January 13, 2006

Message to GBC Members:

Higher education: the critical element of business development

This week's edition of the State House Update highlights one of the priority areas in the GBC's 2006 legislative agenda -- higher education. A quality higher education system is vitally important in developing the workforce that businesses want and need.

Maryland businesses are fortunate to have access to one of the country's most highly educated workforces. Maryland's public and private higher education institutions continuously offer new educational programs to address the needs of the market place in critical areas of workforce need, including nursing and allied health, biotechnology, and tourism.

Unfortunately, budget reductions in recent years have jeopardized these invaluable resources to our state. Many programs that are important to our emerging economy in Maryland have been targets of budget cuts. High-demand fields such as science and technology require continually-updated equipment as well as quality faculty.

Reductions to faculty levels and increases in the reliance on part-time staff threaten the quality of education and diminish faculty entrepreneurship and innovation. Continued investment to foster education programs in specialty fields and to increase education capacity is crucial to Maryland's economy.

Last week, Governor Ehrlich announced a $172 million increase in spending for higher education, mostly at the University System of Maryland institutions, including support at these institutions for life sciences development and teacher training - both GBC priorities.

Our higher education system is the single critical component of business development, for it is this system that provides a highly skilled, highly educated workforce needed to meet the employment requirements of businesses in the region and the state.

The GBC strongly supports enhanced funding for the State's public and private higher education institutions. Access to a highly educated workforce is a GBC priority. This can only be achieved with a fully funded, quality system of higher education.

In next week's State House Update, we will begin tracking hearings, briefings and legislation as the General Assembly begins its first full week of work this year.

We'll keep you posted.

Best wishes,

Standing Committees - House:
http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/hsecom.html

Senate - member roster:
http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/05sen/html/sen.html

House of Delegates - member roster:
http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/hse.html

GBC State House Update archive
For past editions of State House Update, click here.

GBC staff contacts for legislative affairs
Donald C. Fry, President, GBC
410-727-2820, x12
donaldf@gbc.org

Devon L. Dodson, Vice President, GBC
410-727-2820, x40
devond@gbc.org

State House Update Editor:
Gene Bracken, Director of Communications, GBC
geneb@gbc.org


For information about sponsoring the State House Update newsletter, click here or contact Diane Funk, 410-727-2820, x11.