Montgomery County Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly - 2010
Members from left to right
Top:
Rob Garagiola, Mike Lenett, Al Carr, Ben Kramer, Rona Kramer, Bill Bronrott, Herman Taylor, Jim Gilchrist. Second row: Tom
Hucker, Saqib Ali, Roger Manno, Bill Frick, Craig Rice, Hank Heller, Kumar Barve, Jamie Raskin, Rich Madaleno. Front:
Kirill Reznik, Nancy King, Karen Montgomery, Jeff Waldstreicher, Anne Kaiser, Brian Feldman, Susan Lee, Sheila Hixson, Jennie
Forehand, Charlie Barkley, Ana Sol Gutièrrez, Kathleen Dumais. Not shown: Brian Frosh, Heather Mizeur, Luiz Simmons.
Update February 25, 2010:
WSDC Annapolis Update
HB 832 and SB 717 have been introduced this session to increase Maryland’s alcohol tax by 10 cents per
drink. Sponsored in the House and Senate by two Montgomery County legislators, Delegate Bill Bronrott and Senator Rich
Madaleno, the Lorraine Sheehan Health and Community Services Act of 2010 is projected to raise $214 million in new revenues,
save $249 million in healthcare costs, avert 15,000 cases of alcohol abuse and create jobs in crucial sectors of healthcare
and other state services.
The revenue will be used to help fully fund a program to ensure that lower
income childless adults get critically needed Medicaid coverage, increase needed access to alcohol and drug treatment and
cessation services and support our state's underfunded programs for people with developmental disabilities and mental health
concerns. Maryland’s alcohol tax is one of the lowest in the nation, and has not been increased since 1955.
The bill was named after Lorraine Sheehan who rejected medical advice to institutionalize her son who was
diagnosed with autism and intellectual disabilities and dedicated her life to improving the quality of living for individuals
with developmental disabilities. She passed away in 2009.
The broad coalition that supports this Act
includes AARP Maryland, The Arc of Maryland, Maryland Citizens' Health Initiatives, Maryland Disability Law Center, and Mothers
Against Drunk Driving among others.
Nevertheless, the Governor and top legislative leaders have made
it known that they do not support any tax increases this year. The Act will also be opposed by the beer and wine wholesalers,
distilled spirits, and restaurant association, which argue that business will be hurt, and jobs lost, if the tax is raised.
The link to the legislation is: http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/hb0832.htm .
To follow the progress of these bills, go to mlis.state.md.us
and click on bill information and status. Then type the number of the bill and submit query.
Attached is a fact sheet which provides additional details and contact information.
This report was
prepared by WSDC Legislative Committee member Maxine Hamilton who is on the Board of The Arc of Montgomery
County and is President of the Residential Support Group. She is a member of the Governmental Affairs Committee
of The Arc of Maryland, and assists in their statewide advocacy program on behalf of people with developmental disabilities.
Special Report: Maryland Budget Update
"For D.C., Maryland and Virginia, more than one way to balance a budget", Washington Post, 1/24/2010.
Maryland Politics Watch Blog
2008 Gazette story on our Slots Debate....
Click here for Maryland General Assembly site.
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Healthcare
in Maryland
The Woman's Suburban Democratic Club is formally a member of
two coalitions. Click on these websites to learn more: Maryland Women's Coalition for Health Care Reform
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