I would like to share with you news about the issues and initiatives in which I have been involved during the 2012 General Assembly’s Legislative Session. I am sending this end of session letter electronically to all of you who have e-mailed me this year in an effort to keep the state’s postage costs down. If those of you receiving this by regular mail would like to receive electronic updates, please email me at nancy.king@senate.state.md.us and I will be happy to add you to the list.

The Budget
Although the 2012 Legislative Session has come to a close, our work is not yet done. I am sure you have heard by now that the while the budget was passed, the revenue bills were not, leaving us with what is being referred to as the “Doomsday Budget.” As a member of the Budget and Taxation Committee, I assure you that this is not the outcome we wanted or expected. Under the current budget, public education, public safety, Medicaid and higher education will suffer huge cuts. If no further action is taken, over $500 million of real cuts will occur, on top of the over $400 million in reductions contained in the FY2013 budget package. Given Governor O’Malley’s commitment to moving Maryland forward, I am hopeful that he will call the Legislature back to a Special Session so we can finish our work and avoid these drastic cuts.

Despite the obvious concerns of further budget cuts, we did pass a balanced budget that contains important capital investments for projects across the state:

• Public education. Public school construction continues to be a top priority for the legislature. This year, our capital budget contains the second largest investment in school construction in Maryland’s history. This $351 million investment will pay for the construction and renovations of schools across the state.
• Infrasturcture and Job Creation. This year’s capital budget includes over $1 billion in funding for higher education, public safety, the environment, and road construction. The projects created by this funding will not only improve the quality of life of Maryland residents, but will help create and sustain over 52,000 jobs.
• Montgomery County. Our county received over $119 million in capital project funding during this legislative session. These projects include: over $40 million for public school construction; $8 million to our Community Colleges; $5 million to the Universities at Shady Grove; and $2.9 million to local capital projects.

As I mentioned earlier, I received hundreds of emails this session on a variety of issues. Following are just some of the legislative initiatives that I was contacted about and co-sponsored this session:

Protecting Family Farms
To preserve as many remaining family farms as possible, the legislature passed SB 293, which exempts up to $5.0 million of qualified agricultural property from the State estate tax. In order to qualify for the exemption and better protect our agricultural lands from development, those who qualify for this program must agree to continue to use the property for farming purposes after the current owner’s death. If the property is not used as a farm within a 10 year period, the estate tax must be repaid upon the sale of the property.

Protecting Children from Identity Theft
Identity theft from minors is growing at a rapid rate. Under current law, a parent or guardian who believes their minor child’s social security number is at risk for identity theft may not put a credit freeze on the child’s credit report with a credit reporting agency. A credit reporting agency will not create a report for a child under the age of 16, but a person fraudulently calling with a child’s social security number and a false birth date would be able to create multiple fraudulent accounts. Senate Bill 295 will allow a parent or guardian to create a credit report for a minor for the purposes of freezing the report and preventing fraudulent use of a minor’s social security number.

Healthcare Legislation
This year, the legislature established a state insurance exchange program, which will make health and dental insurance policies available for purchase by individuals who are currently without coverage. House Bill 443 established a process for the state to select benchmark plans that will serve as the standard for the essential health benefits contained within health benefit plans offered in the small group and individual markets, both inside and outside the exchange.

The number of oral anti-cancer drugs is growing rapidly, accounting for 25% of cancer drugs under development.  Typically insurance companies cover intravenous or injected chemotherapy as a medical benefit, while coverage for orally administered chemotherapy drugs are provided under a prescription plan. Under most insurance plans, the cost-sharing arrangements for medical benefits and prescription benefits are often very different, leaving patient to shoulder a heavier finical burden for orally administered chemotherapies.  The session we passed SB 179 that will help level the playing field and provide parity between the two drugs.

Protecting Employees’ Privacy
With the proliferation of Facebook and other social media sites, some employers have started to require login information from potential employees. In an effort to ensure individual’s privacy, the legislature passed Senate Bill 433 which will prohibit employers, including state and local governmental entities, from requesting this personal and private information.

