O'Malley shaping his agenda for 2010 session

Friday, Dec. 11, 2009

Gov. Martin O'Malley's 2010 General Assembly agenda is beginning to take shape, as the economy becomes a major factor in his legislative program.

Joseph C. Bryce, O'Malley's chief legislative officer, said recently that the governor's slate of bills for the next session would include:

ï The Medicaid False Claims Act.

The bill would have given the state greater powers to reclaim false Medicaid payments.

The bill died in the 2009 session after Maryland hospitals argued that the state already has adequate powers to reclaim the money.

The legislation, opponents said, offered incentives to bring false claims against doctors and increase their liability, encouraging them to leave the state.

ï Foreclosures.

O'Malley wants to ensure banks work in earnest with homeowners before any foreclosure takes place, spokesman Rick Abbruzzese said.

ï Changes to unemployment insurance.

O'Malley said that he would be submitting emergency legislation to help small businesses on unemployment insurance rates. The rates are expected to rise abruptly to keep solvent the trust fund that pays out benefits.

"It's certainly our intention to get consensus and a plan as early as possible so we can help employers, employees and maintain the solvency of the fund," Bryce said last week.

ï Reauthorization of the Heritage Tax Credit.

The credit has restored historic properties and creates jobs, Abbruzzese said.

ï Expanded portfolio of renewable energy sources.

dtallman@gazette.net