Next we heard from the Maryland Association of Counties which is asking that the conversion to the new optical scan voting system be delayed.  County governments are required to pay for half of the costs of the statewide voting system and related expenses.  The counties are suffering the same budget crunch that the State is experiencing and does not have the money for the new machines.  The counties feel that the present system is fully functional and effective.  There have been no major problems with the touch screen system.

The last presentation was by Save Our Votes an organization which is concerned about what will happen if the State needed to have a recount and had no paper ballots or verifiable method to count the votes.  They are concerned about the security vulnerabilities in touch screen voting.

These are weighty issues that we face.  No one wants to think that any vote was not counted.  By the way, this year voters may cast their votes at an Early Voting Center.  The Center for Charles County will be the Board of Elections’ office in La Plata.

Many of you know that I am very interested in Chapman State Park and have attended meetings with the Friends of Chapman State Park and Ranger Patrick Bright who is the Area Manager for the Maryland Park Service.  He recently sent me a list of accomplishments that have been made at the Park in the last who years.  I think you will agree that they have made some definite progress.

DNR’s Maryland Park Service & Friends of Chapman State Park

2008 – 09 Chapman State Park Milestones

Environmental Sustainability

• Redoubled Potomac shoreline cleanups, removing approximately 2 tons of trash, during Potomac River Clean Up and various volunteer days involving local scouts, businesses, and community groups!  Debris sample include 110 tires, 555 disposable lighters, over 200 hundred road flare caps, over 2000 expended shotgun shells &/or wadding….
• All underground fuel oil and gasoline tanks removed from the park.
• Numerous, successful invasive plant removal events.
• Rare, Threatened, and Endanger Species Study completed.

Historic Preservation

• A state of the art security system was installed in the Mt. Aventine mansion.
• The ancient Mt. Aventine mansion furnace was finally replaced!
• Specifications for Mt. Aventine exterior renovation drafted and competitive bidding process initiated.  Contract should be awarded by close of 2009.

Recreation and Visitor Services

• Longshadows and River Cabin were boarded up to deter vandals.
• New fences installed at the Mt. Aventine Area gate.
• Mt. Aventine porches repaired and painted.
• Deadfall trees were removed from all park trails.
• Trail map completed.
• Coastal Woodlands trail rerouted around active eagle’s nest and reopened.
• Park designated as an Important Bird Area by the Audubon Society.
• Expanded deer hunting opportunities.

Partnerships & Collaborations

• Search and Rescue Dogs of Maryland (SARDOM) increasing use of park facilities.
• George Washington University (GW) School of Business, Tourism Program.
• The Friends of Chapman State Park officers and Board of Directors were recently elected and expanded!

Initiatives Planned for 2010

• Mt. Aventine exterior renovations to be completed in early 2010.
• Launch the long-awaited park website in early 2010.
• Work closely with DNR Heritage program to target the removal of the invasive Japanese Stilt Grass on the park’s Ridge Trail.
• Coordinate with DNR Wildlife unit to better manage the growing deer herd.
• Targeted “natural filters” reforestation of approximately ten acres to aid in habitat and Potomac/Bay water quality.
• Expand SARDOM partnership to afford more training access and presence in park.
• Expand collaboration with GW’s Tourism program to involve Chapman State Park in its “Sustainable Destinations” curriculum.

Ryan received first place at the statewide competition for his documentary, Benjamin O. Davis, and won Outstanding State Entry for Maryland at the National History Day competition.  The House of Delegates presented him with a Resolution for his outstanding achievement.  I had a chance to meet Ryan and have a few words with him and was immediately impressed.  I was proud that he is a student from Charles County.

Barbara Stepura, Chair of the art show, opened the ceremony by thanking us for attending and for our support in getting the MCAC driveway paved so that patrons no longer have to drive on a dirt road to the art center. MCAC President Mary Agnes Swann also presented a lifetime membership certificate to Delegate Levy for his support of the MCAC since his early days as a county commissioner. Ms. Stepura closed the event by saying that all the students were winners even if they didn’t get a ribbon or a monetary prize. She said that having their art works displayed at the MCAC meant that they had really accomplished something great. The entries were judged by Ms. Sally Parker who studied art at both the University of Maryland and at the Smithsonian.

