2005 Roll Call

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID BALTIMORE MD MBRG 17TH ANNUAL PERMIT NO. 5415 Maryland Business for Responsive Government ROLL 10 Light Street Suite 300B Baltimore, MD 21202 2 0 0 2 www.mbrg.org M ARYLAND B USINESS FOR Change Service Requested CALL R ESPONSIVE G OVERNMENT HOW MARYLAND’S 188 LEGISLATORS VOTED ON BILLS IMPORTANT TO BUSINESS AND JOBS Mortgaging Maryland’s Future Sound Fiscal Management Demands Planning and Discipline ow did Maryland go from having a new taxes, fees, and regulations on businesses seemingly unrelated five percent telephone surplus of almost $1 billion for Fiscal and citizens. tax is equally disconcerting.Yet,it further HYear (FY) 2001 to a deficit of almost With comprehensive strategies and plans in illustrates fiscal leadership’s current predispo- $1 billion for FY 2003? place under statutorily required spending sition toward short-term, patchwork solutions. The answer is simple -- fiscal irresponsi- guidelines, State government can focus on Balancing the budget on the backs of bility.Rather than make the tough budget controlling its growth and ensuring stable Maryland businesses to appease special- decisions, Governor Glendening and the fiscal management.This will prevent interest concerns is neither sound economic Maryland General Assembly chose to avoid lawmakers from having to raise the cost of development the tough issues altogether. Instead, our State’s doing business in Maryland to cover revenue “We often adopt policy,nor fiscal leadership team chose a short-term, shortfalls resulting from poor fiscal planning. programs and find sound fiscal patchwork strategy of tax and fee increases Many of the bills selected for inclusion in the revenues later.” policy in either and dedicated fund tapping that detracts from this year’s Roll Call underscore the need for the short or sound fiscal management. The budget was fiscal discipline and planning.This year, the long-term. It positions our State on a balanced, but at what cost? Roll Call Advisory Council evaluated legisla- dangerous slope toward an unstable fiscal The General Assembly adjourned the 2002 tion measured against a standard of providing framework. It sends an uncertain message to session leaving a new governor and General a better quality of life for all Marylanders, companies looking to locate or remain in Assembly with a projected $780 million while providing a predictable and strong Maryland. Moreover, it affects the availability deficit, in addition to a $1.3 billion unfunded economic climate. Legislation in areas such as of jobs, and increases the cost of doing busi- mandate over the next five years to pay for transportation, taxes, health care, and insur- ness in the State. new education programs. ance were considered in this regard. Business leaders, for their part, have been To the successful businessperson, realistic The legislature’s treatment of the Thornton inadequate in voicing their concerns to planning and fiscal discipline are essential. Commission Report (education spending) is legislative leaders.And legislative leaders need To the Legislative and Executive branches of equally interesting, but for different reasons. to improve as listeners. Maryland government,however,spending This commission suggested changes in the As we close this reflection on the 2002 discipline is not acceptable. (See chart page 8.) education funding formulas that will increase session of the Maryland General Assembly, Not since the late 1970s has Maryland seen money to the State’s poorer school districts. there is one apparent lesson that can serve as an earnest attempt to control State spending As enacted, the new formulas increase educa- a blueprint for improvement for the next and programs through the implementation of tion funding by about $1.3 billion over the administration. It is the overwhelming need to flexible, yet binding, spending affordability next five years. implement binding, spending affordability guidelines. Now is the time for the legislature Following current practice, the legislature guidelines and other fiscal control measures to revisit spend- reached into the grab bag and pulled out a that provide disciplined consistency in State Legislation imposing ing affordability tobacco tax increase. At best, this revenue is a spending. spending affordability tied to growth partial down-payment on the “house of educa- Solid fiscal management with proper guidelines will restore in personal tion”with no provision for paying the mort- controls is the key to success for the next discipline and income. Legisla- gage.“Close enough for government work,”as administration, and vital to the overall accountability. tion imposing we often hear. Or as one senior senator economic and fiscal health of our State. It is a spending afford- remarked,“We often adopt programs and find responsibility elected leaders must accept. ability guidelines will restore discipline and the revenues later.” And it is a responsibility Maryland businesses accountability.It also will control government Likewise, a proposal to fund Prince must demand.