Passing Marriage Equality
This session, Maryland became the eighth state in the nation to pass Marriage Equality. As passed, the Civil Marriage Protection Act will extend the right to marry to Maryland’s gay and lesbian couples while ensuring religious freedom and protection for our state’s religious institutions. (HB 438)

Government Ethics Reform
The Maryland Senate has led the way on increasing transparency and reforming ethics over the last several years. In response to several county government scandals, the legislature passed House Bill 211, which, if approved by voters, will require that elected officials who are found guilty of specified crimes be removed from office. I also voted for the unanimously supported legislation (SB 920) that would increase transparency by putting conflict of interest disclosures online for the public and to create a workgroup to review the ethics process.

Protecting Animals
This year, we continued our efforts to better protect animals from abuse and neglect by passing Senate Bill 317. This legislation will further combat the issue of puppy mills by requiring retail pet stores to initiate recordkeeping, notification, and public disclosure requirements, as well as creating remedies when a dog sold at a pet store is found to have an undisclosed disease or illness.

One animal issue that I received many, many emails on was SB 465 which would restrict the sale and possession of shark fins. The shark fin trade is largely unregulated and unmonitored. The horrible act of removing fins from live sharks and throwing them back into the water often takes place on oceans beyond national jurisdictions and fins are imported into the U.S. from countries with few shark protections in place. The best way to bring an end to this practice is through legislation prohibiting the trade. SB465 passed the Senate but unfortunately did not pass the House of Delegates. I am sure we will see this legislation again in 2013.

Bills that I sponsored in this 2012 Session which have been passed by the Legislature and are headed to Governor O’Malley for his signature:

SB848 – Education - Maintenance of Effort – One of the more high profile bills of the 2012 Session was the Maintenance of Effort legislation which I sponsored. In 1984 the General Assembly established the Maintenance of Effort Requirement for K-12 funding, to ensure the cost of education is shared and to provide local Boards of Education with predictable and stable funding. Senate Bill adds to that original legislation by continuing to protect funding for our public schools while recognizing the efforts of those counties who exceed funding requirements. The Maryland State Education Association responded to the enactment of the bill by issuing the following statement: “The passage of SB 848 is a monumental step forward for Maryland's public schools, protecting local school funding from deep cuts, providing local governments with the flexibility they've long asked for, and ensuring the dependable levels of funding that our students need to thrive.”

SB 566 – Home Visiting Accountability Act of 2012 –The recipe for educational success begins long before a child enters kindergarten. As Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Youth and Families, and a member of the National Council of State Legislator’s Early Learning Fellows program, I know firsthand the effectiveness and success of Home Visiting Programs. These programs offer a variety of family-focused services to expectant parents and families with new babies and young children. They address issues such as maternal and child health, positive parenting practices, safe home environments, and access to services. Parents and children participating on a voluntary basis in quality home visiting programs exhibit better birth outcomes, enhanced parent and child interactions, more efficient use of health care services, enhanced child development including improved school readiness, and early detection of developmental delays. Senate Bill 566 will allow the state, under the Governor’s Office for Children, to track and report on the successes of home visiting programs. This legislation will strengthen Maryland’s competitiveness for Federal grants as they make funding available for states to plan and implement the expansion of evidence-based home visiting programs in high risk communities.

SB 524 – Maryland After-School and Summer Opportunity Fund Program – In 1999 the legislature established the Maryland After-School Opportunity Fund Program to provide funding to organizations with after-school programs for children. Due to budget constraints, the program has not been funded since Fiscal 2004 and the advisory board is not currently active. Senate Bill 524 lays the groundwork to revitalize this important program by moving it to the Governor’s Office for Children and reactivating the advisory board. Enactment of this legislation will allow the state, under the Governor’s Office for Children, to track and report on the successes of after school and summer programs, and with strengthen Maryland’s competitiveness for Federal grants for these much needed programs.

SB 567 – Communications Taxes – Reform Commission - Changes in technology have expanded the types of telecommunications services available to consumers. We are a long way from the days of land line telephones and antennas on our roofs. Throughout all these changes, industry taxes and fees have been dealt with in a piece meal fashion. Senate Bill 567 will create a commission that will be charged to assess the feasibility and fiscal implications of a modernized, competitively neutral tax and fee system that will encourage growth and job creation. Reform of Maryland’s telecommunications tax and fee structure is long overdue. The industry has changed and our tax structure needs to reflect those changes. Senate Bill 567 will bring together stakeholders who can look at the industry as a whole and enact reforms that will best serve the citizens of Maryland.

