half mile of any school or highway work zone in Baltimore County. I particularly thank Senator Bobby Zirkin and Senator Kathy Klausmeier for their critical votes on this measure.

Potential Employee Background Checks

Another Baltimore County priority was enabling legislation to allow us to obtain FBI fingerprint background checks on potential employees. Thanks to our delegation's efforts, under the leadership of Baltimore County's delegation chairs, Senator Norman Stone and Delegate Eric Bromwell, the bills passed, and Baltimore County now has the authority requested. Criminal background checks will ensure that all county employees continue to meet the highest standards for public service.

Identity Theft

Everyday, new technology creates opportunities that affect every aspect of modern-day society, including, regrettably, crime. Thanks to advances in technology, identity theft crimes are more sophisticated than ever. As a result, an increasing number of victims are experiencing unprecedented losses. During this year's session, Senator Delores Kelley led Baltimore County's delegation in support of legislation that would make the proceeds of identity theft subject to forfeiture, as are the proceeds from drug crimes. Unfortunately, this bill did not pass, but we are grateful for Senator Kelley's help and tireless advocacy on behalf of this legislation. 

Our Environment

The preservation of Baltimore County's environment is everyone's ongoing concern. And the support of our County delegation was crucial to the passage of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Act of 2009. This legislation requires the Maryland Department of the Environment to develop a plan to reduce Maryland's greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent from 2006 levels by 2020. A similar bill failed to pass last year.

But this year, environmental advocates, business, and labor collaborated and supported a compromise proposal that Brad Heavner, the State Director of Environment Maryland, heralded as one of the strongest bills ever passed in the United States to address global warming. Representing Baltimore County, I testified before the House and Senate committees as part of a panel along with Jim Strong of the United Steel Workers and Gene Burner of the Manufacturer's Alliance of Maryland in support of this major initiative by Governor O'Malley and MDE Secretary Shari Wilson.

Liquor License Transfers

Our delegation again supported Baltimore County and the Baltimore County Beverage Association's request for 10 liquor license transfers to the Towson business core. These licenses are essential to the ongoing renaissance of Towson.

These transferred licenses will be permanently assigned to the Towson Commercial Revitalization District, and will strengthen existing businesses by creating new business opportunities in an area where restaurant growth would otherwise be limited due to a lack of available licenses.

I thank Delegates Steve Lafferty, Bill Frank, and Susan Aumann and Senator Jim Brochin from District 42 for working together with District 6 Senator Norman Stone and Delegates Sonny Minnick, John Olzsewski, Jr., and Mike Weir to make these transfers possible.

Transit-Oriented Development

Senator Bobby Zirkin and Delegates Jon Cardin, Dan Morhaim, and Dana Stein from District 11 led Baltimore County's delegation in securing passage of legislation that will enable local governments to more effectively utilize Tax Increment Financing (TIFs) to support public infrastructure for Transit-Oriented Development. This is an excellent economic development tool that will be immediately used to support the Metro Center at Owings Mills, and has great potential for the former GSA depot in Middle River and sites along the proposed Red Line in Woodlawn.

Open Space

Open space is an important component in providing a high quality of life. Providing attractive open space is a particular challenge in already developed portions of any jurisdiction, like the central area of Baltimore County. That is why, after extensive discussions with Baltimore City and the neighborhoods surrounding Robert E. Lee Park, Baltimore County has agreed to lease Robert E. Lee Park from Baltimore City on a many year renewable lease agreement. I thank Mayor Sheila Dixon and her staff for working so closely with us to make this lease possible. Robert E. Lee Park consists of more than 415 acres of invaluable open space that attracts more than 41,000 visitors annually from the Baltimore metropolitan region. However, to realize the full potential of this park, extensive repairs are needed.

With the support of our state delegation, led by Speaker Pro Tem Adrienne Jones, Senator Ed Kasemeyer, and Delegate Sue Aumann, Governor O'Malley included $3 million in State funding in his capital budget for park repairs, and the general assembly approved this appropriation. Baltimore County will add $4.1 million in County funds, so the bridge replacement, installation of walking trails, additional parking, and shoreline erosion control and rehabilitation can be accomplished as quickly as possible.  

Storyville

One of the most valuable resources for young children in Baltimore County is Storyville. Located at the Rosedale Library, this child-sized townscape for birth to 5 year olds is visually exciting with age-appropriate literacy materials that promote early childhood learning and school readiness skills. Led by Delegate Adrienne Jones, our delegation secured a $250,000 bond to support the planning and construction of a second Storyville at the Woodlawn Library, expanding access to this outstanding early education resource to even more children in our County. I also thank our Library Director Jim Fish and the Treasurer of the Foundation for the Baltimore County Public Library, Jeff Smith, for their continuing efforts to bring a second Storyville to Baltimore County.

County Renaissance Continues

Baltimore County's legislative success and the state funding secured for our County will enable us to continue our county renaissance and to build on the progress we have made. I thank every member of our delegation, especially Speaker Pro Tem, Delegate Adrienne Jones and the Vice Chair of the Senate Budget and Tax committee, Senator Ed Kasemeyer. I also thank our entire legislative team -Frank Principe, Jim Gillis, Spencer Pollock, Erika Jones, Norman Anderson, Shawn Vinson, Erin Favazza, and Erin Roberts. Each of these individuals worked tirelessly on behalf of the people of Baltimore County throughout the entire legislative session and I thank them for everything they accomplished on behalf of our County. It was not an easy year, and that is an understatement.

Challenges and Tough Choices

The 2009 Legislative Session was full of challenges and tough choices. And there will undoubtedly be many more difficult decisions in the months ahead. However, as Edward R. Morrow observed, "Difficulty is the excuse history never accepts." I am encouraged by the resolve and grit of our delegation in this 2009 legislative session. You confronted challenges, you solved problems, and you persevered. And together we accomplished much that will benefit the people of Baltimore County.

And so, on behalf of the people of Baltimore County who trust us to make government work, thank you, and thank you for joining me this afternoon.