Speaker Mike Busch

HealthCare

House Speaker Michael E. Busch led the effort to pass landmark legislation to extend healthcare coverage to thousands of citizens across the State. The Children and Working Families Healthcare Act of 2007 House Bill 754, would provide healthcare access to a quarter of Maryland’s 800,000 uninsured residents, including providing healthcare access to every child in the State.

"During the last election the people of Maryland told us health care is one of their biggest worries," said Speaker Busch. "Today the House of Delegates responded to their concerns with meaningful legislation to improve access for all Marylanders. Our message is clear: healthcare is not a luxury or a privilege for those who can afford to pay. It is a basic right for all of our citizens."

On Opening Day of the 2007 session of the General Assembly, Speaker Busch committed to cutting the number of uninsured in half over the next four years. According to the Maryland Healthcare Commission, 90% of Maryland residents without health insurance are in working families.

The healthcare expansion proposal would have increased the tax on cigarettes by $1 to leverage federal funds for a 50/50 match and surplus funds in existing health programs. Currently, Maryland ranks 20th in the nation for tobacco tax at $1/pack. This increase would bring Maryland to 4th in the country. Nine other states across the country are considering a tobacco tax increase.

Uncompensated care costs Maryland taxpayers over $800 million each year. The average Maryland family pays almost $1,000 more per year in insurance premiums to cover these costs.

After passing the House of Delegates and gaining support from many County Executives, mayors and medical organizations, the bill was not considered by the Senate.

Clean Indoor Air Act
The Clean Indoor Air Act prohibits in-door smoking in bars and restaurants, with no exceptions for private clubs. The goal of the bill was primarily focused on employee health. According to the American Lung Association, 49,500 people die each year from exposure to secondhand smoke. The Bloomberg School of Public Health estimates public health costs related to secondhand smoke cost Marylanders $600 million annually.

The bill does include a hardship waiver, which bar and restaurant owners can apply for through the local health departments, following statewide standards set by DHMH. All hardship waivers expire by 2011. Seven jurisdictions enacted full or partial smoking bans, including Charles, Howard, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Talbot Counties and Baltimore City prior to the statewide ban. Sixteen states and 250 municipalities around the country have similar bans.