SB 849 – Health Insurance – Dental Preventive Care – Coverage for Dental Cleanings – Currently, health insurance companies that cover dental preventive care have restrictions on the amount of time that must lapse prior to paying for another preventive care visit. In other words, for annual coverage, if a full 365 plus one day hasn’t passed since the anniversary of your last visit, you can find yourself faced with a large out-of-pocket expense. Or in the case of bi-annual coverage, you must wait six months plus one day for your next preventive care visit or again find yourself with an out-of-pocket expense. Senate Bill 849 changes this practice by allowing annual preventive care to be performed once within a plan year, regardless of the number of days since the last visit. For providers who cover more than one preventive care visit, it will reduce the time required between visits to 120 days. Given the importance of regular dental care, this is a practical solution for the citizens in our community. Whether it is someone trying to make an appointment around their work schedule, school schedule or vacations, this legislation will give people the flexibility to schedule an appointment on their terms – not the insurance company’s. This legislation was sponsored in the House of Delegates by Delegate Charles Barkley. While my bill ran out of time for passage on the final day of session, we were able to get Delegate Barkley’s passed through the Senate, so this legislation will become law once it is signed by the Governor.

SB 852 – Alcoholic Beverages – Calculation of Tax - After the passage of last year’s legislation to increase the sales and use tax on alcoholic beverages, the Comptroller’s Office listed a series of guidelines on their website to address implementation questions from the business community. Once put into practice, the legislation and guidelines created some unintended consequences, especially for restaurants and caterers.  Under current law if a restaurant sells food and alcoholic beverages to a group of eleven or more patrons and imposes a mandatory gratuity, they must charge a sales tax on that gratuity. With the implementation of the increased alcohol tax, restaurants and caterers must apportion the tax on the gratuity between the two different rates – 6% on the food and 9% on the alcohol. This is a burdensome process and, in the case of restaurants, no current point-of-sale systems can handle this type of split tax on gratuities. Senate Bill 852 remedies this by clarifying that all mandatory gratuities are subject to a 6% sales tax regardless of the type of food or beverage served.

A second issue that arose after last year’s legislation relates to taxes on labor, service and materials. The Comptroller’s Office interpreted the law in a way that not only are alcoholic beverages taxed at 9% but any labor, service or materials related to alcoholic beverages must also be taxed at 9%. As an example in the catering business, a caterer must collect a 9% tax on the rental of those glasses used for alcoholic beverages and 6% on all other glassware. Not only is this cumbersome for caterers, it is very confusing for consumers. Senate Bill 852 changed this by taxing only the alcoholic beverages at 9%; all labor, supplies and materials is at 6%. The legislation simplifies certain aspects of last year’s alcohol tax increase in order to assist both business and consumers.

Bond Bills
Along with passing state-wide legislation, I was successful in securing $125,000 of capital funding for a District 39 project – design and construction of a concession stand and rest room facilities at South Valley Park. The lack of permanent rest room facilities at the park poses a real problem for families at sporting events and for many of our older and disabled citizens who come to watch the children play. The concession stand will provide Montgomery Village Sports Association the ability to sell refreshments which will enhance the enjoyment of the hundreds of participants and spectators of park events. South Valley Park is one of the jewels of Montgomery Village. The addition of restrooms and a concession stand will encourage more families to enjoy this great outdoor venue for sports, recreation and community events.

During the interim

I can be reached during the interim at my Annapolis office number – 301-858-3686 as well as by e-mail at nancy.king@senate.state.md.us or on my website www.friendsofnancyking.com. My staff and I are available to assist constituents with problems or questions they may have involving a state or local agency. As always, I am honored to serve you here in Annapolis, and I look forward to hearing from you on any issues or concerns you may have.

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Early voting for the 2012 Primary Election begins this Saturday. Over the past several weeks, many friends and neighbors have asked who I am supporting in the various primaries. I want to share with you four of the candidates in contested races who I have endorsed:

For the United States Senate, I believe Senator Ben Cardin should be returned to his seat. I have had the honor of working on a few projects with Senator Cardin, and am always impressed with his wealth of knowledge on just about any subject. No matter what group he is with, he understands the issues and is a strong supporter of the working class. Ben is also a voice of reason in Washington. Somehow he finds a way to work across party lines to find a fair and balanced approach to getting things done; a trait that we need more of in our government.

