On May 2, 2013 the Governor signed into law HB 34 – German-American Heritage Month. This bill requires the Governor annually to proclaim October as German-American Heritage Month and to urge educational and cultural organizations to observe the month with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities.

 

 
 

 for a

Picnic in the Park

Sunday, May 26^th    2-5 p.m

Oregon Ridge Park
13401 Beaver Dam Road
Hunt Valley

Enjoy grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, salads, homemade desserts and more!

Tickets: $35 per person or $60 per family

Sponsorships: $500 Gold, $300 Silver, $150 Bronze

DOWNLOAD INFORMATIONAL FLYER

 

 

Dear Friends,

Thank you for contacting my office during the 2013 Legislative Session of the Maryland Assembly.  I appreciate the time you took to let me know your views on issues that concerned you.  I have taken these opinions into consideration and used them while deliberating.

This year I again served on the Transportation and Environmental Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee.  I continue to serve on the Oversight Committee on Personnel, Oversight Committee on Pensions, Joint Committee for Audits, Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics, Commission to Study Impact of Immigration on Maryland, Maryland Commission on Suicide Prevention, and Deputy Whip for the Republican Caucus.

Military Retirement Income
The Senate amended and passed SB 103, concerning taxing military retirement income.  As amended, the bill expands the existing military retirement income tax subtraction modification for individuals over the age of 65 by increasing from $5,000 to $10,000 the maximum amount of retirement income that can be excluded from Maryland adjusted gross income.  The bill takes effect July 1, 2014, and applies to tax years 2015 and beyond.

Earned Sick and Safe Leave Act
House Bill 735 would have required employers, including State and local governments, to implement a sick and safe leave policy under which an employee would earn at least one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked. Employers would have been required to allow employees to use leave for purposes including school closings, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking committed against the employee or the employee’s family member. The bill failed in the House but the crossfiled measure, SB 698, remains in a Senate committee.

State Pension System
The pension system has been a hot topic over the past few years. State employees have had to contribute more to their pensions through an increase in their contribution rate from 5% to 7%. In 2012, the retirement age was raised for new hires from the age of 55 to 60 and the vesting period was increased from five to ten years. In addition to all those changes, the 2012 budget implemented the “Rule of 90”, which requires a retiree’s age plus years of service to add up to at least 90.

All these measures were needed because of the huge deficit that has accumulated in the pension fund. The pension unfunded liability is around $19 billion dollars. The Senate proposed taking $100 million dollars of the pension funding and transferring it to the General Fund in response to the effects of sequestration. This is so wrong. The State employees have sacrificed more to fund their pension so that the Senate can use the money for other purposes.

This Session we have been told that our economy is improving and the Governor has spent more on this and that. In fact he has funded over $212 million dollars on new projects. The Board of Revenue Estimates reported that expected revenues have declined by over $85 million dollars. Instead of postponing these new projects and reserving funds, the pension fund has been the pot for easy picking.

I called the Senate President and expressed my grave concerns for this action.  It is wrong to take this money. After serving on the Joint Committee on Pensions and working hard to find solutions to fund our unfunded liabilities, it was a slap to our state employees and our efforts.

The matter is in the Conference Committee. I have been told that the $100 million will be placed in a dedicated purpose fund only to be used if the effects of sequestration are so dire that it is needed. This is still crazy. Stop spending on pet projects, stop taxing, and be disciplined in your management of taxpayers’ funds, leave the pensions of our state employees alone.

Human Trafficking
The House passed an amended HB 713 that establishes procedures for the seizure and forfeiture of property as a result of human trafficking violations.  “Human trafficking” involves taking, tricking, or luring a person into prostitution or a sexually explicit performance.  Amendments strike provisions relating the establishment of a Human Trafficking fund, and limit property subject to forfeiture to real property, motor vehicles, and money.

