NOTE: This is part of an occasional series of stories on what the Howard delegation is working on in Annapolis.
Howard?s state delegates have had their plates full with legislation and issues ranging from Chesapeake Bay cleanup to health care in this year?s General Assembly.
As a member of the Environmental Matters Committee, Del. Elizabeth Bobo, D-District 12B, saw the clean cars measure pass early in the session. She is now focused on a bill that would set up penalties and funding to improve water runoff management, Bobo said.
A bill establishing a Green Fund for Chesapeake Bay cleanup is also a priority, Bobo said. “It will encourage new development that has as little impervious surface as possible,” she said.
The bill is “in quite a state of flux right now” as lawmakers determine appropriate fees, to which the building community has objected, Bobo said.
Del. Frank Turner, D-District 13, who now is a member of the Ways and Means Committee and chairman of the finance subcommittee, is dealing with all things slots, horse racing and gambling.
Bills creating ways to raise revenue have been a major focus this session, he said. For example, a bill would expand the definition of taxable services to include car maintenance and shoe repair.
“Every conceivable idea of raising revenue, we have seen this year,” he said.
Since it is a restructured committee, with many freshmen members, much time has been spent getting oriented with the issues and looking to next year with the expected $1.3 billion short fall, Turner said.
For Del. Shane Pendergrass, D-District 13, on the Health and Government Operations Committee, the main issue has been trying to expand health care and Medicare.
One measure would allow employers to offer minimal health insurance to seasonal and part-time workers. Another aims to get more young people buying health insurance by limiting insurance rate hikes based on criteria such as the age of the insured.
“I continue to focus on efforts to get people health care coverage,” she said.