For the 6^th District Congressional Seat I am supporting State Senator Rob Garagiola. I have served in the Maryland Senate with Rob since 2007 and have worked closely with him on a host of issues from education to transportation to the environment. He is smart, energetic, and I don’t know of anyone that works harder. Rob is a legislator who gets results, and we need people like him in Washington. His work in Annapolis on issues like health care, the environment, public transportation and public education have prepared him well for the issues he will deal with on a federal level. Rob Garagiola has been an incredibly effective State Senator for his Montgomery County constituents and he will be a fantastic representative for the 6th District in Congress.

For the Montgomery County Board of Education in District 2, I am endorsing Jeanne Ellinport. As a former School Board president, I believe it is so important to have board members who have been actively involved in our public schools and have seen firsthand the challenges that our school system faces. Jeanne Ellinport’s years of diligent, behind-the-scenes advocacy on behalf of children and youth in our county is well known by educators and parents alike. She understands the needs of our children today, with an eye on what is best for Montgomery County tomorrow. This is why she has also received the endorsements of the teachers, retired teachers and all staff support positions, as well as, Montgomery Women and a number of other elected officials.

For the Montgomery County Board of Education At Large seat, I am endorsing Phil Kauffman. I had the pleasure of working with Phil in our PTA years. Phil has been involved in our public schools for many years, is a strong community activist and has been a wonderful addition to the Board of Education. His educational background in Economics and Law has served the Board well and make him highly qualified for his position as Chair of the Board’s Fiscal Management Committee. Phil has received the endorsement of MCEA, MCPSRA and SEIU Local 500. I am proud to have my name among so many who support Phil’s return to our Board of Education.

Our county, state and country are facing many challenges. We need people in office who are willing to make tough decisions with knowledge, understanding and compassion. All four of these candidates are up to the challenges they will face in public service and I am proud to support them and proud to call them friends.

If you want to vote early, Montgomery County residents can vote at the following locations:

Germantown Recreation Center
18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown 20874

Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center
14625 Bauer Drive, Rockville 20853

Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center
14906 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville 20866

Montgomery County Executive Office Building
101 Monroe Street, Rockville 20850

Silver Spring Civic Building
One Veterans Place at Fenton and Ellsworth, Silver Spring 20910

The centers are open for early voting at the following dates and times:
Saturday, March 24^th – 10AM – 8PM
Sunday, March 25^th – 12PM – 6PM
Monday-Thursday, March 26, 27, 28 & 29 – 10AM – 8PM

Each of these accessible sites has ample parking and Ride-On service available. All will have the electronic ballot appropriate for each Montgomery County registered voter. For directions, check the early voting section at the Montgomery County Board of Elections site www.777vote.org.

Election Day is Tuesday, April 3^rd and the polls will be open from 7AM – 8PM. On Election Day, you must vote at your designated polling place. To find out where your polling place is located, go to the Montgomery County Board of Elections site www.777vote.org and click on the polling places tab.

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I want to let you know about three programs of importance to students and their parents. Even if you are not a student or parent, please look over the following information and pass it along to someone who could benefit from one of these programs.

Scholarships
Each year Maryland Senators and Delegates receive funds to award scholarships to students in their districts. I have heard from so many students who have shared that these legislative scholarships have made the difference in allowing them to pursue a higher education. 

In order to be eligible for a District 39 Senatorial Scholarship, you must:

• be a resident of District 39 (to verify your District, click here)
• fill out the FAFSA form (click here for information on the FAFSA)
• be planning to attend a Maryland college or university
• fill out an application and return it to my office by April 15, 2012 (to obtain an application, please call my office at 301-858-3686 or email me at nancy.king@senate.state.md.us)

You can also obtain information about other scholarships, grants and loans available to Maryland students at the Maryland Higher Education website - www.mhec.state.md.us.

U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
U.S. Coast Guard Academy (New London, Connecticut)
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point, New York)
U.S. Military Academy (West Point, New York)
U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis, Maryland)

All interested 9^th, 10^th and 11^th grade students and their parents are invited to attend this forum to learn about the academies and their admission requirements. The forum will be held:

April 11, 2012

7:00 – 8:30 PM

Montgomery County Council Office Building Cafeteria

100 Maryland Avenue

Rockville, MD 20850

For more information, please contact Representative Van Hollen’s district office at 301-424-3501.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

7:00 – 8:30PM

Winston Churchill High School

11300 Gainsborough Road

Potomac, Maryland 20854

For more information, please contact Alan Brody with the Office of the Attorney General at 410-576-6956 or abrody@oag.state.md.us.