Housing Discrimination – Source of Income
After lengthy debate in the Senate, SB 487 was recommitted to the Judicial Proceeding Committee. This bill would have prohibited discriminatory practices in the sale or rental of a dwelling because of a person’s source of income. The crossfiled measure, HB 603, remains in the Environmental Matters House Committee.

Utilities – Smart Meters
House Bill 1038 and House Bill 1066 both dealing with Smart Meters were referred to interim study by a House Committee.  A “Smart Meter” allows wireless two-way communication between the customer’s premises and the company.  The legislation would have prohibited an electric company from disclosing usage data from a “Smart Meter” without written consent from the customer and established a penalty for violations.

Driver’s License – Lawful Status Requirement Repeal
Passed this week SB 715 expands the authority of the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) to issue or renew a driver’s license, identification card, or moped operator’s permit to an individual who does not have a Social Security number or proof of lawful status.  The amended bill repeals the current requirement that an individual must have held one of the documents on April 28, 2009, as well as the termination date of July 1, 2015, as it applies to the authority of the MVA to issue or renew one of these documents to an applicant without lawful status or a Social Security number.

Personal Injury or Death Caused by a Dog
The Senate unanimously passed their “pit bull” bill (SB 160) this week.  As amended, to escape liability for damages for personal injury or death caused by a dog, the dog owner must provide clear and convincing evidence that the owner’s dog did not have vicious or dangerous propensities.  The bill is intended to reverse a recent court decision that declared that pit bulls were inherently dangerous.

Animal Cruelty
The Senate passed SB 37, which requires a person convicted of abuse of or cruelty to an animal to pay the costs of removal, housing, treatment and/or euthanasia of the animal as a condition of sentencing.  “Baiting” means using a dog to train a fighting dog or to test the fighting or killing instinct of another dog.  Violation is a felony of aggravated animal cruelty and subject to up to three years’ imprisonment, a $5,000 maximum fine, or both.

Baltimore City School Construction
The Baltimore City School Systems has gained support for a financing plan for 15 brand new schools and 35 to 40 renovation projects in the amount of $1.1 billion over the next 30 years.  The program would be funded through the Maryland Stadium Authority which could issue school construction bonds backed by $60 million in combined annual revenues from the state, city, and the city school system.  The Maryland State Lottery would fund $20 million dollars from the lottery proceeds.

In addition to this $1.1 billion infusion, Baltimore would not lose its eligibility to apply for state school construction under the normal procedure followed by every school district in the state.  The other 23 jurisdictions would be competing for the remaining funds for their school construction and renovation projects. The Baltimore City school district is already paid a disproportionate share of the cost of Baltimore schools because their inventory is vast and older.

The O’Malley Administration has promoted “One Maryland” over the last seven years.  This initiative gives one jurisdiction a substantial infusion of funds to renovate their aging schools.  Baltimore County surrounds Baltimore City and has an inventory of schools that are also over 50 years old.  We have been working with the County Executive to air condition our schools.  I do not see this as a “One Maryland” initiative.  The bill has been amended and is better than when it was first introduced but I am concerned that our county will be left behind.  This may have some impact on family’s decisions about whether to stay in Baltimore City or to move to the suburbs.  There is no correlation set in the bill that would measure student achievement with the construction or renovations of these buildings. I did not support this bill because it allows one jurisdiction to receive a majority of funds from the State with a long term plan to the detriment of all other jurisdictions.  This is not a “One Maryland” fairness bill.

Amendment 483626/1 was offered to ensure that the criteria that the Interagency Commission (IAC) uses for new school construction would also be applied to Baltimore City as well as the other 23 jurisdictions.  The Amendment failed 41 to 92.

Possession of Marijuana
Receiving Senate preliminary approval, SB 297 changes the possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana from a criminal offense to a civil offense, and changes the penalty to a fine of up to $100. Under current law, in general, a defendant in possession of marijuana is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to imprisonment for up to one year and/or a fine of up to $1,000. However, pursuant to a 2012 law, a person in possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana is subject to the reduced penalty of imprisonment for up to 90 days and/or a maximum fine of $500.

