O'Malley Introduces 2007 Legislative Agenda
Education, Healthcare, Environment, StateStat Top O'Malley's Agenda; Emergency Legislation to Prohibit Ground Rents; Oyster Restoration and Clean Car Bills to Improve Environment
- Just days after introducing his FY 2008 budget that restrains spending and calls for total budget of increase of only 2.5% over last year's budget - while funding priorities like academic achievement and school construction, as well as land preservation - Governor Martin O'Malley today unveiled his 2007 legislative agenda. The legislative agenda provides increased support for education in Maryland, increased access to affordable, quality healthcare, increased planning for economic development and growth, new programs to improve the health of the environment and the Chesapeake Bay, and legislation to establish StateStat to make state government more accountable and more efficient.
"Along with the priorities laid out in the FY 2008 budget, our legislative agenda is focused on improving our quality of life in Maryland - improving education and healthcare in our State, improving the health of our environment and the Bay, and making government work again for the people of our State," said Governor Martin O'Malley. "We look forward to working with the General Assembly over these next few months to move Maryland forward for the families of our State."
The O'Malley-Brown Administration introduced 13 bills today that would specifically:
* Phase in the Geographic Cost of Education Index (GCEI) between FY 2009-11;
* Establish a tuition freeze in the 2007-08 academic year;
* Expand healthcare coverage for children and dependents under 25 on parents' healthcare polices;
* Establish a BRAC sub-cabinet;
* Create a Life Science Advisory Board;
* Prohibit the creation of new residential ground rents;
* Establish a Universal Vaccine Purchasing Task Force;
* Establish a task force on Physician Reimbursements;
* Create StateStat to measure performance and make state government more accountable and efficient;
* Establish funds to assist in reimbursing nursing homes for their services;
* Invest in Oyster Restoration Program, increase penalties for oyster poaching and allows for the lease of Bay bed for oyster restoration purposes;
* Join 11 other States in adopting stricter emission pollution standards for automobiles;
* Increase Negotiating Authority for state workers
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http://www.gov.state.md.us/pressreleases/070122b.html