✸ growth and deter lawmakers from levying George’s County schools on the back of a RESULTS OF THE 2002 SESSION VICTORIES VICTORIES DEFEATS ✔ A resolution to restart and complete the environmental ✔ A bill to require businesses that use chemicals to ✍ A bill to extend collective bargaining rights of local impact statement process for the Intercounty Connector change manufacturing processes or product designs was school employee organizations was approved. See SB 233 (ICC) was approved by the General Assembly. See SJ 8 on defeated. See SB 630 on page 2. on pages 2 and 6. page 2 and HJ 10 on page 6. ✔A bill to duplicate the federal “Do not call”program with ✍ A bill to restrict development activity in the Atlantic ✔ A bill to levy a two percent premium tax on HMOs was a state do-not-call database that adversely affects Maryland Coastal Bays area was approved. See SB 247 on page 2. defeated. See SB 10 on page 2. telemarketers was defeated. See SB 674 on page 2. ✍ A bill to partially fund a $1.3 billion increase in educa- ✍ A bill to streamline the appeal process for air quality ✔A bill to subvert the objective criteria used in the tion funding through a tobacco tax hike on cigarettes was control permits was approved. See SB 248 on page 2 and competitive sealed bidding method of procurement for approved.See SB 856 on pages 6 and 7. HB 5 on page 6. state construction contracts was defeated. See HB 480 on ✍ A bill to require the Maryland Department of Environ- ✔An amendment to delay the final two percent of the state page 6. ment to establish new fees on facilities that store or release income tax rate cut was defeated. See SB 323 on pages 2 ✔A bill to establish a new tax on Maryland commercial hazardous substances in order to create a Community and 6. real estate transactions was defeated. See HB 557 on pages Right-to-Know Fund was approved. See HB 291 on pages 6 ✔ A bill to create an Energy-Saving Investment Fund 6 and 7. and 7. through a surcharge to be paid by residential and retail users ✔A bill that requires chemical manufacturers to make ✖ A bill to extend an authorization to contract with of electric and gas was defeated. See SB 541 on page 2. unreasonable upgrades to the security of independently private companies for child support enforcement services ✔ A bill to add impermissibly vague language to the owned railyards adjacent to their facilities was defeated. was vetoed. See HB 495 on pages 6 and 7. grounds for debarring a person from entering into a See HB 1052 on page 6. ✍ A bill to limit an insurer’s ability to use credit informa- contract with the State was defeated. See SB 610 on tion when making underwriting decisions was approved. pages 2 and 6. See HB 521 on page 6. M ARYLAND B USINESS FOR R ESPONSIVE G OVERNMENT 2002 Senate Vote Descriptions education reforms;and reduce the public’s role in public education policy-making. SB 541 – Senator Frosh A “+”indicates a vote against SB 233 and reflects Energy-Saving Investment Program MBRG’s opposition to legislation that strengthens 7 labor and weakens Maryland’s public school educa- Creates the Energy-Saving Investment Fund in the tion system. Disagreeing with MBRG’s position,the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) to support Senate approved SB 233,42-4,on March 25,2002 at energy efficiency programs financed by a surcharge 8:58 p.m. The bill was signed into law on May 6,2002. paid by all residential and retail users of electricity and gas. The bill takes effect July 1,2002 and sunsets December 31,2012. Although the Public Service SB 247 – Administration Commission (PSC) will establish the amount of the Sen. Robert R. Neall (D) 4 Atlantic Coastal Bays Protection Act surcharge,small commercial and industrial customers Among all veteran Democrats in the Senate and House of will pay approximately 25 percent of the $40.2 million Delegates (minimum of four years of service), this Anne Arundel Applies highly restrictive provisions of the in charges collected annually for the fund during FY County legislator has the highest MBRG cumulative score (81). Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Protection Program and 2005 through FY 2010,according to MEA and U.S. new restrictions to the Atlantic Coastal Bays area, Department of Energy information. The bill also which includes Assawoman,Isle of Wight,Sinepuxent, requires the MEA to prepare and maintain an energy- SJ 8 - Senator Miller Newport,and Chincoteague bays. The bill also requires saving investment plan. The plan must describe, State Highways - Intercounty Connector - the State to provide grants to local jurisdictions for evaluate,and recommend programs that save energy, 1Restart of Environmental Impact costs associated with developing and implementing a reduce energy costs,and reduce pollution and threats Statement Process local critical area protection program.

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