SB 394 (failed) was withdrawn by its sponsor. The bill would have made possession of marijuana a civil offense, punishable by a maximum fine of $100.

Marijuana – Regulation, Penalties, and Taxation
The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on HB 1453, which legalizes the use of marijuana for adults at least 21 years old. The bill removes criminal penalties for the use and possession of marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia, legalizes the use, possession, sale, and cultivation of up to 1 ounce of marijuana under specified circumstances, and authorizes personal cultivation of up to three marijuana plants.

The bill also establishes a regulatory framework for wholesalers, retailers, and safety compliance facilities. Additionally, the Comptroller is required to register marijuana retailers, wholesalers, and safety compliance facilities, and the Maryland Department of Agriculture must regulate the growth, processing, and distribution of industrial hemp. The bill imposes an excise tax of $50 per ounce on wholesale sales of marijuana, and directs the revenues from excise tax collections to specified programs. Restrictions remain against driving under the influence. The bill still remains in Committee.

Update on the Gas Tax (House Bill 1515)
As you may be aware from the news and my weekly update our gas tax will be increasing. According to revised bill the Comptroller authorizes the increase on June 1st but the tax increase goes into effect on July 1st. The tax increase shall be in effect in 2014 by 1%, 2% in 2015, and 4% in 2016.

The tax increase will be combined with the growth in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The tax increase is troubling because if there is a decline in the CPI, the tax rate shall remain unchanged, but during inflationary periods the increase may not be greater than 8% of the motor fuel tax rate effective in the previous year.

The bill also increases the annual vehicle registration fee surcharge from $13.50 to $17.00.  The fee is collected on a biennial basis.

I voted against this bill but it passed the House with a vote of 76-63.  I still do not think we need to increase the gas tax.  Maryland needs to truly protect the Transportation Trust Fund.  Maryland needs to align its transportation spending with the needs of its citizens.  Maryland needs to restore the $1 billion of TTF money that has not been repaid to the counties.

Update on Senate Bill 281-Fire Arm Safety Act
Attached is more information that deals with this bill. Click to download.

Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013 – $132.8 million (Fiscal Year 2014)
Imposes a 1% tax collected by wholesalers on the RETAIL price of motor fuel effective July 1, 2013, increasing to 2% on January 1, 2015, and to 3% on July 1 2015.

IF the federal government authorizes online sales tax collection, the Governor’s plan dedicates those revenues to the Transportation Trust Fund. But, if federal legislation is not enacted by December 1, 2015, the 3% motor fuel tax increases to 4% on January 1, 2016 and to 5% on July 1, 2016.

The bill indexes the excise tax on gasoline (currently 23.5 cents/gallon) to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as of July 1 allowing it to increase automatically every year.

Increases Vehicle Registration Fee Surcharge 26% (from $13.50 to $17.00)

Indexes MTA base fares to CPI for increases every two years, and one-way zone fares and multiuse passes every five years – both starting in 2015.

By full implementation (FY 18) will cost the taxpayers $685.5 million, if not more.

House Bill 34 – German-American Heritage Month
After three years of sponsoring this bill it passed in the final hours of the 2013 legislative session!  I worked with the German Society of Maryland and Senator Klausmeier on this legislation to honor the many contributions that Germans have made to life in our state.

County Issues and Information:  Baltimore County State Mandated Stormwater Fee
Residents who own a single-family house would pay $36 per year.  Those who own a townhouse would pay $18, and condominium owners would pay $29.    There are also fees for apartment and commercial properties.  By state law, the only nonprofit entities that are exempt are volunteer fire companies.

The county estimates it must spend $33 million a year to meet state requirements.  Projects will include stream restoration and shoreline improvements.  The county plans to use $10 million in funds already designated for water improvement projects, leaving about $23 million to make up through the fee.

