Editor?s note: This is the second of three stories in which the members of the Howard delegation comment on their priorities for the legislative session that started last week.
From curbing vehicle emissions to tackling budget constraints, Howard state lawmakers have wide-ranging priorities for 2007.
Newcomer Del. Guy Guzzone, D-District 13, said he is facing a learning curve.
“Even with that experience, I still have a lot to learn,” Guzzone said, referring to his time as an environmental activist in Annapolis.
Guzzone, who is a member of the Appropriations Committee, said he also supports making the state smoke-free. He voted for a smoke-free county while serving on the County Council last year.
Del. Elizabeth Bobo, D-District 12B, wants stricter vehicle emission standards and a requirement that manufacturers ship more low emission cars to the state.
“This is the third year I have [pushed] this bill, and it looks pretty positive this year,” said Bobo, who is a sponsor of the clean cars bill.
She also wants to require a specific kind of individual verifiable paper records for voting machines. She said the current Diebold machines aren?t enough to verify votes.
Del. Frank Turner, D-District 13, said he is focused on getting the maximum amount of school construction dollars.
“We have a commitment for $400 million this year,” he said.
As the chairman of the Finance Resource Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee, Turner also will have slots, horse racing and the lottery on his plate.
With a structural deficit in the years to come, slots may be considered to ease the budget strain, he said.
“We will have to have some kind of revenue enhancement next year,” he said.
