Week Seven: Halfway to Sine Die

Mark Your Calendars We are halfway through the 2017 Legislative Session and we know the pace will steadily increase up until Sine Die on Monday, April 10!  I welcome meetings with all organizations and value a diversity of ideas and opinions and this week we met with the Sierra Club, Maryland Campaign to Keep Antibiotics Effective, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in regards to bills that were heard in the Environment and Transportation Committee. I also met with the Maryland Municipal League regarding Highway User Revenues. We also had quite a few friends from the Shore visit us this week such with local members of the Maryland Federation of Republican Women on Tuesday for Red Scarf Day, Celeste Ziara from Chesapeake Healthcare, and Nate Samson, a student from Salisbury Christian School! During our weekly Eastern Shore Delegation meeting we welcomed the Worcester County Developmental Center, Lower Shore Enterprises, and the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy. Afterward, myself and, other members of the Delegation, were interviewed by Greg Bassett from PAC14 and the Salisbury Independent.

Recovering Revenue On Thursday, March 2, our Highway User Revenue bills (HB0942 andHB0946) will be heard in the Environment and Transportation Committee where I serve. The bills would not only assist the current needs of road maintenance but would also establish a long-term source of funding for future municipal transportation projects. Honoring Veterans On Friday, March 3, our bill to exempt taxes from nonprofit organizations that support Veterans (HB0922) will be heard in the Ways and Means Committee. This bill would exempt the sales tax on purchases made from nonprofits that support veteran’s groups with at least 88% of the proceeds. Last year, Jeff Merritt, from Operation We Care, testified on the bill. We had great support last year and we’re hopeful that we’ll see passage this year!

Last week concluded with the Salisbury Elks Lodge #817 Citizen of the Year event on Saturday. We joined in honoring Mayor Jake Day for his continued dedication to Salisbury. Looking forward, this coming week has been highly anticipated because we will be having our bill hearings! I firmly believe these bills are beneficial to our community and hope to celebrate their successful passage with you soon. Our 2017 Scholarship Application is now available! If you live in District 38B and are interested in applying, please send an email to Carl.Anderton@house.state.md.us. Applicants must have plans to attend college in Maryland. As always, if you would like to contact us with an idea, issue, or concern, please either call: 410-841-3431 or email carl.anderton@house.state.md.us. We look forward to hearing from you!