Visits to Annapolis
During the 2013 Legislative Session Towson High School’s Law and Policy Class, Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and residents from District 42 visited the General Assembly.  If you or a group would like to visit our state government in action please contact my office and my legislative assistant, Myra can setup a tour of the State House and government buildings.

Again, I want to thank you for the privilege of allowing me to represent you.  The experience has been rewarding and humbling and I look forward to serving you in the interim.  During the legislative session I send, via email, an update to keep you informed of pending legislation and highlights of the General Assembly’s agenda.  If you would like to be included in next year’s legislative updates, please call my office at 410-841-3258 or send me an email at

susan.aumann@house.state.md.us.

Kindest regards,
Susan L.M. Aumann
District 42, Baltimore County

Hello and welcome to another Delegate Aumann Weekly Update!  This is our last week in Annapolis and it has been busy with a lot of debate around gun control legislation and driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants. In this edition, I will address the so called Maryland Highway Safety Act of 2013 and the budget.

I will detail  HB 294/SB  281 The Fire Arm Safety Act of 2013 on Monday, April 8^th, Sine Die.

Driver’s Licenses for Illegal immigrants

Another controversial issue this week is the passage of the so called Maryland Highway Safety Act of 2013 which grants driver’s licenses to people who are not legally present in the United States.  If an applicant has filed income taxes in Maryland for the last two years (I’ve been assured that these tax returns will be verified with the Comptroller’s office), they can get a Maryland Driver’s license.  I voted against this bill.  While I am empathetic towards children who have been brought to our country illegally, immigration must be dealt with at the federal level.  This is bad public policy to give identification and driving privileges to people who are not here legally and therefore could avoid responsibility for dangerous actions by fleeing our country.

Budget

For the last seven years, Maryland’s spending had increased by more than $1 billion.   Despite the decline of personal income, government spending has continued to increase year after year. Governor O’Malley’s budget has increased by 25% since FY 2008 while the median income in Maryland grew by just 4.9% since 2008.

Very truly yours,
Susan Aumann

April 2, 2013

Dear Editor,

What a sad time for Marylanders. They are going to be subjected to a regressive gas tax that will have an automatic tax accelerator tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI.)  It is unfair to the gas station owners who are operating along the borders of our State. They will lose business as people will migrate to pay less at the pump in surrounding states.

The Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) was created in 1971 to provide funding for a transportation network from the 23.5 cents per gallon tax. Over the years the TTF has been raided by the Governor over $1 Billion dollars from the Highway User funds earmarked for local governments to improve roads. Those funds will never be repaid.

The gas tax will increase 4 cents this July, increase another 3 percent by July 2015, and 5 percent by July 2016 with an additional excise tax tied to the inflation in the CPI. To further the pain, the President wants to levy a federal tax on gasoline up to 4 cents per gallon. This additional cost will also be reflected in any product purchased in Maryland that was brought by a truck.

The Gas Tax passed will be used to fund three mass transit programs, the red line, the purple line and the corridor city transit project.  An estimated 91percent of Marylanders drive, while about 8 percent use mass transit. More funds will be dedicated to those projects then to repair our roads, bridges and tunnels.

With the additional 25 plus taxes Marylanders have been subjected to by this administration, this one will hurt the most. The automatic tax accelerator will eliminate any action from the legislature which will absolve its responsibility in the future.  This new absurd increase is unwarranted and will especially hurt middle class drivers and small businesses.

Delegate Susan L.M. Aumann
District 42, Baltimore County
410-841-3258

As we head into Holy Week and Passover, I wish you and your family joy and spiritual fulfillment during this religious season.

Here are some the legislative highlights for this week:

 Medical Marijuana – Academic Medical Centers

 House Bill 1101, which allows investigations use of marijuana for medical purposes, received a favorable House Committee vote and is under consideration on the House Floor.  The bill establishes the Medical Marijuana Commission to develop requests for applications for academic medical centers to operate programs in the State, approve or deny initial and renewal program applications, and monitor and oversee programs approved for operation.  I am a co-sponsor of this bill.

