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Over 115 business and community leaders filled the Zigler
Hospitality Center at the Brethren Center facility in New Windsor this morning
for the annual Carroll County Chamber legislative breakfast. Jan. 7, 2016 I
scratched-out a few quick notes on my smartphone. …
Jan. 7, 2015 Thursday
Jan. 7, 2016 Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Legislative
Kickoff Breakfast with Delegates Shoemaker, Krebs, Kittleman, and Sen. Ready
Jan. 7, 2016 Thursday 8 am.
I scratched-out a few quick notes on my smartphone. …
Over 115 business and community leaders filled the Zigler
Hospitality Center at the Brethren Center facility in New Windsor this morning
for the annual Carroll County Chamber legislative breakfast. Jan. 7, 2016
Thursday 8 am. And it is always good to see Kelly Heck. I can always geek-out
and talk with her about art, technology, and photography. She rules.
And it is always good to see Kelly Heck at a Carroll County
Chamber event. She rules.
Good turnout but it seemed that Ag, the number one business
in Carroll County and the state was under-represented.
Jan. 7, 2016 Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Legislative
Kickoff Breakfast was sponsored by BGE and Comcast. Always good to see Mike
Fowler, the BGE representative, who spoke well and mentioned the 200th
anniversary of BGE
Bill Gavin is the Chamber Legislative Committee chair… Has
chaired the committee for 40 years.
Del. Haven Shoemaker. … Discussed his committee assignment
and shared a few examples of matters that have caught his attention. I continue
to like his straightforward no nonsense style
Several brought-up the need to inject some funds into the
state pension system to shore-up the fund. Not much mention of pension reform.
Last year’s efforts to scale back the taxes on military
pensions was mentioned and continuing the efforts to stop taxing retirement
incomes because all those folks are leaving the state...
Del. Susan Krebs... Also thanked the Chamber legislative
committee…
Regulatory reform commission initiative… Revenues good but
unfortunately it is from Capital gains taxes. Whole different posture with Gov.
Hogan…
Sen. Justin Ready… also thanked the Chamber… discussed
process a bit… real and significant tax relief… We do not have a budget
surplus, we have a fund balance.
Del. Trent Kittleman represents a portion of Carroll Co.
Regulatory reform. The importance of supporting business. Has one bill that
students pass the citizenship test.
×××××
A number of important issues were raised during the question
and answer period. A number of folks asked some good questions and the Carroll
County Delegation to Annapolis was very forthcoming, transparent, and
articulate about many complex topics. Hats off to the elected officials who
attended.
Several members of the Board of Ed were there. Bob Lord,
Devon Rothschild, Jim Doolan, and Virginia Harrison as well as school
superintendent Steve Guthrie.
Carroll County Commissioners Dennis Frazier and Richard
Rothschild attended as well as Taneytown Councilwoman Diane Foster and Mayor
McCarron.
New Windsor Mayor Neal Roop and Council member Ed Pals grove
attended.
A question was asked about automatic voting registration
The problem of high filing fees for personal property taxes…
Mandatory paid sick leave and paid family leave and
mandatory … Mandated benefits… have a negative impact… on business.
Need 7 more in the house and 5 in the senate… for veto-proof
legislature
High speed internet access badly needed in rural areas. The
last mile… necessary for expanding business in rural area. And necessary for
supporting ag, the number 1 business in Carroll County.
A single consolidated time off benefit… combine sick leave,
vacation …
Restoration of Highway User Revenues. … New secretary for
MDOT…
Dennis Frazier: Last mile will cost 200 million. Last mile
will cost Westminster 24 million.
The idea of allowing large grocery stores to sell alcohol.
Ready: alcohol is a controlled substance… Allowing the huge big boxes and
grocery stores to sell alcohol will damage small businesses and allow alcohol
to be too easily available. …
State law that requires 2 year residence registration for
manufacturers… small breweries…
Definition of small business
Del. Krebs: Cost of healthcare is driving the budget.
Medicaid is a huge cost…
Net out-migration of the wealthiest Marylanders.
Bill to overturn the estate tax relief and exemption.
Redistricting. Gerrymandering. …
The breakfast concluded at 9:29 am.
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