Del. Impallaria: Annapolis Update #1 – Unemployment and Nuclear Power

The following was received from the office of Del. Rick Impallaria:

Annapolis Update #1 – Jan. 27, 2010

Greeting from Annapolis!

Normally, I would have done an Annapolis Update prior to this, but this Session seems to be moving slower than past Sessions and nothing of real substance, at this point, has “hit the fan.”

In my committee, which is the House Economic Matters Committee, we have had a briefing on the unemployment insurance problems with the Fund. The Fund has a major shortfall due to the economic downturn and the State’s formula to resolve that shortfall requires the employer’s contribution to go from 5 percent to 13 percent, which, in my opinion, could cause even greater job loss, due to the additional financial burden being placed on businesses that are struggling to make payroll now. I believe a one-year increase of 2 percent would be enough to replenish the Fund without causing additional job losses. Unfortunately, the federal government is offering Maryland stimulus money to help fund the shortfall, but with that money, strings come attached, which will have a negative effect on business down the road.

Today the Economic Matters Committee had a briefing from EDF, the French company that is building the new nuclear power plant at Calvert Cliffs. I was quite impressed with their testimony. The only downside that I could see is that, according to EDF, among the countries of France, Britain, China and the United States, the U.S. is the most business unfriendly because of the long delays and expenses to start up a new nuclear power plant. EDF also spoke of their project to recycle and reuse spent nuclear rods, with plants designed to do just that, moving us in the direction of resolving what to do with nuclear waste. In a sidebar conversation with one of the French representatives, he agreed with my position that in a short period of time, nuclear waste will become a nuclear commodity that is traded on the open market for future uses.

The Governor’s State of the State address continues to be postponed which, to me, means that the numbers continue to come in making the state’s problems worse on a daily basis.

And, finally, each year we do a survey, asking approximately 10 questions that are important issues in Annapolis. We will be sending that survey out in the upcoming weeks, to get your opinion and to allow you to see how others feel about these issues. This year, I am doing something a little different. If you have a question that you believe should be on the survey, please send it to me. I can’t promise that we will be able to place them all on the survey, but we will review them all and pick the ones that seem most timely and fit with the hot topics that we will be dealing with in Annapolis this year.

If you have any questions, or if you would like to contact me personally, please don’t hesitate to call.

Rick Impallaria
Delegate, District 7
410-841-3334 (Annapolis office)
rick.impallaria@house.state.md.us