 Cell Phones and Motor Vehicles – Primary Offense

 Senate Bill 339, which establishes the prohibition against the use of a wireless communication device by drivers while operating a motor vehicle as a primary offense, passed a preliminary Senate floor vote.  Among the amendments are provisions altering the penalties for violations.  These include:

•  Increasing from $40 to $75 the maximum fine for a first offense;
• Increasing from $100 to $125 the maximum fine for a second offense; and
•  Establishing a maximum fine of $175 for a third or subsequent offense.

Additional amendments strike the prohibition in current law applicable to use of a device only if the vehicle is in motion or in the travel portion of the roadway.  Also, points may not be assessed unless the offense contributes to an accident.

The crossfiled bill House Bill 753 passed the House Floor with a vote of 106-29.  I supported this bill.

Smoking in Motor Vehicles

 The Senate passed SB 30, prohibiting the driver of a motor vehicle or their passengers from smoking tobacco in a vehicle if a child younger than the age of eight is a passenger. A violation of this offense is not a moving violation and carries a maximum penalty of a $50 fine. The companion bill, HB 528, remains in the Environmental Matters Committee.

 Driver’s Licenses – Lawful Status Requirement Repeal

SB 715, expanding the authority of the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) to issue or renew a driver’s license, identification card, or moped operator’s permit to an individual who does not have a Social Security number or proof of lawful status, has received preliminary approval by the Senate. The bill repeals a current requirement that an individual must have held one of the documents on April 18, 2009. The termination date of July 1, 2015, as it applies to the authority of the MVA to issue or renew one of these documents to an applicant without lawful status or a Social Security number, is also repealed.

Amendments to the bill require that an applicant who is not a current holder of a driver’s license, identification card, or moped operator’s permit provide documentary evidence that the applicant, for each of the preceding two years, has filed a Maryland income tax return or has resided in Maryland and been claimed as a dependent by an individual who has filed a Maryland income tax return. Each of these cards, permits, or licenses to drive must include a statement that the document may not be used to purchase a firearm. The effective date is delayed to January 1, 2014. The original crossfiled bill, HB 789, remains in the Judiciary Committee.

 Retail Bag Tax

House Bill 1086 requires retail establishment to charge and collect a 5 cent tax for each disposable bag they provide to a customer.  The store may retail 1 cent of every 5 cents it collects unless they offer a customer bag credit program in which case they may retain 2 cents of every 5 cents collected.  The store must print the number of bags that were given to the customer and the total fee charged for the bags on the customer’s receipt.  The tax must then be remitted by the store to the State Comptroller’s Office.  The Comptroller’s Office has estimated that it will cost them $263,250 in fiscal 2014 to make programming changes to their State of Maryland Tax (“SMART”) software system and to notify businesses about the new law should it pass.  The Department of Human Resources has indicated that if recipients of federal food assistance use their electronic benefit cards to purchase groceries and are charged this tax, the federal government could reduce funding to the State for food assistance by over $1 billion.  The bill is still in the Environmental Matters Committee.

 Minimum Wage Increase

The House Economic Matters Committee heard House Bill 1204 which would increase Maryland’s minimum wage again.  The bill would begin July 1, 2013 and would require employers to pay a minimum wage of $8.25 per hour or the federal minimum wage, whichever is greater.  The bill also includes an automatic increase in the minimum wage to $9.00 starting July 1, 2014 and $10.00 starting July 1, 2015.  The bill also expands minimum wage to part time workers working 25 hours or less per week and industries that have not been covered in the past including hospitality workers, and workers in the seafood and agriculture industries.  The crossfiled Senate 683 received an unfavorable recommendation from the Finance Committee.

Very truly yours,
Susan Aumann
District 42, Baltimore County

Hello and welcome to another Delegate Aumann Weekly Update!  This week in Annapolis was very busy with a lot of debate around the gas tax. In this edition, I will address the gas tax, the induction of Ellen Sauerbrey and Helen Delich Bentley to the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame, and a summary of the Firearms Town Hall held this past weekend.

