Maggie McIntosh 43rd District Baltimore City Environmental Matters Committee                                        Chairman   Delegate McIntosh's Legislative Newsletters 43rd District Leadership Team 2006 Legislative Questionnaire

Dear Friend:

I am so proud and pleased to represent the 43^rd District of Baltimore City.  As I look forward to this session of the Maryland General Assembly, let me mention several issues that will be important to our neighborhoods.  Our first order of business will be to override the Governors veto of the minimum wage bill.  I have heard from so many of you who believe this is the fair thing to do . . .I agree!

As Chair of the Environmental Matters Committee, I have a full agenda in several areas. Again this session we will work toward a cleaner and healthier Chesapeake Bay.  The leadership of the House of Delegates will introduce a bill to provide needed new funding for preservation of farmland and incentives for farmers to use best practices . . the result, a clean Bay. We have a terrific record to point to these past few years. We improved the Brownfield’s Voluntary Cleanup Program to encourage more development on old and abandoned land that is contaminated and needs cleaning.  We pasted the historic Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund and created a new e-cycling program in Maryland.

We will continue to work toward making housing more affordable and lead free. My committee passed legislation to bring out of compliance landlords into compliance with our lead paint laws.  This year I am going to again try to tackle the issue of affordable housing.  I will introduce a bill to waive the state property tax for any teacher, fire personnel, or police officer that buys their first home in the county or city in which they work and serve.  I believe this will help our public servants and at the same time help our neighborhoods.  Last session, I was successful in passing the “Live Near Your Work” legislation that works with employers in Baltimore and around the state to give assistance to their employees who buy a home near their workplace.

In the transportation area, I will continue to advocate for the Red and Green Line, an expansion of the rail plan in the Baltimore area.  A recent study of 20 metropolitan areas conducted by the Greater Baltimore Committee, found that the Baltimore Region ranks best for low cost of living. However, congestion and air quality are emerging challenges that we must face.  This calls for increased pressure to expand our mass transit system.

Other priorities for Baltimore and for our region are twofold. First, now that we have passed the Thornton funding for our schools, we must focus on the conditions of our schools.  I will work with our school board and administration to get Baltimore’s fair share of funding for renovations in our schools.  Second, we must continue our Historic Heritage Tax Credit Program. It has provided for need development of abandoned property and the refurbishment of older historic sites throughout Maryland.  It also provides some incentive for residents of our older historic communities to invest in their homes.

Check this website for legislative updates and legislation that I am introducing.  I look forward to hearing from you on issues that concern you and your community.  Again, thank you for the opportunity to serve you.

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Not paid for by government expense.
Citizens for Maggie McIntosh, Rebecca Jones Murphy, Chair, Constance R. Caplan, Treasurer.