Advocacy Update
Maryland
SB2 – Computer Service Sales Tax. Maryland recently enacted legislation to expand Maryland’s 6 percent sales tax to computer services. The new law takes effect July 1, 2008. The expansion applies to a list of services, including: Computer facilities management and operation, custom programming, computer disaster recovery and more. Oppose
SB204 - Maryland Transit Administration – Transit Oriented Development. This bill strengthens the Maryland Department of Transportation’s authority to use its property and resources to create transit oriented development projects. Support
HB373 - Maryland Transit Administration – Transit Oriented Development. This bill strengthens the Maryland Department of Transportation’s authority to use its property and resources to create transit oriented development projects. Support
HB1471 - Transportation - Intercounty Connector - Elimination of Funding. Requiring the Governor to include a specified appropriation to the Transportation Trust Fund under specified circumstances; prohibiting the State Department of Transportation and the Maryland Transportation Authority from financing the Intercounty Connector; requiring the Authority to retire specified bonds secured by a pledge of future federal aid in a specified manner. Oppose
HB 1416 - Intercounty Connector - Impact on Global Warming – Study. Requiring the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Department of the Environment to conduct a study on the impact the Intercounty Connector project could have on greenhouse gas emissions; requiring the study to quantify specified costs attributable to the project; requiring a specified public comment period; making financing of the project contingent on the publication and submission of the study to the Governor and the General Assembly; etc. Oppose
District of Columbia
B17-197 – Accrued Sick and Safe leave Act of 2007. This bill as introduced, proposes providing part-time and full-time employees up to seven days of sick paid leave annually. Oppose
B17-492 – Clean and Affordable Energy Act of 2007. To amend the Retail Electric Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 1999 and eliminate the Reliable Energy Trust Fund and to clarify the net metering requirements; to eliminate the Natural Gas Trust Fund; to amend the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Act of 2004 to increase the required percentage of renewable energy – Oppose
B17-537 – Pre-K For All DC Amendment Act of 2007. To establish a voluntary high quality pre-k program to provide 2,000 new Pre-Kindergarten classroom slots within 6 years to ensure that all unserved 3 and 4-year olds who reside in the District have an opportunity to participate in high quality Pre-Kindergarten settings and to improve the quality of existing pre-k programs serving 3 and 4-year olds. Support
B17-364 – Safe Rx Act of 2007. To amend the Health Occupations Revisions Act of 1985 to create licensing standards and continuing education requirements for pharmaceutical detailers and to authorize the Board of Pharmacy to establish a code of ethics for the practice of pharmaceutical detailing. Oppose
B17-450 - District of Columbia Public Education Personnel Reform Amendment Act of 2007. Proposed legislation would grant the schools’ Chancellor the appropriate ability to make the changes needed to improve the District of Columbia school system. Support
DC Taxi Cab Industry Reform – To reform taxi cab zone system to time/distance meters. Support
Virginia
SB713 – Motor Fuels Tax Rate Increase. To increase the state gas tax by $.01 per year for five years to off-set revenues lost by repeal of the abusive driver fees passed the Senate 25-15 and has been assigned to House Finance. The Board of Trade has supported an increase in the gas tax in the past and is supporting a gas tax as a member of the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance’s Business Coalition. Support
Other Items
Coalition Transportation Trust Fund Protection Resolution – Support- Rail to Dulles Expansion – Support
- Testimony before the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) on projects proposed for the first two years construction program that eventually will expand to six years -- Support
- Report of the Joint Development Task Force to WMATA (testimony) -- Support
- Testimony in favor of Metropolitan Area Transportation Operations Coordination Program (MATOC) -- Support
Last Updated: March 2008
