MANNO BUDGET BRIEFING AT TOWN HALL

Silver Spring, MD - On Monday night, Senator Roger Manno (of the Budget and Taxation Committee) presented "The State Perspective" at an enormous budget town hall meeting at the Montgomery County Civic Center entitled "Fund Our Communities: Taking Back The Budget."

The capacity crowd event was kicked-off by local Senator Jamie Raskin from the 20th District (Silver Spring, Takoma Park), was moderated by Elbridge James (political action chair of the Maryland NAACP and President of the Board of Progressive Maryland), included presentations from Dr. Heather Boushey (economist with the Center for American Progress) and Karen Dolan (Fellow with the Institute for Policy Studies), live musical performances by local singer/songwriter Christina Van Norman, breakout strategy sessions, and a brief discussion with Congresswoman Donna Edwards after the program. Also in attendance were State Delegates Ben Kramer (19th District) and Tom Hucker (20th District), and Councilman Marc Elrich (Montgomery At-Large).

To view Edward Kimmel's photoshow of the event click here.

Roger's remarks included a media overview of Maryland's key assets and attributes, including our coveted AAA bond rating, best K-12 schools in the nation, wealthiest state in the nation, lowest poverty in the nation, relatively low unemployment, second in the nation in advanced degrees and science/technology workforce, and fifth in the nation in technological innovation. The presentation then focused on our state budget challenges, including an overview of Maryland's GDP, major industries, jobs and workforce, relationship with the federal government and the rapidly evolving political landscape at the federal level, state debt (including unfunded pension and health care liabilities), Medicaid and other safety-net programs, and overall spending trends. Finally, Manno offered a menu of long and short-term options to balance the budget and maintain our commitments, including key infrastructure investments, job creation, strategic cuts, revenues, consolidations of government functions, and significant savings from health reforms.

Roger stated "It's important that we're honest about the economic challenges facing the nation and state, and the difficult decisions that are being made. My goal is to convey those challenges to the residents I represent, so they understand the realities of our situation and can decide for themselves how best to move forward as partners in the solution. That type of discourse and collaboration is what this community is all about."

The massive event was funded by generous contributions from UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO and Gina Angiola, and was sponsored by a large coalition of progressive organizations, including: NAACP of Maryland; Progressive Democrats of America; Montgomery County NOW; AFL-CIO/MD & DC; Progressive Working Group/Steering Committee; Chesapeake Climate Action Network; Gray Panthers, Metro DC; MD Black Family Alliance; Progressive Cheverly; Progressive Maryland; Progressive Neighbors; Coalition on Human Needs; National Priorities Network; Montgomery College Peace & Justice Studies Association;  American Friends Service Committee, DC; Social Security Works; Peace Action; Cities for Peace/ Institute for Policy Studies; US Labor Against the War; Pax Christi; Baltimore Nonviolence Center; Bethesda Friends Meeting; CASA de Maryland; Center for Peace, Frederick County; Chesapeake Citizens; Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility; Citizen-Soldier Alliance, Baltimore Columbia United Christian Church; Peace & Justice Committee; Democracy for America; Montgomery County Fellowship of Reconciliation Friends Meeting, Annapolis; Generations for Peace & Democracy; Green Party, Anne Arundel County; Green Party, MD; Green Party, Montgomery Co; Healthcare-Now of MD; Homewood Friends Meeting; Little Friends for Peace; MD United for Peace & Justice; Montgomery County Civil Rights Coalition; Montgomery County Progressive Alliance; Muslim American Society/MD; Peace Action, Anne Arundel County; Peace Action Montgomery; Network of Spiritual Progressives, MD; Orthodox Peace Fellowship; Pax Christi/MD; Peace & Justice Coalition, Prince Georges County; Pipe Creek Monthly Meeting, Friends; Pledge of Resistance, Baltimore; Progressive Democrats of America, Maryland; Prosperity Agenda; River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation/Social Justice Council; Peace Committee, Sandy Spring; Friends Meeting; Sheet Metal Workers International, Local 100; Southern Christian Leadership Council, Montgomery County; UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO; Veterans for Peace, Baltimore; Veterans for Peace, Metro DC; Voters for Peace; WeGreen USA; Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom/DC.

For more information about events, legislation, or to receive regular email updates, please visit www.rogermanno.com.

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Not paid for at taxpayer expense. Authorized by Friends of Roger Manno. Anne Ambler, Chair / Sandra Zimmet, Treasurer.