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Senate Bill 566 – The Home Visiting Accountability Act of 2012 which I am sponsoring had its public hearing this week. Home visiting programs offer a variety of family-focused services to expectant parents and families with new babies and young children. They address issues such as maternal and child health, positive parenting practices, safe home environments, and access to services.  The program functions by matching parents, on a voluntary basis, with professionals to provide information and support during pregnancy and throughout their child’s earliest years.

Parents and children participating in quality home visiting programs exhibit better birth outcomes, enhanced parent and child interactions, more efficient use of health care services, enhanced child development including improved school readiness, and early detection of developmental delays. The program has also shown a reduction in welfare dependence, higher rates of school completion and job retention, reduction in frequency and severity of maltreatment, and higher rates of school graduation.

Studies have shown that home visiting programs serving high-risk populations, including low income, single and teen parents, return upwards of $6 per taxpayer dollar invested. Federal funds for these programs are available on a competitive basis. The bill that I introduced will align Maryland’s home visiting policies with federal priorities that emphasize evidenced-based programs. By aligning policy and improving accountability we will strengthen Maryland’s competitiveness for Federal grants as they make funding available for states to plan and implement the expansion of evidence-based home visiting programs in high risk communities.

I am so pleased to sponsor this legislation that improves accountability of funds but most importantly improves lives. And I am happy to inform you that Senate Bill 566 was given a favorable report by the Senate Finance Committee and will be headed to the Senate floor next week for a full vote of the Senate.

If you know of anyone who might benefit from these services, please let me know and I will be happy to get them in touch with home visiting professionals.

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The Maryland Senate passed legislation last week which legalizes same sex marriage in Maryland. With the House of Delegates passage of this bill last week, the legislation now goes to the Governor for his signature. Many of you have contacted me to ask for my support of this bill and many of you have asked that I oppose it. The issue of marriage equality has been before the legislature for many years, and it is an issue that I have put much thought into with each year.

This year I signed on as a co-sponsor of the Civil Marriage Protection Act and last night I voted in favor of this bill. I shared my reasons with you last year, but I want to share them with you again. My decision did not come lightly, but this is why I support the legislation: As parents, the thing we hope most for our children is that they are healthy and happy. And when our children are grown, as mine are, we hope that if they choose to share their lives with another, that they choose someone who will love them, share the ups and downs with them, protect them and care for them when we are no longer here.

These are the hopes and dreams I have for my children. These are the hopes and dreams all parents have for their children. I believe that as a representative of all Marylanders, I cannot deny another parent the same hopes and dreams that I have for my children. And that is why I voted for this legislation.

The civil institution of marriage bestows on couples rights, benefits and responsibilities. These rights and responsibilities financially, morally and socially protect each person in the union. Those are the protections my married children have and those are the protections I want for all those who choose to share their adult lives with another.

My sincere thanks to all of you (and there are many), who have contacted me on this issue over the years. I want to reiterate that I did not come to this decision lightly and I kept all of your comments in mind as I cast my vote. We have much more work to do this legislative session and I hope you continue you contact me on those issues that are important to you.

It is my honor to represent you in Annapolis as your State Senator. Please feel free to contact me at any time with your thoughts or concerns. You can reach me by phone at 301-858-3686; by email at nancy.king@senate.state.md.us.

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The Maryland State Legislature is taking up several important bills this Session on the issue of safe driving. I am sponsoring of one of those bills, Senate Bill 460-Vehicle Laws-Child Safety Seats and Seat Belts-Penalty – which raises the fine for failure to properly secure a child in a motor vehicle to $75.00.

In 2011, over 5500 citations were issued for failure to properly secure a child in a motor vehicle. Statistics prove that properly securing a child in a motor vehicle saves lives and the law requiring motorists to secure a child was put in place to save lives. The current fine for this offense is $25.00 – one of the lowest fines in the country. With the cost of a child safety seat averaging at about one hundred dollars, a $25.00 fine is no incentive to purchase a safety seat for motorists who continue to break the law and place a child in danger. I believe it is time to increase the fine to a dollar amount that more closely reflects the importance of this law. Delegate Reznik introduced this bill in the House of Delegates.

