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Maryland News
- 10/28/08 - Md. Hospitals, Care Facilities Working to Cut Their Use of Toxic Pesticides
- 10/28/08 - Frederick County Takes on Drugs in Waste Water
- 10/07/08 - Ballot Initiatives for Election Reforms
- 09/29/08 - Lawmakers Stop Short of Enacting Effective Environmental Safeguards for Chesapeake Bay
- 09/23/08 - Maryland Runs Short of Pollution Inspectors
- 09/19/08 - States Accuse Pentagon Of Threats, Retaliation
- 09/17/08 - Political Treason: Subverting Democracy Through Electoral Fraud
- 09/12/08 - Maryland Gets Tough on Chicken Farmers
- 09/05/08 - Md., Va. Set Action Plans for Changes in Climate
- 08/28/08 - Even Wall Street Has Admitted that Bruce Ivins Wasn't the Anthrax Culprit
- 08/22/08 - Grassroots Direct Action: San Francisco Voters Nov. 4 Will Tell Their Congress Reps to Defund the War
- 08/20/08 - Maryland Warns Army of Lawsuit
- 08/20/08 - Md. to Join Others in Alternative Power Deal
- 08/19/08 - Doubts over the Anthrax Case Intensify -- Except in the Corporate Media
- 08/06/08 - Color It Green
- 07/29/08 - Be Forewarned: You May Not Want to Eat What You Catch
- 07/29/08 - Swimming in Potomac Comes With Health Risks
- 07/24/08 - Has Your Town Declared Peace Yet?
- 07/16/08 - Appalachian Residents Have Found the Antidote to Coal
- 07/09/08 - Meade Environmental Hazards Shrouded in Secrecy
- 07/08/08 - VA, MD Senators Join Opposition to Clean Air Change Affecting Parks
- 07/04/08 - Pentagon, EPA at Odds
- 06/30/08 - States Taking Initiative on Environmental & Climate Crisis while Feds Do Little or Nothing
- 06/30/08 - Pentagon Fights EPA on Pollution Cleanup
- 06/25/08 - Protesters Fear Health Effects of ICC
- 06/24/08 - Residents Blame National Harbor for Sewage Spills
- 06/16/08 - Kevin Zeese and Linda Schade: Let's Build a Green Baltimore
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SweatFree MD Campaign Continues!
The SweatFree Maryland Campaign has been working on a bill that would end the use of taxpayer dollars to purchase uniforms manufactured by companies that exploit women and children.
Since the introduction of HB 290, awareness of the issue has grown and concerned citizens have sent hundreds of postcards and emails and made calls to their legislators in support of the bill. However, the SweatFree Maryland Campaign decided to withdraw the bill for this session because there wasn't enough time for the subcommittee to vote on the bill. It will introduce the bill again next year and in the mean time will hold informational meetings around the state over the next several months, to continue to inform legislators and the public about the issue.
Please take this time to send a note of thanks to the MD Delegates that supported the bill.
Last Updated: May 20, 2008
Progressive States Network's MD Legislative Update, April 21, 2008
Maryland enacted path-breaking legislation in a number of areas, while making strong incremental gains in many others -- even as it achieved more mixed results on eliminating toxins from toys and on consumer credit protections.
Budget: Like most states, Maryland faced a budget deficit, one as high as $1.7 billion, but as we discussed last week, it distinguishing itself by making up much of the shortfall through tax increases on the wealthiest residents to increase tax equity. However, Maryland is not out of the fiscal woods yet. Part of the state's deficit plan hinges on voter approval of slot machines in November.
Home Foreclosures: Maryland took bold steps to stem the foreclosure crisis, making the most egregious mortgage schemes subject to criminal prosecution, extending foreclosure timetables for 15 to 150 days, and banning prepayment penalties and other transactions in which homeowners are tricked into signing over their houses to third parties.
Health Care: Health care saw important gains in 2008. Lawmakers enacted the Kids First Act (HB 1391), which, as we wrote in a LegAlert to lawmakers urging its passage, will help the state's 130,000 uninsured children obtain health insurance coverage by first requiring the state to notify families whose children are eligible but not yet enrolled in existing health care programs, an estimated 90,000 uninsured children. Additionally, as the Coalition reports, despite a budget deficit, the state kept its promise to expand Medicaid for adults without children.
Elsewhere, the legislature passed several bills to better regulate pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs), who manage prescription drug benefits in health plans. The bills await the Governor's signature - HB 419, HB 120, HB 580, HB 343, HB 257.
Environment: As Environment Maryland detailed, the environment and clean energy made out quite well this session. Highlights include:
SB 209 doubles the state's renewable energy standard to 20% by 2022.
SB 268 allocates $40 million per year for clean energy programs.
HB 374 requires utilities to reduce per capita electricity consumption 10% by 2015.
SB 207 increases grants from the solar energy grant program to $10,000 for solar panels and $3,000 for solar hot water systems and HB 117 prohibits residential communities from banning the installation of solar panels.
SB 208 requires new state buildings and public schools to meet green building standards.
HB 366 supports smart growth projects around military bases expansions through grants.
SB 204 boosts development centered around transit stations.
Some missed opportunities were HB 712, which would have created timelines for adopting clean energy policies and a cap on global warming pollution in the state, and HB 1416, which would have halted a new highway system pending an analysis of its impact on global warming.
Maryland achieved mixed results in other areas important to families, achieving equality for all, and ensuring democratic integrity.
Toxic Toys: As Maryland PIRG wrote, the General Assembly failed to protect children from the toxins Phthalates and Bisphenol-A, which are shown to alter hormone levels and the reproductive development of infants, and are commonly found in toys and other child care products. However, the state did ban the sale or manufacture of children's products that contain dangerous levels of lead.
Credit Reform: Similarly, the legislature achieved a mixed result with regard to protecting consumers' credit and preventing credit fraud. While it passed SB 60 to enhance consumers' ability to defend themselves in court against credit card theft and outlaws devices that steal credit card numbers, it failed to pass legislation protecting credit and debit card information after transactions are complete. Also, SB 646 was passed, weakening protections from predatory debt management services.
Election Reform: Similarly, as Maryland PIRG reported, the state achieved a mixed result in election reform. While passing SB 90, requiring paper voting records by the 2010 election, the legislature failed to bring up for a vote SB 593, which would have established public financing of elections.
GLBT Equality: While Equality Maryland expressed deep frustration that lawmakers did not advance marriage equality for GLBT residents and civil rights protections for transgender people, Maryland did extend 11 important protections to domestic partners, including hospital visitation rights. However, neither the General Assembly nor the Governor took action to extend domestic partnership benefits to state employees.
Take Action. Support Green Jobs!
The Green Jobs Act of 2007 authorized $125 million per year to create an Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Worker Training Program as an amendment to the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). The Green Jobs Act (GJA) is an initial pilot program to identify needed skills, develop training programs, and train workers for jobs in a range of industries - including energy efficient building, construction and retrofits, renewable electric power, energy efficient vehicles, biofuels, and manufacturing that produces sustainable products and uses sustainable processes and materials. It targets a broad range of populations for eligibility, but has a special focus on creating "green pathways out of poverty."
Congress has not yet appropriated money for the Green Jobs Act. Please contact your Senator today and urge them to fund the Green Jobs Act of 2007!
Read more at Green for All's web site.
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