Senator Roger Manno (D-Montgomery) speaking in the State Capital at the Senate Bipartisan Press Conference on Maryland's 2012 Joint Priorities 

Annapolis, MD - This morning Senator Roger Manno joined a bipartisan group of Senators from around Maryland in introducing common-sense legislation comprising the 2012 "Senate Leadership Package."

Roger's job-creating "Security Clearance Tax Credit" (SB 296) is among five bills strategically chosen to comprise the 2012 package, which also includes legislation addressing education, identity theft, scholarships for veterans, and protections of family farms.

"I'm very pleased to join Democrats and Republicans from around our state in advancing this important legislative package -- and I'm very grateful for the support of my colleagues in choosing SB219 to be among these important initiatives," stated Roger.

Roger's SB296 includes bipartisan cosponsors from every region of the state, and creates a $6 million reserve fund to assist high-tech workers and businesses in offsetting the steep cost of obtaining security clearances. Security clearances are important  for Maryland's competitiveness in the lucrative sectors of Information Technology, Aerospace, Engineering, Life Sciences, and Research -- and these clearances have been identified as being critical in helping Maryland compete in both the public and private workforce sectors throughout the region. 

"The message that we're sending today is that Maryland is open for business, that we are making a sizable investment in our workforce, businesses and young people, and that we are moving Maryland forward despite our geographic or party differences. That's what Marylanders expect of us. That's what needs to be done - and it's why we're here today."

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