The Week Ahead

Last week on the blog, we celebrated the end of the state fiscal year by reviewing last year's budgetary process. The new fiscal year for the state begins today, and the state's gas tax and toll increases are now in effect.

On Thursday of last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released their employment and wage figures for the fourth quarter of 2012, covering the nation's 329 largest counties. Each of the eight Maryland counties included in the report saw employment growth during that period, with Baltimore City seeing the most growth (a 6.1 percent increase over the quarter). A summary of the report can be found here.  

A few weeks ago, Neil Bergsman presented to the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore about the effects of sequestration on that region of the state. Coverage from WMDT of that presentation can be found here.

There are few events this week due to the July 4th holiday. Have a happy and safe Independence Day.

For the week of July 1st through 7th:

• On Monday, July 1st (the first day of fiscal year 2014), the Task Force to Study Economic Development and Apprenticeships hosts an organizational meeting at 3pm in room 230 of the House Office Building at 6 Bladen Street in Annapolis. They will also provide a background on current apprenticeship programs.
• On Tuesday, July 2nd, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will release its Metropolitan Area Employment report for May at 10am.
• On Wednesday, July 3rd, the Board of Public Works meets at 10am in the Governor's Reception Room on the second floor of the State House in Annapolis. The meeting's agenda can be found here. It includes approval for an upcoming $475 million sale of state bonds; $6 million in local library projects; and a $71 million 5-year contract for lottery advertising, marketing and related services. 
• Thursday July 4th is Independence Day. Most government offices are closed. Have fun and be safe.
• On Friday, July 5th, the BLS will publish its Employment Situation figures for June. MBPTI's offices will be closed on Friday.

Declaration of Interdependence

Happy Independence Day!  236 years ago the founding fathers adopted the Declaration of Independence and committed themselves to fight for their freedom from England. But it was also a declaration of interdependence, each state leaning on the others as they stood up to face the British empire. The 13 colonies, now states, made this clear in the final line of the declaration: "And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of the divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."

Liberty and freedom are often highlighted as the virtues upon which our nation is based--and so they are. But America is also based on a sense of community, of coming together in our time of need to protect and care for our neighbors as they do the same for us. This sense of community has never been perfect. There have always been excluded groups, whether Native Americans, blacks, women, non-Western European immigrants, or the poor. But throughout the centuries our country has been at its strongest when we stood together and expanded the circle.

Roosevelt understood this when he spoke of the four freedoms:

• Freedom of speech and expression
• Freedom of worship
• Freedom from want
• Freedom from fear

The recent heat wave is a perfect example of how community make us stronger.  Neighbors with power helping those without, drivers (for the most part) stopping at intersections without stoplights to let folks on the side roads through, or utility crews from distant states driving overnight to help out.

Have fun tomorrow (and be safe).  And remember that the Fourth of July is as much a celebration of coming together as a national community as it is of independence from foreign control.

The Week Ahead

Wednesday is Independence Day, so there isn't much going on this week. Last week we blogged about Maryland Nonprofits new partnership with the University of Baltimore, the U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the Affordable Care Act, and the start of Maryland's new fiscal year.

Sunday, July 1st

• Maryland's fiscal year begins. As Neil blogged last week, this is a time for celebration, before returning to the hard work of managing the budget.

Tuesday, July 3rd

• This week is so slow that I'm going to highlight the meeting of the Maryland Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Authority. The Authority hears complaints and assesses civil penalties related to damage to underground facilities, such as natural gas, telephone, cable, water and sewer lines. Of course, this week our attention is focused more on above-ground utilities, specifically those knocked out in last Friday's storm. The Authority also oversees public education and outreach programs, and the development of safety procedures. 9am in the lower level conference room at One Call Center, 7223 Parkway Drive, Hanover.

Friday, July 6th

• Bureau of Labor Statistics will release national employment data for June. The U.S. unemployment rate edged up slightly in May, to 8.2 percent.

Stay cool and hydrated!