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Presbytery of Baltimore

Maryland General Assembly Update

Annapolis, MD (4/15/08) --

Reported by Julie Erickson, Direcor of Public Policy

Story continued from Presbytery Homepage

The Maryland General Assembly largely approved unfunded legislation like bills to protect homeowners from mortgage fraud and unfair foreclosure; as well as another requiring the state to notify low-income families of their eligibility for public health care.

Much of the political gain made in the Presbytery’s legislative agenda focused on the environment. A groundswell of support from grassroots organizations led to the passage of sound policies such as bills that enact new lead abatement standards and prohibit the metal in children’s products. The Maryland General Assembly also passed bills that require “green” standards for new state capital projects; preserve the Chesapeake Bay; decrease state electricity usage 15% by 2015; and fund affordable, energy efficient fuel sources for industry.

However, despite intense lobbying, the Global Warming Solutions Act failed. The bill was strongly opposed by the Steelworkers Union, which feared that increased emissions standards would slow-down production and cause job losses. Global Warming wasn’t the only public policy on the Presbytery’s legislative agenda to lack the whole-hearted

support of state representatives. Other failed bills include the death penalty repeal, funding for affordable housing and a sales tax rebate for low-income working families. A bill prohibiting the state to purchase apparel made in sweatshops offered legislators insight but was set aside for next year’s session.

Public education, immigration, guns and gambling will always be on the Presbytery’s legislative agenda – and, our advocates are already planning the demise of a slots bill proposed for next year’s session. Thanks for your support and encouragement during this session of the Maryland General Assembly. The Presbytery of Baltimore’s work in the public arena is crucial to our mission as Christians to “do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.”

Julie Erickson, Director of Public Policy

For information on specific bills, visit www.mlis.state.md.us or call Julie Erickson at 410.268.3336.

Julie Erickson

Director of Public Policy

Presbytery of Baltimore

41 State Circle

Annapolis, MD 21401

410-268-4122

Presbytery of Baltimore 2008 Legislative Agenda

The Presbytery of Baltimore, through its Director of Public Policy, Julie Erickson, advocates in support of the social justice issues important to congregations within the Presbytery. These primary issues have been identified by the Presbytery’s Legislative Task Force of its Peace and Justice Committee. These are the issues to which we -- as faith-based advocates -- will dedicate our time, talent and resources during the Maryland General Assembly’s 2008 Legislative Session.

Environment

The Social Witness Policy of PC(USA) has long supported good stewardship of God’s Creation. The Presbytery’s Care of Creation Task Force has surveyed numerous congregations and determined the major environmental concerns and interests of the church. Those interests largely advocate for legislative policies that improve the quality of life for all, especially those citizens of Maryland who are most vulnerable. As such, we advocate the following bills:

SB309	The Global Warming Solutions-Reductions in Greenhouse Gases
SB208	High Performance Building Act
HB23	Maryland Green Buildings Standards
SB268/HB368	Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program
SB213/HB369	The Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund and Non-point Source Fund,
HB56	Phthalates Bisphenol-A Prohibitions –Toys and Child Care Articles

Traditional Issues

Repeal of Death Penalty

Energy Assistance Expansion and Outreach to Low-Income Families

Public Education Maintenance Funding

Immigration

Adult Education Funding for ESOL in MSDE

Gun Control

Reproductive Choice

Affordable Housing

State legislators are currently considering a number of bills aimed at preventing homelessness; expanding the Rental Allowance Program; and providing safe, affordable housing to low-income workers. Some of these bills authorize counties and municipalities to support, foster or promote affordable housing programs for individuals and families of low-to-moderate income by waiving or modifying specified fees and charges for the construction of affordable housing. One such proposal supports Housing Trust Funds, which ensures that civil workers like teachers and police officers can afford to live in the communities they serve. During this time of economic slow-down when the tax revenue estimates may be revised downward, Governor Martin O’Malley may require further cuts to the already-reduced state budget. Programs that the Presbytery has worked diligently to establish -- such as, EUSP Program for Energy Assistance and low-income housing funds -- are easy targets for budget cuts. They are easy targets because the disadvantaged individuals who benefit most from these programs are least likely to advocate for themselves. As faith-based advocates, we must keep our voices strong as the Maryland General Assembly considers the Governor’s 2008 State Budget.

SB302/HB512	Maryland Affordable Housing Investment Fund
SB281	Affordable Housing Programs
HB74	Maryland Housing Rehabilitation Program – Loans to Members of Cooperative Housing Corporations
HB231	Rental Assistance Programs

For legislative information, contact Julie Erickson at 410.370.8245 or jerickson@baltimorepresbytery.org

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Subject: HOUSE DELEGATE EMAILS
Here's a list of House Democrats' emails. They probably won't have time to read the emails, so make sure your Subject line says it all - like "NO SLOTS, NO REFERENDUM" or "KEEP SLOTS OUT OF MD", etc. I've broken the list down into groups of 20. Some providers (like AOL) consider it Spam if there's more than 20 per email. If you don't have that problem, just take out the extra lines.

