Delegate Galen Clagett's Newsletter
 Putting Frederick First
Volume 4, Issue 1
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| What's Happening in Annapolis: February 2010 2010 General Assembly Session Outlook |
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Greetings!
Welcome to our 2010 General Assembly Session Outlook, and thank you for your continued interest in my activities in Annapolis as your State Delegate.
The 427th session of the Maryland General Assembly opened on January 13th. Our priorities this session are to continue to balance the budget, create and save jobs, and continue to make Maryland a safe place to live, work and raise a family.
I have a number of bills that I will be sponsoring during this session and I will keep you up-to-date on our progress in moving them through the legislature. For a complete look at all of the bills I am currently sponsoring or co-sponsoring, please either visit my web site www.galenclagett.com, or click here.
Speaking of my web site, www.galenclagett.com has been updated with my latest information, news stories, photos, links and much more. It is a great way to stay connected to my activities on behalf of District 3A. I'm also on Facebook and Twitter. You can join me on these sites to receive up-to-the-minute information.
My colleagues in the Frederick Delegation have elected me as their Vice Chairman for 2010 and I am honored to serve them as such. For 2010, I will have the following Committee assignments:
- Member - Appropriations Committee
- Chair - Public Safety & Administration Subcommittee
- Member - Oversight Committee on Personnel
- Member - Capital Budget Subcommittee
In this issue, you will find information on a major bill designed to stimulate the economy and create jobs across the State - HB92 - Job Creation & Recovery Tax Credit. There is also information on my recent meeting with State Highway officials and the resulting safety improvements to be implemented on Route 15. I hope you find this newsletter helpful and I'll continue to keep you informed throughout the remainder of 2010.
It continues to be a great privilege for me to represent our community in the House of Delegates. I hope you will contact me with your thoughts at galen.clagett@house.state.md.us or (301) 663-4596. Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to represent and serve our neighborhoods.
Sincerely,
Delegate Galen Clagett, District 3A
Frederick County, Maryland
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Job Creation and Recovery Tax Credit (HB92)
The global economic recession has resulted in Marylanders across the State being laid off and struggling to support their families. To get them back to work and off the unemployment rolls, the  Governor has submitted HB 92, an emergency bill that will offer Maryland businesses a $3,000 tax credit for every unemployed Marylander it hires. The bill includes a one-year program: capped at $20 million, and $250,000 per employer. The worker must be employed for at least one year, and must fill a position that is new or that has been vacant for the prior six months. This tax credit applies to employees who are currently receiving unemployment insurance benefits or who were in the past year.
The Ways & Means Committee heard this bill on February 4, with the intent of moving the bill quickly to put more Marylanders to work as soon as possible. |
Route 15 Safety Improvements
The Route 15 corridor at the Hayward Road intersection is one of the most dangerous sections of road in Frederick County.
On February 4, 2010, in an effort to address this critical public safety issue, Delegate Galen Clagett of District 3A, met with MDOT Secretary Beverly Swaim-Staley, State Highway Administrator Neil Pedersen, and District Engineer David Coyne. Delegate Tawanna Gaines, Chairman of the Transportation and Environment Subcommittee and Frederick Alderman Carol Krimm also participated in the meeting.
After a thorough discussion of public safety options, State Highway officials will be implementing the following improvements to the Route 15/Hayward Road intersection:
- Two large highway signs will be placed on Route 15 South: one at one mile north and another at 1500 feet north of the
 Route 15 Southbound/Hayward Road intersection advising drivers that this area is a safety zone and that the speed limit is 55 mph. In the future, the sign at 1500 feet north will have a solar powered flashing beacon.
- Shortly thereafter, three new sets of ten rumble strips will be installed closer to the Hayward Road intersection.
- Visual narrowing of the lanes also known as speed reduction markings will begin at the 1500 feet sign and decrease in spacing as drivers approach Hayward Road.
- During the spring/summer of 2010, an access ramp to the parallel service road will be built from Route 15 South. This
 ramp will be 200 feet north of the Route 15 South/Hayward Road intersection. The ramp will allow motorists turning right onto Hayward from southbound Route 15 to exit Route 15 before the dangerous Hayward Road/Route 15 intersection. The ramp will help to eliminate confusion for motorists who are turning left from Route 15 North.
- Rumble strips will also be installed in the left turn lane from Route 15 North to Hayward Road.
 Delegate Clagett is further requesting that Maryland State Police and local police departments increase patrols and speed enforcement in the area. |
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Maryland is #1 in U.S. in Transparency The Baltimore Business Journal reported last Tuesday that Maryland is #1 in the nation in tracking the use of Federal Stimulus funds. This is the second year in a row that Maryland is ranked #1 in transparency of how we spend our stimulus dollars according to Good Jobs First, a Washington D.C.-based research organization. For more information about how Maryland spends federal stimulus dollars, please visit http://statestat.maryland.gov. |
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Committee Votes Going Online  Last week, the Speaker directed the Office of Information Systems to put all Standing Committee votes online when the bill comes to the floor of the House. These votes have always been available to the public upon request and will now be available online. The House is also test running a new software system to live stream committee hearings, with the intent of making this content available to the general public during the 2011 session. The Speaker has asked the Joint Legislative Data Systems Committee to review the plan to live stream and make recommendations on viability and implementation.
Several delegates have introduced legislation and amendments to the House Rules that will be considered by the House Rules Committee, the standing committee with subject matter jurisdiction.
This is part of a continued effort to make the Maryland General Assembly more accessible to our constituents and we will continue to explore ways to make the Maryland General Assembly more accessible. |
| Send your feedback, input, and questions directly to Galen at Galen@GalenClagett.com or become a friend of Galen's on Facebook. | |
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