Another bill that had a public hearing last week is – Senate Bill 217 - Motor Vehicles – Use of Wireless Communication Device – Prohibited Acts, Enforcement, and Penalties. I am a co-sponsor of this legislation that will, among other things, change the enforcement of the law prohibiting the use of a hand held device while driving from a secondary to a primary offense. The latest statistic provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that in 2009, 5,500 people died as a result of “distracted driving.” The Maryland State Police in their testimony before the Judicial Proceedings Committee said, “Senate Bill 217 takes a clear approach toward promoting safe driving, and if enacted will result in making Maryland roads safer for everyone.” Enacting this law will give our police the ability to enforce the law and pull vehicles over when they see someone using a cell phone while driving.

Maintaining our driving skills and knowledge is a lifetime learning process. The Motor Vehicle Administration has recently developed the Maryland Driver Challenge to encourage participation in a tutorial for drivers of all ages. This is a great opportunity to refresh your knowledge of Maryland’s driving laws. To take the challenge, please click here.

Driver safety is the responsibility of all of us who are licensed to drive in our state. I believe the proposed legislative initiatives will increase the safety of our roads and I will keep you informed as these bills pass through the legislative process. If you have any questions about these bills, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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I started my work in public service by volunteering in the copy room of my daughters’ elementary school. From there I went to the PTA, then to Montgomery County Board of Education, the Maryland House of Delegates and now the State Senate.

I love the work I do here in Annapolis, but even now, as I listen to budget hearings, debate tax issues and discuss policy, my heart is still in the copy room. Volunteering in our public schools, I saw firsthand how decisions made in Annapolis effect our children and our families. And it is the memories of volunteering in the copy room that drive my decisions here in Annapolis, especially as they relate to education.

Maryland’s public schools have again been ranked number one in the county and that ranking has come about from a commitment on all levels to fund, support and improve our educational system. The funding commitment is not new. In 1984, the General Assembly established the Maintenance of Effort (MOE) requirement for K-12 to ensure that the cost of education is shared and to provide the local boards of education with predictable and stable funding. The Maintenance of Effort law requires a county to appropriate per pupil operating budget funds to the local school system in an amount not less than the per pupil amount provided in the prior year.

The MOE law has given our school boards the funding necessary to move ahead, but the law has its flaws. In good economic times, counties made or exceeded the requirements for MOE, but in difficult financial times, counties began to request waivers from the requirement. In 1996, the General Assembly established a process by which counties could request a temporary or partial waiver from the MOE requirement. These waivers when granted, protect the counties from penalties, but do not necessarily protect the school systems from cuts.

I have been appointed to a Senate task force which is looking at ways to strengthen and improve MOE requirements and I am introducing legislation to address this important issue. The legislation I am proposing will continue to require counties to meet their MOE requirements, but will have a formula built in so those counties who exceed the MOE requirement will not be penalized in a year when they fail to meet the requirement. However, while the bill allows for a waiver of penalty, it will not let counties rebase their MOE requirements all the way back to prior year levels, which will protect our schools from large funding cuts. I will keep you updated as this bill evolves and moves through the legislative process.

I learned so much from volunteering in the copy room those many years ago. I saw how important every dollar is to our children, our teachers and our administrators. I saw how our teachers have become more than just teachers of academic subjects. They are often a child’s adult role model, their moral compass and their safety net. I saw how free lunches in our schools are often the only real meal a child would get each day. And I saw how our children thrive in a safe, caring and stimulating environment. By protecting our teachers, we are protecting our students. And by funding education we are funding our future. I am committed to finding the answers to these difficult funding questions, so the current parents volunteering in the copy room will see the positive effects of the decisions made in Annapolis. And, as always, I welcome your input on this and any other issue that is important to you.

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You might have heard by now that funding for the construction of a permanent police station in District 6 has been removed in the county executive’s Capital Improvement Program. The indefinite postponement of this project could not have come at a worse time for our community. Crime is on the rise in the upcounty and violent crime in particular is up in the Montgomery Village area.

Many of my upcounty state legislative colleagues and I have asked the county executive to reconsider his decision to halt the project and move forward with the construction of a permanent police station east of I270 in 2012 as originally planned. In our letter we stated, “…the continued rise in crime highlights the need for a police station located in the upcounty east of I270. Response times for police action are seriously curtailed by the station’s current location, causing our residents to feel unsafe as they work, shop and live in our neighborhoods. We strongly urge you to revise the CIP and return the funding to this very important project. The citizens of upper Montgomery County deserve the same efforts to ensure their safety as is afforded to the rest of the county.”