MARYLAND WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Last night, I had the honor and privilege of attending the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame honoring Ambassador Ms. Ellen Sauerbrey and Congresswoman Helen Delich Bentley.

Ambassador Sauerbrey was a former Maryland Delegate  (from 1978 to 1994), served as Minority Leader from 1986 to 1994, and former head of the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. She has also served as the U.S. Representative to the United Nations on the Status of Women. Later in her life, she was appointed head of the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration in 2005 by President George W. Bush. Currently, she is the Co-Chair of the Maryland Business for Responsive Government (MBRG) group.

Congresswoman Bentley served in the United States House of Representatives from 1985 to 1995. During her time in Congress, she focused on federal maritime issues and on trade policies in favor of U.S. manufacturing. In 2006, Governor Bob Ehrlich renamed the Port of Baltimore after Ms. Bentley and is currently named the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore.

Both women have been inspirational leaders in Maryland and I extend my warmest congratulations for their induction into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame!

GAS TAX UPDATE

O’Malley’s Eternal Legacy in MD – A Gas Tax Forevermore

The Governor’s gas tax proposal reminds me of the Chevy Volt: over-priced, heavily subsidized by taxpayers, pushed by liberals, underutilized and recalled because of design flaws.

The Governor has increased spending on mass transit to the highest levels in Maryland history, and has committed the lowest percentage of funding to roads and highways. The gas tax proposal is solely focused on expanding mass transit even further with the following three proposed projects: the red line, the purple line and the corridor line. His mass transit agenda over the last seven years has barely increased ridership by one-tenth of 1%, while 91.2% of commuters continue to use their vehicles.

Furthermore, the bill was introduced after the deadline for bill introductions, had its hearing last Friday, was amended on Monday, and passed second reading in a second session on Wednesday night.

Most egregious of all is the provision to automatically increase the gas tax annually. The bill ties the gas tax to an automatic inflator – the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Proposing a tax that automatically increases without making elected officials take a vote is horrible and cowardly. It eliminates a core component of democracy – accountability to our citizens.  Lawmakers should have to vote each and every time they want to increase taxes. According to Delegate Steve Schuh of Anne Arundel County, by 2017, assuming a constant rate of 2.7 % inflation, the gas tax will be at 44.1 cents per gallon, almost an 88 % increase from 2013. And every year when this tax goes up, Maryland taxpayers can thank this Governor – a fitting legacy for someone who has raised more taxes and fees than any other in the history of Maryland.

The complicated legislation restructures the taxing methods for gas and does not protect the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) from raids and includes more studies on mass transit. In an attempt to make everyone feel better, his proposal includes a provision for a fake “lock box” for the TTF. His concern has certainly been absent in the past, as there are no plans to repay the $1 billion taken from transportation funding that was supposed to go to the repair and construction of our local roads and highways. Again, this is more empty promises from Annapolis.

While the Chevy Volt will not be remembered by our children and grandchildren, O’Malley’s eternal gas tax increases will. This is not a legacy for our children. Please call your legislators and the governor and put the brakes on this terrible proposal.

The Republican Caucus had a press conference on why we do not need a gas tax.  Here is the link for the Baltimore Sun article on March 20, 2013 entitled “Gas Tax Increases Win First Approval in House.”  http://www.wbal.com/article/98450/21/template-story/Gas-Tax-Increases-Win-First-Approval-In-House

FIREARMS TOWN HALL

This past Saturday I along with Delegates Szeliga, Impallaria, McDonough, Boteler, Senator Jennings, and Congressmen Andy Harris hosted a firearms town hall at the Parkton American Legion. Hundreds of concerned constituents turned out to voice their opinions. It was a great success with a lot of great dialogue on the recent gun issues we are facing in Maryland. Check out a video highlighting important moments from the town hall:

Thank you and see you next week!
Susan Aumann