Dear Friends,
SB107 Unemployment Insurance-Tax Deferment, Trust Fund Solvency and Cost-Neutral Modernization Act was heavily discussed in the House Chamber on Monday evening. Last year the General Assembly voted to expand unemployment benefits to part time workers. The Federal Government will provide $126 million dollars for the Unemployment Insurance fund in exchange for Maryland expanding their eligibility requirements again. Senate Bill 107 expands eligibility to people in worker training programs and makes other changes that increase liability in the fund. That means that Maryland will receive only six weeks of help (we are currently paying out $80 million a month) but in the long run it will cost all business owners more. Currently the State of Maryland has a deficit in their unemployment benefits which are paid by the businesses for the unemployment insurance. After the stimulus money runs out, it is expected that businesses will have to pay up to $92 million a month to sustain the expected demand. How many businesses will have to close or reduce the amount of employees they employ?
Early in the session I received a letter from an employer in the Towson area who was gravely concerned because the unemployment insurance assessment for her 50 person business was increasing from approximately $800 every two weeks to $3800. She was wondering how she was going to stay in business in Maryland. Please take a look at these amendments 663224/1, 413522/1, 753222/1 to address repealing the increase to the unemployment insurance taken up last session. I supported the amendments and voted against the bill.
HB 825 Vehicle Laws-Required Security- Minimum Amounts
This bill increases the minimum liability insurance limits for private passenger’s automobile insurance for bodily injury liability from $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident to $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident. This would give Maryland some of the highest liability coverage requirements in the country. It could prove to be very costly to taxpayers in a time when lawmakers are reluctant to increases taxes, but would increase the premium. The Maryland Insurance Administration has recommended an unfavorable decision due to the extra expense and the possibility that the effect may have the unintended consequence of causing people to drive uninsured. Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund (MAIF) indicated that 98.6% of MAIF’s private passenger policyholders would be forced to pay for the increased limits coverage proposed in this bill. The increase in premiums that would accompany the higher required security coverage’s would certainly result in a greater number of uninsured motorists, as some drivers would simply elect not to pay the higher associated costs. MAIF recommended an unfavorable report. I voted against this bill for the reasons above.
HB 712/SB 627 – Public Health – Medical Marijuana
Last week the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee discussed this bill. It would require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) to find registered growers to grow marijuana legally. The DHMH would also establish a specified registration program to authorize certain places to distribute medical marijuana for medical purposes. This would allow people with chronic diseases to obtain the medical marijuana legally to ease the chronic debilitating pain associated with their illness. This particular bill is the first one supported by the State Police. I believe that this bill addresses the restrictions for growing marijuana and its use, so I am a co-sponsor of this bill.
HB 348 – Public Institutions of Higher Education – New Design and Substantial Exterior Modification – Notice and Consultation
This bill will directly affect our district so I wanted to inform you that HB 348 passed the House floor today with a vote of 140-0. This bill requires a public institution of higher education to make reasonable efforts to notify and consult with communities within three miles of a proposed construction site. The public institution must make reasonable efforts to meet with local civic associations, government agencies, and other interested parties regarding the project design and methods to minimize adverse effects on these communities that include noise, traffic, pollution, loss of open space and other detriments.
State Highway Updates
SHA and the contractor are currently on schedule to close the shared-use ramp from the roundabout at Charles Street (MD 139) and Bellona Avenue Extended to westbound I-695 (Baltimore Beltway Outer Loop) on or about the week of April 4 as part of SHA’s $38 million project to replace the Charles Street bridge over I-695 and rehabilitate the I-695 bridge over the Baltimore Light Rail tracks. The two-way section of the ramp will remain open for access to all medical and business offices located along Bellona Avenue Extended. Once this ramp is closed, all motorists traveling from Lutherville to westbound I-695 will be directed to take Bellona Avenue and Seminary Avenue (MD 131) to southbound York Road (MD 45) and enter I-695 from the York Road interchange. As an alternative, motorists in Lutherville may also take westbound Seminary Avenue to southbound Falls Road (MD 25) to reach westbound I-695. All motorists traveling from the west Towson area on northbound Charles Street to westbound I-695 must stay right along northbound Charles Street past the bridge and use the existing right-turn loop ramp to gain entrance to westbound I-695
Attached is a black and white version of the ramp detour map. (click to download)
A color version of the map is also posted on SHA’s website, www.roads.maryland.gov, under: Projects and Studies/Baltimore County/I-695, Baltimore Beltway REV-INTERCHANGE AT CHARLES STREET (MD 139) PHASE 1/Maps
We are heading into the last two weeks of session and the focus of the Appropriations Committee is reconciling the budget bill that the Senate passed over (SB 140 and SB 141). I am concentrating on ways to keep our AAA bonding and eliminating any programs that will not have an adverse affect on our citizens. I value your input and continue to keep me informed of your views.
Sincerely,
Delegate Susan L.M. Aumann
District 42 – Baltimore County
303 Lowe House Office Building
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-841-3258; FAX 410-841-3163
susan.aumann@house.state.md.us
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