DEMOCRATS

galen.clagett@house.state.md.us, virginia.clagett@house.state.md.us, frank.conaway@house.state.md.us, norman.conway@house.state.md.us, dereck.davis@house.state.md.us, steven.deboy@house.state.md.us, john.donoghue@house.state.md.us, annmarie.doory@house.state.md.us, kathleen.dumais@house.state.md.us, brian.feldman@house.state.md.us, bill.frick@house.state.md.us, barbara.frush@house.state.md.us, tawanna.gaines@house.state.md.us, jim.gilchrist@house.state.md.us,

cheryl.glenn@house.state.md.us, melony.griffith@house.state.md.us, ana.gutierrez@house.state.md.us, guy.guzzone@house.state.md.us, peter.hammen@house.state.md.us, hattie.harrison@house.state.md.us,

michael.vaughn@house.state.md.us, jeff.waldstreicher@house.state.md.us, jay.walker@house.state.md.us, michael.weir@house.state.md.us, john.wood@house.state.md.us

Kevin Kelly (410) 841-3404, (301) 858-3404 - He doesn't have email. Please call his office.

REPUBLICANS

FLOOR LEADERS

Anthony J. O'Donnell <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa12284.html> , Minority Leader (410) 841-3314, (301) 858-3314

Nancy R. Stocksdale <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa12309.html> , Assistant Minority Leader (410) 841-3371, (301) 858-3371

Christopher B. Shank <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa02786.html> , Minority Whip (410) 841-3636, (301) 858-3636

Jeannie Haddaway <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14155.html> , Assistant Minority Whip (410) 841-3429, (301) 858-3429

Deputy Minority Whips

William J. Frank <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14007.html> , Chief Deputy Minority Whip (410) 841-3793, (301) 858-3793 Susan L. M. Aumann <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14006.html> (410) 841-3258, (301) 858-3258 Joseph C. Boteler III <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa13982.html> (410) 841-3365, (301) 858-3365 Don Dwyer, Jr. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa13998.html> (410) 841-3047, (301) 858-3047 Tony McConkey <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa13999.html> (410) 841-3406, (301) 858-3406 Tanya Thornton Shewell <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14319.html> (410) 841-3371, (301) 858-3371 Richard A. Sossi <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14003.html> (410) 841-3543, (301) 858-3543

Adelaide C. Eckardt <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa12216.html> , Chair, Party Caucus (410) 841-3343, (301) 858-3343

________________________________

Bartlett, Joseph R. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa02764.html> , District 4A (410) 841-3107, (301) 858-3107

Bates, Gail H. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa13779.html> , District 9A (410) 841-3556, (301) 858-3556

Beitzel, Wendell R. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14614.html> , District 1A (410) 841-3435, (301) 858-3435

Costa, Robert A. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14000.html> , District 33B (410) 841-3551, (301) 858-3551

Elliott, Donald B. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa12218.html> , District 4B (410) 841-3107, (301) 858-3107

Elmore, D. Page <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14004.html> , District 38A (410) 841-3433, (301) 858-3433

George, Ronald A. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14645.html> , District 30 (410) 841-3439, (301) 858-3439

Glassman, Barry <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa02774.html> , District 35A (410) 841-3289, (301) 858-3289

Impallaria, Richard K. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa13979.html> , District 7 (410) 841-3334, (301) 858-3334

Jennings, J. B. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa13980.html> , District 7 (410) 841-3698, (301) 858-3698

Kach, A. Wade <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa12250.html> , District 5B (410) 841-3359, (301) 858-3359

King, James J. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14622.html> , District 33A (410) 841-3510, (301) 858-3510

Kipke, Nicholaus R. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14623.html> , District 31 (410) 841-3421, (301) 858-3421

Krebs, Susan W. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa13983.html> , District 9B (410) 841-3200, (301) 858-3200

McComas, Susan K. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14001.html> , District 35B (410) 841-3289, (301) 858-3289

McDonough, Patrick L. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa13335.html> , District 7 (410) 841-3334, (301) 858-3334

McKee, Robert A. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa12269.html> , District 2A (410) 841-3447, (301) 858-3447

Miller, Warren E. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14062.html> , District 9A (410) 841-3582, (301) 858-3582

Myers, LeRoy E., Jr. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa13975.html> , District 1C (410) 841-3321, (301) 858-3321

Schuh, Steven R. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14631.html> , District 31 (410) 841-3206, (301) 858-3206

Smigiel, Michael D., Sr. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14002.html> , District 36 (410) 841-3555, (301) 858-3555

Stifler, Donna <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa14633.html> , District 35A (410) 841-3289, (301) 858-3289

Stull, Paul S. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa12310.html> , District 4A (410) 841-3107, (301) 858-3107

Walkup, Mary Roe <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa12316.html> , District 36 (410) 841-3449, (301) 858-3449

Weldon, Richard B., Jr. <http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa13978.html> , District 3B (410) 841-3240, (301) 858-3240