Dear Friends and Constituents,

I’ll start out with bad news and follow that with some good news. While the economy is looking a bit better, state and county income sources- real estate taxes, transfer taxes, income taxes, sales taxes, and car registrations are all down. Even though Montgomery County‘s unemployment is lower than that of many areas, there is more unemployment and underemployment than we have experienced in years. I’m getting desperate calls for help with foreclosures and health care issues. 

The Maryland Board of Public Works report includes the following information. Since Governor O’Malley took office, State spending has been reduced by $3.5 billion and over 2,700 positions have been eliminated. However, due to the above mentioned declines in revenue, there is an estimated $700 million projected shortfall for 2010. We are not alone; 45 of 50 states are experiencing the sharpest revenue declines on record.

On Wednesday, July 22, 2009, the Board of Public Works adopted another round of cuts equaling $280 million dollars. Obviously, this is NOT going to be enough to balance the budget, as required by law.  Therefore, in answer to all of you who are hoping that some magic windfall will allow the state to fund new projects or even maintain previous funding, I do not have good news.  More cuts will be necessary, about $450 million or more, if the situation does not improve rapidly.

As a person who cares desperately about those who depend on state funding: people with disabilities, physical and emotional, the frail elderly, programs to encourage our young people to plunge into serious studies in the sciences, the newly homeless and those who lack adequate health care, I an unable to adequately verbalize my anger and fears for them and will continue to work to better their situations.

On a more cheerful note, the severe nursing shortages that I discussed several months ago as a member of the Task Force on the Shortage of Health Care Work Force, had positive resolutions. The problem of qualified professors was initially solved by recruiting retired or semi retired nurses with proper degrees and training, some from previous wars such as Vietnam, to teach at leading Maryland Schools of Nursing.  Now donors from the Maryland Hospital Association and other granting groups including CareFirst BlueCross, have pledged $15.5 million over 5 years to fund 17 Maryland nursing schools to expand enrollment and add 1,500 students. These grants include community college nursing programs and four year accalaureate programs. This is good news for any of us who may need nursing care.

Capt. Jane McCarthy and I recently held a listening session for Veterans and will shortly have another at Dave’s American Bistro on Rt. 108 just outside of Olney. Over 30 people attended and we will have another session on August 19th at 6 PM. Cost for dinner provided by the restaurant and the meeting is $12.