Public hearings on the recommended fiscal 2013-2018 Montgomery County Capital Improvement Program will take place on Tuesday, February 7^th and Thursday, February 9^th at 7PM in the Council Hearing Room, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850. It is important for our community to voice their opinion on this cut. If you would like to testify at the hearing, call 240-777-7803, or you can contact the County Executive here. You can also contact the County Council here.

I have had several meetings with our county police over the past few months, and I assure you they are doing everything possible for our community with the resources available to them. Here are some tips from the police for staying safe when you are away from home:

• Have keys ready when approaching your vehicle. Check for intruders before, and lock the door immediately after, getting into your vehicle.
• Close all windows (in addition to locking all doors) when leaving your vehicle, whether it's for a few minutes or several hours
• Lock all valuables in the trunk.
• At night, park in well-lighted areas.
• Do not attach your name or license tag number to your key ring.
• Never pick up a hitchhiker or hitchhike yourself.
• Always keep your gas tank at least half full.
• If your vehicle breaks down in an isolated area, raise the hood, lock the doors and stay inside. If someone stops to help, ask him or her to call the police. Sound the horn if you feel threatened.
• If you see a suspicious vehicle or one driving recklessly notify the Police.

Montgomery County Police have several safety brochures on their website, (click here), and you can report suspicious activity at either the nonemergency number 301-279-8000 or the anonymous tip line 240-773 TIPS (8447). In an emergency, always dial 911.

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Citizen involvement is critical to making our government work better. Each year, through community meetings and events, surveys and phone calls, I work to be responsive to the communities I represent and seek out your opinions on critical issues. It is your phone calls, letters and emails, that let me know how you feel on the issues of the day. This communication is so important and I appreciate the time you take to get involved and I hope to provide you with the resources you need to stay involved.

Often when speaking to constituents, I am asked about the committee process in Annapolis – what committee I sit on, what issues come before my committee and how people can get involved and testify before the committee.

I am honored to sit on the Senate Budget & Taxation committee. On this committee, we are tasked with reviewing the budget and finding evenhanded solutions to balance the budget while making sure that Maryland remains a great place to live and work. Along with our focus on budget issues, Budget & Taxation Committee also hears hundreds of bills each Session (last year over 350 bills passed through our committee), on subjects including education, transportation, gaming, capital construction, and project open space, to name a few.

Testifying before any committee in Annapolis is relatively simple and is open to the public. If there is an issue that is important to you, I urge you to come down and testify. To find out what issues are coming before the committee click here. (Note: this list changes weekly, so check back often).

If you are going to come to testify, plan to show up before 12PM so you can sign up to be heard. The sign up sheets are usually in front of a committee room. Hearings generally begin at 1PM and each witness is allowed a few minutes to speak on an issue. If you plan to come down to Annapolis, please call my office and let us know. We are happy to help with information on parking, committee directions, etc.

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This month we began the 430th Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly. Throughout this Session I will work with my colleagues as we make the difficult decisions necessary to balance our budget, but at the same time protect our priorities in education, public safety and economic development.

Input from my constituents is paramount as I help to make these difficult budget decisions. Below is a link to a short survey of issues facing our State. I would appreciate if you would take a few moments to let me know your thoughts on these or any other issues of concern to you. CLICK HERE.

Along with my work on the Budget & Taxation Committee, I will be sponsoring several pieces of legislation in the areas of education, public safety, public health, economic growth and the environment. These bills will:

·     Require testing of pond/lake/river sediment prior to dredging.

·    Continue Home Visiting programs provided to families in need of these important services.

·   Move the Maryland After School Fund Program to the Governor’s Office for Children to allow us to capture more federal grants for after school programs.

·    Require insurance companies, who cover annual and biannual dental cleanings, to allow these cleanings at any time during the plan year without reference to the number of days that have passed since the last cleaning.

·    Increase the Research and Development Tax credit to help grow jobs in our State.

·    Make changes to the Maintenance of Effort requirements for public schools, to encourage counties to continue to fund education while lessening penalties for those counties that fund beyond their obligations.

Throughout the 90 day Session, I will send you updates about these and other issues in which I will be directly involved.

It is my honor to represent you in Annapolis as your State Senator. Please feel free to contact me at any time with your thoughts or concerns. You can reach me by phone at 301-858-3686 or by email at nancy.king@senate.state.md.us.

My best wishes to you and your families for a healthy and prosperous 2012.

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