Senator Addie Eckardt, District 37
Weekly Wrap-Up
February 7, 2020
| This week, I had the opportunity to attend the Sister States of Maryland Reception. Thank you to all who came from our 21 partnerships in 18 countries! |
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State of the State
This week, Governor Hogan delivered his State of the State address with four legislative priorities. We will focus on keeping our retirees in Maryland through tax relief, addressing the violent crime in Baltimore City, accountability in education reform, and reforming our redistricting process in preparation of the 2020 Census.
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Sports Betting
Senate Bill 4: Gaming - Sports Betting was heard in the Budget and Taxation Committee. I am a member of the sports betting work group and we have examined proposals for the expansion of sports betting in Maryland.
Specifically, we have looked at allowing casinos to engage in sports betting operations. These efforts may be accompanied by mobile apps for smartphones. We have also looked at allowing sports betting at our racetracks and fairgrounds. We will continue to review the scope of sports betting operations within Maryland to ensure the most revenue. Ultimately, however, the revenues from sports gambling will be used to offset the cost of the Kirwan Commission.
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Tobacco Legislation
The Budget and Taxation Committee heard Senate Bill 3, which levies a tax on cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and other smoking devices. This bill attempts to curb the use of tobacco products by our youth. Smoking and the addictiveness of nicotine have been shown to be extremely damaging to developing brains.
There are concerns that the bill may prevent access to nicotine cessation devices to those attempting to quit tobacco use. These devices are an important tool in decreasing and eliminating tobacco use.
The bill, as introduced, impacts our local cigar shops and convenient stores. We will continue to look at efforts to prevent tobacco use by minors, while supporting our local businesses.
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Budget and Taxation Committee Hearings
This week the Budget and Taxation Committee heard Governor Hogan’s retirement legislation, which eases tax burdens on our retired population.
We continue to examine the fiscal year 2021 budget and work to balance fiscal responsibility and funding the State’s most important projects. As introduced, the budget will end fiscal year 2021 with $1.2 billion in our rainy day fund.
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Grant Awards
Four projects in our area were awarded grants by the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture (MCAAHC) and the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT). These grants assist in the acquisition, construction, and improvement of sites related to African American heritage. The awards are as follows:
- Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Cambridge ($100,000)
- Zion United Methodist Church, Federalsburg ($100,000)
- Asbury M.E. Church, Easton ($100,000)
- Fruitland Community Center, Fruitland ($44,000)
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Upcoming Bill Hearings
Many of the bills I introduced have been given hearing dates in the Senate. If you have any questions about a particular bill please reach out to my office or visit the General Assembly website at http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/.
- 2/11- SB 337 Splash Pads - Lifeguards
- 2/11- SB 495 Bay Restoration Fund – Use of Funds – Municipal Wastewater Facilities
- 2/12- SB 387 Housing - Community Development Program Act - Funding
- 2/13- SB 576 Health Occupations - Nurse Practitioners - Certifications of Competency and Incapacity
- 2/18- SB 541 Mental Health - Involuntary Admissions - Procedures
- 2/25- SB 667 Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard - Municipal Electric Utilities
- 2/25- SB 678 Natural Resources - Reclassification of Oyster Sanctuaries - Authorization
- 2/25- SB 790 Information Technology - Communications Lines - Installation
- 2/26- SB 788 Income Tax - Credit for Community-Based Faculty Clinicians
- 2/28- SB 100 Dorchester County - Alcoholic Beverages - Class C Beer, Wine, and Liquor License
- 3/4 - SB 312 Talbot County - Sunday Hunting - Deer Bow Hunting Season
- 3/4- SB 500 Talbot County - Turkey and Deer Hunting - Sundays
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8 comments:
I wouldn't be so proud to announce a "Rainy day" excess budget jufor Maryland retirees. Hogan just over taxed it's citizens who could have used that money instead of giving it to the State so Hogan could brag about the how great his budget. We are not stupid Hogan.
I must be getting old and forgetful but what is the Kirwan commission.
The Kirwan Commission is a cake bakery for us peasants so that we will have cake to eat.
The Kirwan Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education is a multi-year initiative to research and develop major funding and policy reforms to improve the quality of Maryland’s public education system to benefit all of the more than 790,000 students, which will in turn benefit the State’s economy and quality of life for all Marylanders.
MABE Presentation: What’s the Kirwan Commission and the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future All About (Oct. 10, 2019)
Key components of the Kirwan Commission’s work include:
• The APA Funding Adequacy Study: Expert analysis of what Maryland’s educators and experts have determined needed to improve our schools.
• The National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE) Framework: What experts recommend as the building blocks for creating an innovative and globally competitive education system.
• The passage of Question 1 on the 2018 statewide ballot amend the State Constitution to shift more than $500 million in casino revenues to actually increase school funding above present levels. Senate Bill 1122 (2018) called for the referendum. (Increased funding = $125 million in 2019-2020, $250 million in 2020-2021, $375 million in 2021-2022, and at least $500 million in 2022-2023)
• The Kirwan Commission’s Interim Report: Issued in January of 2019, based on the NCEE framework, and building on the Adequacy Study through the continuing assistance of APA.
• The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future: Senate Bill 1030 is the legislation enacted in 2019 to launch three-years of increased funding for PreK, special education, teachers’ pay, and other programs. ($255 million in 2019-2020, $355 million in 2020-2021, and at least $370 million in 2021-2022)
• The Funding Formula Workgroup: Meeting in the summer and fall of 2019 to develop final recommendations for the full Commission to receive in November to incorporate into final legislative recommendations.
The next legislative session, convening on January 8, 2020, is highly anticipated for the passage of the full Kirwan Commission bill including the 10-year phase-in of NCEE’s policy framework and the state and local cost shares of the overall funding increases. Another key component of this work will be legislation identifying sources of State revenue to meet the State’s funding obligations.
You'll be happy to know that Hogan walked backed a meager 2% COLA for State Employees. While everyone else is enjoying a booming economy, state employees are working more for less.
Don’t take my word for it, BUT you will be sorry if it passes. It will cost you and all Marylanders money that will be squandered.
I won't be happy to know that, very bad budgeting
Between The Kirwan Myth and $15.00 buck a hour min wage you will see several of the Wicomico County work force deleted and there will be nothing left but supervisors to tell no one what to do.But we the taxpayer will still be able to provide a summer babysitter and free daily meals with the taxpayers EBT card which you receive every July.
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