It was a pleasure to spend time reviewing the students’ drawings, oil paintings, ceramics and photographic works on display; and I was sincerely impressed with the talents of the Charles County high school students. Arts programs in schools enhance the educational experience for all students.    I reminded the students and their parents that the Charles County delegates have scholarships available for 2010 high school graduates which can be used for art degrees as well as other fields of study.

Ken Weikel of Chick-fil-A was honored as the outgoing President of the Chamber.  Ken is committed to helping business grow in Charles County.  He has been active in numerous causes and is extremely generous in his support for the activities of organizations around the County.  He definitely qualifies as an all around good guy.

Darlene Breck of the Southern Maryland Business Center was installed as the 2010 President of the Chamber.  Darlene has been an active supporter of business and organizations in the County and has proven expertise as a leader in the community.  I have known her personally for many years and she also owns the building where I have my District Office.  My best wishes to her for the coming year.

We are all proud that he is a Charles County resident and certainly deserves this honor.

The 21^st was the day for the School of Medicine to visit Annapolis.  The School of Medicine is the 5^th oldest and first public medical school in the US and the first medical school in the country to construct its own hospital for clinical instruction.  Students are encouraged to be actively involved in community programs such as HIV clinics, homeless and domestic abuse shelters, nursing homes and local schools.

Since I am greatly concerned about the need to attract more medical professionals to the Southern Maryland area, I asked them if any of them were planning to practice in Charles County.  I then spent some time explaining how Charles County enjoyed a great quality of life and was a wonderful place to raise a family.  I am not sure that I converted any of the students to move here, but I will keep trying.  Adequate health care of top quality is needed for our county to thrive.

The SMRCD may not be known to you, but they do very important work to monitor and conserve our environment.  The SMRCD works with a variety of partners across the three counties, including private citizens, community associations, local businesses, schools, fire and rescue squads, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, nonprofits and local, State and Federal agencies.

One of their partners is the Naval Support Facility (NSF) in Indian Head.  Their ongoing projects are shoreline protection and restoration and an agreement to provide fish passages for upstream movement of fish into stream headwaters.  They have successful studies to monitor eagles at NSF, test for presence of West Nile viruses and others, and measure the levels of environmental contaminants in wildlife young.

I am sure that their good work will continue under the guidance to Buddy.

There are a number of agencies which support and provide services to seniors:  the Department of Aging, Office of Health Care Quality, Department of Human Resources, Meals-on-Wheels, local food banks, public transportation, and senior centers.  One example of a program that deserves preservation is the state’s older adult waiver, which allows about 3,100 to 3,500 eligible residents to receive medical care in their homes, instead of having to enter a nursing home.

The Southern Maryland Delegation met with seniors from Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s Counties.  We should be thankful for the efforts of these seniors who faithfully monitor the bills introduced each year and identify those that they feel affect the lives of seniors.  They spend considerable time being part of the process and bringing their views to Annapolis.

It helps the legislators to hear how different pieces of legislation will impact the local areas.  There is a saying in Annapolis – “The Devil is in the Details” – and this is very true.  Often the impact of a piece of legislation is not well understood until you put the rule or law into practice.

January 19 Fairness in Negotiations Act

January 20 Tax Issues – Comptroller’s Office

January 21 School System Audits

January 26   Fiscal Briefing – Department of Legislative Services (DLS)

January 27 Election Law Issues – State Board of Elections

January 28 Local Aid – DLS, MD Association of Counties, and Maryland Municipal League (Of Major Concern – Maintenance of Effort for Education)

In opening day activities, Senator Mike Miller was re-elected President of the Senate for his 24th year of service. Senator Miller is the longest-serving Senate President in the history of the Maryland and the United States. Delegate Michael Busch was re-elected Speaker of the House of Delegates to begin an eighth year in that office.

As of opening day, 238 bills and resolutions have been pre-filed and will be introduced and assigned to principal standing committees for hearings in order to solicit public testimony.

