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During the session interim, the�Legislative Hotline will be distributed monthly.� In addition to state issues, we will include relevant information on federal and local affairs.� The Legislative Hotline will return to a weekly distribution when Session resumes in January of 2005.

To view the legislative information below, click on the subject of interest to go directly to that area or scroll down to view the entire document.

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STATE
State Ends the Year in a Surplus
GCPA Attends the Maryland Association of Counties Conference

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STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION

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STATE ISSUES

State Ends the Year in a Surplus

The State of Maryland concluded fiscal year 2004 with a $309.7 million surplus. This was in part due to higher than expected sales and income tax receipts. Additionally the Lottery, death taxes, business franchise taxes and a total of $12 million saved by state agencies added to the surplus total. In total, state general fund revenues were up 9%. This puts next year's projected deficit (which was once $1 billion) at about $400 million and could possibly be lower if estimates for a 4% revenue growth are revised upward.

However, the long term budget gap still remains and is projected to top $1 billion a year in 2007 and beyond. This is due in large part to the cost of the $1.3 billion a year Thorton education formula and escalating costs in Medicaid.

GCPA Attends the Maryland Association of Counties Conference

The Government Relations staff for the Johns Hopkins Institutions were exhibitors and attendees at the annual Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) Conference August 18 21. An estimated 1,800 people attended this ever popular conference, which is held in Ocean City, Maryland. In keeping with the theme of the conference, "Monster Mash," Johns Hopkins presented "Weird Science," an exhibit highlighting some of the more unique and unusual programs at the Institutions. Eight programs were displayed, including Aqua-Porons, the Facial Prosthetic Clinic, Hubble Space Telescope, the Howler Monkey Project, Forensic Nursing, Robo-Rounds, and "Change Blindness" from the Mind/Brain Institute. Many divisions across the Institution donated items to be raffled off, such as books from Johns Hopkins University Press, and props to be displayed, including a skeleton courtesy of the Anatomy Department and lab coats embroidered with "Johns Hopkins Weird Science Division" from Procurement. Many legislators from across the state stopped by the booth, including Governor Ehrlich and Lt. Governor Steele who donned Weird Science lab coats and posed for a picture.

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STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION
Please contact the Government Relations staff if you would like additional information. Your input assists us greatly in evaluating and formulating the position of Johns Hopkins on all legislation.

Government, Community, and Public Affairs
Johns Hopkins Institutions
901 S. Bond Street, Suite 540
Baltimore, MD 21231
phone 443-287-9900
fax 443-287-9898

STATE Heather Barthel	hbarthel@jhmi.edu
Mickey Geisler	mgeisler@jhu.edu
Sheila Higdon	shigdon@jhmi.edu
Jim Kaufman	jkaufma@jhmi.edu
Bret Schreiber	bschreiber@jhu.edu
Cathy Ximenez	cximenez@jhmi.edu