The Governor has announced that a Special Session of the General Assembly will take place, beginning on October 17, 2011. As of right now, it is anticipated that Congressional redistricting will be the only issue. The General Assembly must pass legislation creating new congressional districts in time for the 2012 elections. During the regular session beginning in January, the General Assembly is expected to take-up legislation to re-draw the Maryland legislative district lines.
During a special session, legislators can introduce any piece of legislation related to any topic. However, all bills are assigned to the Rules Committees and the presiding officers decide what bills to consider. While there has been talk that a number of budget and revenue issues may arise, there have not been definitive announcements on Special Session topics, other than Congressional redistricting. Public Policy Partners will be monitoring all activities during the Special Session.
Late last week, the Comptroller’s office announced that Maryland closed out its FY 2011 fiscal year with a $1 billion surplus, over $300,000 million more than expected. The good news is that this could result in a smaller budget deficit for the FY 2013 budget. There is also hope that it means Maryland’s economy is improving. However, the surplus will not negate the need for some level of cuts in the budget to be proposed by the Governor in January. There will also be an impact on the state budget as a result of decisions expected to be made by Congress before the end of the year. That impact is unknown at this point. As more budget information becomes available, Public Policy Partners will keep you informed.
Marie Grant has been named Director of Governmental Affairs for the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH). Ms. Grant moves to DHMH from the Department of Legislative Services where she served as a Policy Analyst and committee counsel for the Senate Finance Committee. DHMH Secretary Joshua Sharfstein also just named Patrick Dooley as his new Chief of Staff. Mr. Dooley has worked for Delegate Pete Hammen, Chair of the House Health and Government Operations Committee since 2006. Public Policy Partners looks forward to continuing to work with both Ms. Grant and Mr. Dooley in their new positions.
Secretary Sharfstein has also appointed Dr. Laura Herrera to the position of Chief Medical Officer and Dori Henry as Communications Director. Dr. Herrera was previously the Acting Deputy Chief Patient Care Services Officer in the Veterans Administration and Ms. Henry. She most recently served as Special Assistant to Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Civil Rights Division at the United States Department of Justice.
Robyn Elliott, a partner with Public Policy Partners, is conducting an advocacy leadership training at the Maryland Public Health Association's annual conference on September 8th. For more information, visit www.mdpha.org.
Michele Douglas, a partner with Public Policy Partners, will be conducting a Tri-County Senior Advocacy Training for the Calvert County Office on Aging, Charles County Office on Aging, and St. Mary’s Department of Aging on Friday, September 16th starting at 10:30 am at the Northern Senior Center at Charlotte Hall in St. Mary’s County. For more information, please contact Ms. Joann Jensen at joann333jensen@yahoo.com.
Congratulations to Public Policy Partners’ Michele Douglas who has been selected as one of three state-level panelists from around the country for the National AARP Public Policy Solutions Forum on September 8th in Washington, DC which will feature the release of “Raising Expectations: A State Scorecard on Long-term Services and Supports for Older Adults, People with Physical Disabilities, and Family Caregivers.” This ground breaking report examines the challenges that every state in our nation faces to improve the performance of LTSS in the areas of access, affordability, choice, quality of life, quality of care and support for family caregivers. Hill staffers, policy makers, state government officials, and representatives from governmental organizations and think tanks are among the many attendees expected at the event.