Among the issues to be considered this year are:

• Balancing the State Budget equitably in a tough recessionary period with a projected deficit of $2 billion.
• Creating jobs and promoting employment with tax credits and incentives for businesses.
• Strengthening laws related to sex offenders, drunk drivers, and gang-related criminal activities.
• Examining ways to capture additional federal education money including the Race to the Top program.
• Reducing costs related to health care including Medicaid reimbursement rates.
• Working through the problems associated with the State’s distribution of aid to local jurisdictions and with granting waivers for the maintenance of effort law that requires local jurisdictions to provide at least the same level of education funding as the previous year.

There have changes in Federal law and subsidies and grants which encourage the States to work toward this goal.  Maryland has made much improvement and recognizes that we still need to keep focused on our objective.  They have revamped the website for the Department of Human Resources to make it easier for relatives to get information concerning the support that is available to care for a child.  The department hopes to appoint a local Kinship Care Coordinator in seven counties this year.  This is very heartening and shows that progress can be made toward providing care for these children.

The second part of the meeting dealt with the proposal on the Green Community tax credits forwarded by the county to the delegation.  The Commissioners support the green community concept but had not had time to study the individual tax credit proposal in depth.  Until they decide if they can support this proposal, the Delegation will continue to review the issue.  This is a huge request and has ramifications throughout the state, not just our county.

Various state leaders such as Senator Barbara Mikulski, Congressman Steny Hoyer, Attorney General Doug Gansler, and many of the state legislative leaders spoke on what they see as the main topics to be addressed by both Congress and the Maryland General Assembly in the coming months.  On Saturday afternoon I joined the Southern Maryland Delegation members on a panel discussing State Issues in 2010.

All agreed that the current economic problems of the nation and state complicate the ability to address quickly many of our day to day concerns.  The Ways and Means Committee to which I am assigned, has been getting briefings on the fiscal status of Maryland and both tax information and revenue reports from the Comptroller.

The Commissioners had forwarded two proposals:

1. Green Jobs Opportunities Zones (Limited to Priority Funding Areas)

• 1. Authorize counties granting tax credits for high performance construction in such zones to receive a 50% reimbursement for any property tax credits granted.  Buildings eligible if upgraded to LEED standards.
  1. Grants one-time income tax credit for new hires within the zone if the hire were for a “Qualified Green Business Entity” or for a non-qualified business, for a “Green Job”.
  1. $1,000 one time tax credit
  1. $1,500 if in a Focus Area of a Green Job Opportunity Zone (all or part of the zone related to the development of renewable energy generation projects or new energy technologies
  2. $3,000 if the employee qualifies as an economically disadvantaged employee or has been out of full time work for a year or more
  3. $4,500 if the employee also qualifies as an economically disadvantaged employee or has been out of full time work for a year or more and is employed within a Focus Area
  1. No limit on number of employees eligible for a tax credit, but employee must not have been hired to replace an individual whom the business entity employed in the preceding 3 taxable years
  1. No minimum number of jobs that would have to be created in order to qualify for tax credit
  2. Duration of the Green Job Opportunity Zone would be 20 years, once designated, but political subdivisions could request shorter durations
  3. No more than two zones per county and 6 zones in State approved in any one year

1. Use of golf carts for transportation in and around Cobb Island by handicapped individuals

• 1. Carts may be used by disabled residents who have valid Maryland
     Driver’s license and who have been issued handicapped tags by MVA
  2. Carts may be used only on the island
  3. Carts to be used between sunrise and sunset
  4. Carts may carry passengers, limited to number of seats in cart
  5. Carts would be exempt from state titling and registration requirements
  6. Carts must be insured

I truly enjoy meeting the awardees and catching up on how they are doing in college and get their impressions on how college life differs from high school.  I also enjoy seeing them compare notes with fellow high school graduates who they haven’t seen since they left for college.  This is a very impressive group.  They are focused on what they plan to do in life, how to get the most out of their college experience, and how to accomplish their goals.   They are very mature in their choices and articulate in voicing their plans.

This week I continue to research issues that have been brought to my attention and to prepare for the legislative meeting on January 7^th.  I look forward to hearing what my friends and neighbors think about the topics that are before us.