Hi. I'm Delegate Kirill Reznik. Welcome back to my weekly video blog updating you on what is happening here in Annapolis throughout the 2011 Legislative Session. I'm sorry I couldn't get this out on Friday but it was another really busy week that took us through voting on the House floor for most of the day Friday and even through Saturday.
Last Wednesday, the House began the debate on the FY12 budget plan as proposed by the Appropriations Committee, which amended the Governor's original proposed budget. On Thursday night we finished debate and passed the House version.. It will now go to the Senate for debate and more possible changes. Once the Senate has finished, a conference committee will hammer out the differences so that both chambers can pass identical budgets to send to the Governor for his signature.
The House budget plan reduces Maryland's structural deficit by 40%, yet also maintains over $800M in cash reserves, including the 5% Rainy Day Fund. Maryland remains one of only 8 states that have not used Rainy Day Funds during the recession and maintains its triple A bond rating.
The proposal restores K-12 education funding to bring per pupil spending back to FY11 levels and provides funding to limit the higher education tuition increase to 3%. It also increases funding to counties and municipalities for road maintenance, replaces $50M of the Transportation Trust Fund through a modest fee increase on certificate of title on new vehicle purchases and vanity tags, and requires any new transfer from the Transportation Trust Fund to be repaid within 5 years to promote the sustainability of the State's transportation system.
It prevents furloughs for state employees for the first time in three years, and provides a $750 bonus for employees who have lost an average of $3,100 in pay reductions over the past three years.
Funding for the Biotech Tax Credit, stem cell research programs and Nanotechnology are preserved to maintain Maryland's status as #2 in growth and investment in Research & Development investment and jobs according to the US Chamber of Commerce. Funding for business loan and loan guarantee programs is also preserved.
The budget maintains a defined benefit pension system, yet makes a few changes to vesting requirements and employee contribution standards. The Appropriations Committee has proposed a change to the Governor's proposal that prevents drastically increased prescription costs upon Retired Employees and keeps co-pay and monthly premium increases to a minimum. The proposal is set up in a way that will enhance the long-term sustainability of the pension system through the reinvestment of savings from these reforms into the retirement system beginning in FY13 to reduce unfunded liability.
I believe this budget proposal is fiscally responsible and takes every possible action to preserve our priorities as a state.
Last week, the House finally passed legislation that will for the first time put reliability standards on electric utilities like PEPCO and will put consequences in place if those standards are not met. While the final legislation will not over night force the changes our region desperate needs to have quality reliable power service it is an important step to put pressure on PEPCO to make the necessary improvements.
On Saturday, the House of Delegate came in to vote on several bills as we enter the home stretch of this year's legislative session. The House joined the Senate in passing my legislation to prevent employers from using one's credit history in hiring and retention decisions. A link to an interview I did on Fox News this morning about the bill is included the weekly e-mail and blog, along with link to an interview I took part in with Guled Kassim on Kassim's Corner on AM station 1580 in March 21st.
Another of the many bills we passed on Saturday I want to highlight is a compromise bill that will finally allow out-of-state direct wine shipping from wineries outside of Maryland. I have heard from many of you on this issue over the years, so I wanted to make sure to update you on this important development. While the compromise legislation still does not allow direct wine shipping into Maryland from out of state retailers, this is a major step in changing Maryland's archaic alcohol laws.
That's it for this week. I look forward to updating you again next week. As always please feel free to contact my office regarding any thoughts, questions, or concerns you may have about any issues facing our State or local community.
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