The Week Ahead (Thanksgiving Edition)

Registration is now open for our annual Legislative Preview!  On Monday, January 7th Maryland Nonprofits and MBPTI will convene public officials, legislative experts, and advocacy leaders at the Doubletree Annapolis Hotel to bring you important information about the upcoming legislative session. If you want to start off the session informed and prepared, you can’t miss our legislative kick-off. For registration information please go to Maryland Nonprofits event page.

Last week we hosted a guest blog from Henry Bogdan, Managing Director of Public Policy and Public Affairs for Maryland Nonprofits, on the variation in support for the various ballot measures across Maryland. We also posted a great infographic about growing income inequality in Maryland and a summary of last week's Spending Affordability briefing. Neil Bergsman also appeared in the Washington Examiner, in an article on the need for new sources of transportation funding.

Tuesday, November 20th

• General Provisions Article Review Committee reviews drafts of Title 4 "Public Information Act" and Title 7 "Emblems; Designations; Commemorative Days and Months." 5pm in room 241, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Maryland Commission on Artistic Property meets to discuss the state's art collection. 10:30am at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown.
• Bureau of Labor Statistics releases state employment figures for October. In September, Maryland's unemployment rate fell to 6.9 percent as 11,000 people found work.

The Week Ahead (Election Edition)

Tomorrow is election day, and MBTPI encourages everyone to vote. This is an important election year for Maryland, with a number of ballot issues affecting the state's budget and vulnerable populations. We have not taken a position on any particular ballot issue; however, readers may be interested in our analysis of Question 7, the gambling expansion referendum. You can find out where your polling location is and look at a sample ballot ahead of time on the Board of Elections website.

Last week Gazette.net quoted Neil Bergsman about the effect sequestration would have on Maryland, and Reuters highlighted our brief on expanded gambling. I also blogged about the national employment figures for October.

Tuesday, November 6th

• House Health And Government Operation Committee meets for a briefing on naturopathic medicine. 2pm at the John Hopkins Hospital Sheikh Zayed Tower, room 2069B, 1800 Orleans Street, Baltimore.
• Election Day 2012. Maryland voters decide several issues with budget and policy implications, including whether to expand gambling, the DREAM Act, redistricting, and same sex marriage.

Wednesday, November 7th,

• House Health And Government Operation Committee holds briefings on access to habilitative services (HB 1055); proposed clinical laboratory regulations (Relates to HB 66); the Prince George's County Health System; and the recent meningitis outbreak and regulation of facilities that compound drugs. 1pm in room 240, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families meets to discuss local management board budget considerations. 10am in room 130, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Task Force to Study Maryland Insurance of Last-Resort Programs meets for a discussion comparing the four insurer of last resort programs. 2pm in room 231, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Health Services Cost Review Commission meets. 10am in room 100, 4160 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore.
• Maryland Nonprofits offers Major Gifts: Not the Impossible Dream. This is a Maryland Nonprofits training; for more information or to register go to their events page.

Thursday, November 8th

• Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds receives an update from the Comptroller and Treasurer, and a review of local government audits by the Office of Legislative Audits. 1pm in the William Amoss Hearing Room, 4th Floor, Senate Office Building, Annapolis.
• Maryland Health Insurance Plan Board of Directors meets. Topics include medical claims review, the quarterly financial review, a federal update, application and enrollment Reports, a procurement update, COMAR update, and Executive Director search update. 9am in Suite 630, 1 Calvert Plaza, 201 E. Baltimore Street, Baltimore.
• Maryland Advisory Council for Virtual Learning discusses the history and status of online learning in Maryland. 1-3pm in conference rooms 6 and 7, 200 W. Baltimore Street, Baltimore.

Friday, November 9th

• Board of Social Work Examiners meets. 11am in room 109, Metro Building, 4201 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore.