Former Delegate Minnick remembered by colleagues

Originally published in the East County Times, Vol. 21 No. 2 (Oct. 22, 2015), page 28.

- by Emily Blackner -

Dundalk native and veteran legislator Joseph J. “Sonny” Minnick passed away last Monday, Oct. 12, at the age of 82. Minnick was in hospice care at Stella Maris in Timonium for a blood disease.

He was born on March 16, 1933, and resided in Dundalk for his entire life. After graduating from Dundalk High School in the Class of 1952, Minnick enlisted in the US Navy, where he served from 1952 - 1956 and earned a Good Conduct Medal. After that, he went to Dundalk and then to Essex Community College, in 1972 - 1973 and 1974, respectively. His career in politics began in 1988, when he was appointed to the House of Delegates to fill a suddenly vacant seat.

In numerous statements and online comments, his colleagues and constituents remembered him fondly.

“Delegate Sonny Minnick was a kind-hearted individual, a caring, constituent-oriented legislator and a patient mentor,” said Jake Mohorovic, a former District 6 delegate who served with Minnick.

Minnick, a conservative Democrat, was first elected a member of the House of Delegates in November 1994 and served from January 11, 1995, until January 14, 2015. He chose not to seek re-election in the November 2014 race.

His seat was taken by Republican Ric Metzgar, who called Minnick “a gentleman statesman.”

“Sonny was a tremendous man, a mentor and friend,” he continued. “The shoes are definitely harder to fill now, and I am truly honored to be seated at his seat in the General Assembly. I even have the same office phone number. He will be sorely missed.”

“He was always strong-willed and opinionated and tenacious in the way he went about his work, but he was always respectful of other people,” recalled John Olszewski, Jr., who served with Minnick from 2006 - 2015. The two were members of the Economic Matters Committee.

“His advice was always very helpful and insightful for me, and I’m grateful for that. I’m lucky to have had the opportunity to know him as well as I have,” Olszewski added.

Minnick was on the alcoholic beverages, business regulation, and unemployment insurance sub-committees. Prior appointments include the Commerce and Government Matters Committee and the Judiciary Committee. He also held several leadership roles, being elected the chair of the Baltimore County delegation from 1995 - 2006, and serving as the Deputy Majority Whip from 1995 - 1998 and the House Co-Chair of the Maryland Veterans Caucus from 1997 - 2015.

“Sonny was the unofficial chair of the ‘previous question caucus.’ He was the one to move the previous question to vote,” Olszewski revealed. “When debate would languish on, the speaker would look down from the rostrum and nod, and we’d know Sonny was about to make a motion.”

East County Times readers may remember Minnick from his “Sonny Sez” columns, where he would communicate with his constituents about issues and votes before the General Assembly.

Constituents leaving online tributes to Minnick noted that he always respected them and their opinions, even when they disagreed.

Outside of his life as a delegate, Minnick was the owner of a popular restaurant on Sollers Point Road that bears his family name until he sold the establishment a few years ago. Locals remember Minnick’s as a great place to watch the Baltimore Colts games, with Minnick leading the crowd in a team cheer.

He was also a member of VFW Post 6694, American Legion Post 38, and the Knights of Columbus. Minnick attended Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church in Dundalk, where a funeral mass was held on Friday, Oct. 16. He was also remembered at visitations held at the Connelly Funeral Home of Dundalk on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 14 and 15.

And, Del. Metzgar revealed that he hopes to have the General Assembly observed a moment of silence in Minnick’s honor during the next session.

Minnick is survived by his wife, Barbara (nee Nastalski), children Christopher J. Minnick, Danielle Cogar and Barbara Morse, six grandchildren and a brother, Daniel Minnick.

Szeliga fundraiser draws big crowd amid US Senate exploration

Originally published in the East County Times, Vol. 20 No. 52 (Oct. 8, 2015), front page, continued on page 4.

- By Emily Blackner -

On Monday night, Oct. 5, hundreds of citizens, legislators and other political figures gathered at Boordy Vineyard in Hydes for the annual “birthday bash” fundraiser for Seventh District Delegate Kathy Szeliga. While the event’s attendance has been growing steadily for all seven years, undoubtedly some of the popularity this year was due to rumors of Del. Szeliga considering a bid for the U.S. Senate seat held by the retiring Barbara Mikulski.

“I am seriously considering a US Senate run,” she announced to enthusiastic applause. “Things are looking good.”

However, she stated that her final decision has not been made, but will be forthcoming sometime this fall. Speaking with the East County Times prior to the event, she elaborated on her motivations for seeking higher office.

“I’m looking at this race seriously because I look at my kids and my new baby granddaughter and I’m very troubled with the direction the world is headed in. I feel it is my duty and responsibility to do whatever I can to leave the state and the country in better shape for them,” she opined.

Specifically, she thinks a change of course is needed on the economy and national security. Szeliga, who just turned 54, has been in the Maryland General Assembly since 2010 and was selected by her fellow Republicans as Minority Whip, the second-most-powerful leadership position, in 2013. She serves on the Appropriations Committee, the Health and Human Resources Subcommittee, the Oversight Committee on Pensions, Maryland Veterans Caucus and the House Emergency Medical Services Workgroup. She is also a business owner heavily involved in her family’s construction business.

“Annapolis is a part-time legislature, so the wonderful thing about working as a delegate is that we have outside employment as well, so I bring an unique set of experience with both business and legislature,” she said.

This would contrast her with the Washington insiders currently in power in the nation’s capital, Szeliga believes.

“Washington is dysfunctional. We need new ideas, and as a working mom, I will bring new and fresh perspective to Washington,” she declared.

She also noted similarities between her background and Mikulski’s: “a tough, working-class Polish woman from the Baltimore region.”

As she evaluates her options in a potential Senate bid, Szeliga will look at a variety of factors, including the amount of support she is able to garner from both voters and party leaders.

“The support I’ve getting from leaders has been amazing,” she revealed. “In both the [state] House and Senate leaders are not only supporting me but strongly encouraging me to get in the race.”

Guests to the Boordy fundraiser included Senate Minority Leader J.B. Jennings (7) and House Minority Leader Nicholaus Kipke (31B), as well as fellow Delegates Ric Metzgar, Robin Grammer, and Bob Long (all R-6)- who she strongly supported in their 2014 campaign for the office- John Cluster (R-8), and others, as well as Anne Arundel County Executive Shuh, former Ambassador Ellen Sauerbrey and U.S. Congressman Andy Harris.

“We have a lot of people who do hard work putting forth their ideas,” Minority Leader Kipke told the crowd. “But every day over countless examples I’ve seen Kathy Szeliga do the harder job of helping other people succeed.”

He praised her for her efforts growing the party and ushering new Republicans to victory in November, calling her “authentic, real and conservative.”

Congressman Harris also threw his support behind Szeliga, noting that he believes the Republicans need a candidate who is from the Baltimore area and not the Washington suburbs, who has actually “signed the front of a paycheck and not the back” and who has political experience. Additionally, “The Republican party needs more women to run for office. Now, who do we know who fits that description?” he said. He added, “This Senate race is winnable,” but that it would take “the Hogan campaign on steroids” to achieve that victory.

Szeliga hopes to draw on supporters like the approximately 275 who were in attendance that night, she said.

She revealed to the East County Times that she has had conversations with prominent state Republicans like Michael Steele and Kendall Ehrlich, wife of former Gov. Robert Ehrlich, where they expressed strong support.

“We have a great turnout at this event; every year my support grows,” she said.

Other attendees commented that the crowd was three times bigger than they had seen before.

Amidst the accolades, one concern raised was the affect of a Senate campaign, which takes place statewide and would draw Szeliga out of her district, on her current duties as a delegate and as Minority Whip.

“We run on the off years, so my run for US Senate will not affect my job in Annapolis,” she assured supporters. “My commitment is to the caucus.”

When asked how she plans to strike that balance, she told the East County Times, “We well get that all figured out as we make a final decision.”

O’Malley launches presidential bid amid protesters

(Originally published the East County Times, Vol. 20, No. 35 [June 4, 2015], pp. 5 and 6)

- By Emily Blackner -Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley officially launched his campaign for U.S. president with a rally at Federal Hill Park in Baltimore City on Saturday, May 30.

The rally drew a modest crowd of supporters- including many families with young children- as well as protesters, who objected to O’Malley’s policies as mayor and governor.

“I believe O’Malley is not concerned about what is good for the people and is only concerned with furthering his own career,” said Andrew Fair, who was at the rally with a large sign that read “NO’Malley.” “As a Maryland native, I’ve experienced him in many offices in the state, and I think he left the city, as mayor, in bad shape and left the state in bad shape as governor.”

Another organized protest involved a group of African-American residents of the city who were objecting to the zero-tolerance policing policies O’Malley instituted as mayor that they claim led to the current tensions in the city. “What about police brutality? What about Freddie Gray?” protesters shouted over O’Malley’s prepared remarks.

Robert Fain, a Washington, D.C., resident who came up to the Baltimore event with a friend, was more positive. “It’s good to see other Democrats putting their hat in the ring,” he said. “I liked what I heard but I would like to see more, especially about the issue of race relations.”

The candidate did touch on the recent unrest in Baltimore City, attempting to tie the events into his larger campaign theme of rebuilding the American dream.

“It was a heartbreaking night in the life of our city. But there is something to be learned from that night, and there is something to be offered to our country out of those flames,” he said. “For what took place here was not only about race, not only about policing in America, it was about everything it is supposed to mean to be an American. The scourge of hopelessness that happened to ignite here that evening transcends race or geography.” He said that a lack of economic opportunity was at the root of much of the city’s- and country’s- troubles.

The supporters who introduced O’Malley onstage, including Yvette Lewis, who was Maryland Democratic Party chair until March 2015, praised the former governor for championing marriage equality in the state, getting the DREAM Act passed and keeping state college tuition from rising.

O’Malley himself took an urgent tone, lamenting the state of the economy, the political and economic inequality between elites and everyday citizens, and more. “There is a growing injustice in our country today. It is the gap between the strong and just country our children need for us to be and the country we are in danger of becoming,” he opined.

“This is the urgent work calling us forward today: to rebuild the truth of the American dream for all Americans. And to begin right now.”

He announced that his agenda would include strengthening the middle class through a higher minimum wage, more overtime pay and stronger unions; a jobs agenda focused on renewable energy; comprehensive immigration reform; new national security strategies that include stronger alliances with other nations in our hemisphere and a more engaged, collaborative foreign policy globally; reinstating Glass-Steagall (legislation from 1932 repealed in 1999 that separated the activities of commercial and investment banks), breaking up “too big to fail” banks and prosecuting those on Wall Street who are engaged in illegal activities; and rebuilding American cities.

“Whether the American dream becomes a lie, or becomes an ongoing truth that our children can enjoy, can build upon, can live, is really up to you and me,” O’Malley declared.

After the Baltimore rally, O’Malley traveled to an event in the early primary state of Iowa, where polling shows him trailing Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton by 55 points and Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont by 14.

County budget debate reveals school enrollment projection discrepancy

(Originally published in the East County Times,Vol. 20 No. 34 [May 28, 2015], page 5.)
- by Emily Blackner -

The Baltimore County Council approved the operating and capital budgets on May 21, leaving both largely unchanged from the proposal made by the county executive. However, in the course of the Council’s work on the budget, it discovered that Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) had changed the way it determines projected enrollment at its facilities, creating a discrepancy between the numbers the county was using to allocate funding and the ones the school system had generated.

With nearly half - $824 million - of the operating budget and 41.4 percent of the $375 million capital budget going towards schools, Council Chair Cathy Bevins (D-6) expressed concerns about this change in the methodology.

“Recently, BCPS changed the methodology for its 10-year enrollment projections, without consulting or communicating this change to the executive or the County Council,” she said in her Budget Message. “This new methodology changes enrollment projections at many of the county’s schools, which could have ripple effects across the system.”

The county is in the midst of a $1.3-billion, 10-year Schools for Our Future plan aiming to improve existing schools’ facilities and technology and add new seats county-wide to eliminate current and projected overcrowding. Funding for the various programs associated with this plan is allocated based on enrollment projections and other measures, and so “the Administration will need to re-evaulate its previous plans regarding future school construction and additions” based on these new figures, Bevins said in the speech.

BCPS spokesman Mychael Dickerson said that these changes were put into place just this school year. “We implemented this change to be even more accurate and to align with what the state is doing with their projections,” he explained.

County Executive Kevin Kamenetz (D) will ask the Council to approve an additional $50,000 to hire an outside consultant to review the competing methodologies to determine which one is more accurate. It was this expense that most bothered Bevins.

“This is both time and money that could be better spent elsewhere if there had been a more timely flow of information from BCPS,” she said in her speech. “We remind the public school system that it must communicate and cooperate with both branches of county government if the Schools for Our Future program is to be successful.”

Speaking with The East County Times, Bevins admitted, “I guess I didn’t mean to sound quite so accusatory. But 52 cents of every taxpayer dollar goes to the school system, and we don’t really tell them how to spend it. The conversation [about this methodology change] should have happened sooner.”

“We think that this methodology is better, but if they want to take an outside look at it, that’s fine,” Dickerson said.

When asked, neither Bevins nor Dickerson knew whether the BCPS projections were higher or lower than those the county had. The “Recommendations” section of the Council’s Budget Message notes, “Council members have specific concerns about projections for the out-years in particular districts, including in a number of districts that previously showed no official signs of being threatened by overcrowding.”

Bevins also stressed that “we on the Council have a wonderful relationship with the [BCPS] superintendent overall.

“Fifty thousand dollars is not all that much considering the total budget,” she continued, “but it’s something we only have to spend because the administration had one sense of direction where we were going and the schools had another. The changed methodology affects our projections, affects development and where seats will be added. We have a right to know if their projections are different from the county’s.”

County Executive proposes $1.9 billion operating budget for 2016

(Originally published in the East County Times, Vol. 20 No. 29 [April 23, 2015], page 5.)
- by Emily Blackner -

Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz unveiled his proposed Fiscal Year 2016 budget as part of the annual State of the County address delivered on Tuesday, April 14, in the County Council chambers.

The general fund operating budget proposed is just over $1.9 billion dollars, which represents a 4.7 percent increase over the 2015 budget. Kamenetz said that this figure is within the County Council’s spending affordability guidelines and is accomplished without raising property or income taxes. The capital budget is $375 million.

Specific spending areas seeing an increase include PAYGO contributions, up $32 million; education, with a $46.8 million increase and public safety, with nearly $3.8 million more. An additional $10.8 million in expenses is associated with Kamenetz’s proposal to give all county employees a cost-of-living allowance (COLA) raise of three percent. Certificated Board of Education employees would receive an additional two percent raise.

Within the public safety umbrella, the county will devote $800,000 to add four new medic units to the fire department and $300,000 for two new division chiefs. Subsidies for volunteer EMS providers are increased by $250,000 to almost $2 million to encourage companies to fully staff their medic units.

Sixty percent of the county’s operating budget is devoted to funding schools, colleges and libraries. Although the Division of Library Services is slated to receive a cut of $315,470, education funding would increase by 5.66 percent. Part of that is the $155,334,000 devoted to capital improvement projects in the school system. $16.33 million of that is for roof repair and replacement in county schools, including Middlesex Elementary, Chesapeake High School and Essex Elementary in District 7 and Parkville High School in District 6. Patapsco High School will also receive funding for air conditioning. BCPS’s ongoing digital conversion initiative would receive $5.6 million.

“Once again, County Executive Kamenetz has shown his commitment to Baltimore County Public Schools,” said BCPS Superintendent S. Dallas Dance. “Our partnership has never been stronger.”

And, $2.8 million has been pledged towards building a new elementary school in the northeast area of the county. The initial sum covers design and engineering, and an additional $45.6 million would be spent in fiscal year 2017 to actually construct the school.

“I am very pleased that the county executive listened to the concerns of parents in northeastern Baltimore County and has included money for this desperately-needed new school,” stated Councilman David Marks (R-5), who has championed this project for years in the face of overcrowding in current facilities. “As we have seen recently, there is near-universal support for new schools in the Perry Hall area. Construction of an elementary school is an important step forward.”

PAYGO, or the pay-as-you-go funding system that allows the county to pay cash up-front for projects rather than take out loans, received a lot of attention in Kamenetz’s speech. The budget includes increased PAYGO contributions in anticipation of projects slated for future fiscal years, bringing the funds up to $123.3 million. Another name for PAYGO funds is a fund balance or even a surplus. Kamenetz said that the credit rating agencies look at the fund balance as one of the criteria when assigning credit ratings to the nation’s counties. Baltimore County is one of only 38 counties to receive a triple-A rating from all three rating agencies, and Kamenetz said it is due to our PAYGO practices.

“Some people misunderstand why we keep a fund balance. They would like to use these funds to pay for programs, projects and even pay raises that involve ongoing, recurring costs; but we can’t guarantee surplus funds will be available the next year,” Kamenetz explained. “That is why Baltimore County has always used its fund balance to pay for one-time projects, not ongoing expenses.”

Environmental initiatives across the county continue to receive strong support, even as the Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability sees its funding decrease by just over $230,000. A total of $10.9 million has been allocated for the waterway improvement fund, including money for watershed improvement projects on the east side ($100,000 for the Gunpowder watershed, $250,000 for the Patapsco watershed and $200,000 for the Back River watershed).

Other budget points of interest include an increase in funding of $2.8 million for the Community College of Baltimore County system “to prevent tuition increases,” according to Kamenetz; nearly $25 million towards road resurfacing, with more money allotted in 2017; $330,000 for background checks for recreation council volunteers; $100,000 more for the Department of Social Services for cold weather emergency programs including warming centers, shelters and utility assistance; and money to provide turf fields for Merritt Point Park. The Dundalk Heritage Trail will not receive money in Fiscal Years 2016 or 2017 but is slated to get $1 million in 2018.

The County Council has to approve the budget, and can make changes or cuts to this proposal. It will begin its formal deliberations at a hearing on April 28 at 6 p.m.

General Assembly approves $200,000 in grants for Angel Park

(Originally published in The East County Times, Vol. 20, No. 28 [April 16, 2015], pages 2 + 6)
- by Emily Blackner -

Both the Maryland House and Senate voted to approve bond bills in the amount of $100,000 to help finance the construction of Angel Park, an all-access playground planned for Perry Hall. Legislators from the 7th and 8th districts collaborated to get the measures approved, netting $200,000 toward the $1.5-million project.

Delegate Kathy Szeliga (R-7) noted that this was a bipartisan effort, with herself and fellow Republicans Rick Impallaria, John Cluster and Christian Miele working with Democrat Eric Bromwell to sponsor the measure. Across the state house in the Senate, Democrat Kathy Klausmeier and Republican J.B. Jennings pushed for their bill.

“I’m thrilled. I really can’t be more proud of the community and all the groups that have come together,” Del. Szeliga said. “I believe this park will be something Perry Hall is proud to have.

“Passing legislation is never easy, but there was a lot of support behind this,” she continued. “The Assembly felt that, number one, the project was funded to such a tremendous level by the community, when a lot of times you get people who say ‘well, give us this money and then we’ll do fundraisers.’ And number two, it was shovel ready.”

According to Angel Park Planning Co-Chair Kelli Szyczbor, the campaign has $823,000 in the bank, with another $120,000 pledged. This leaves $400,000 to go to reach their fundraising total.

Szyczbor and three other committee members travelled to Annapolis on Saturday, March 14, to testify in both the House and the Senate about their project and why it should receive funds.

“It was a neat experience testifying in Annapolis. You only get a few minutes to sum up this awesome project that you’ve spent so much time on,” she commented. She also noted that Szeliga and Jennings, who introduced them, as well as Bromwell and Klausmeier were very supportive throughout the process.

“[The legislators] said they could see our passion for it, and that it is going to be a unique playground,” Szyczbor recalled.

As previously reported in the East County Times, Angel Park will be an all-access playground, meaning that children of all abilities, including those with special needs, can play together. The equipment and layout will be designed to accommodate everyone’s needs under the guidance of New York-based Leathers & Associates. The staff at Leathers & Associates, along with Angel Park committee volunteers, solicited suggestions from over 4,000 area schoolchildren to find out what elements they would like to see in a playground, and many of these ideas were included in the final design.

The park will be located on 2.5 acres of land acquired by the county through a land swap agreement in 2012. Also on the property will be a 200-seat amphitheater that will allow community groups to present outdoor concerts, plays and other shows. The amphitheater is financed by a gift from the Cole Foundation.

The 2012 land transfer was approved by County Councilman David Marks (R-5), who Szczybor says has been a big supporter of the project from the beginning, offering advice and guidance to the committee.

“We’ve worked with our state legislators to obtain funding for worthwhile projects in the past, and I applaud my colleagues for supporting Angel Park,” he stated. “The community has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to build Angel Park, and I believe government should support that type of private sector support.”

The website, www.Angel-Park.org, allows for community members to donate money or pay for individual pieces of equipment in honor of their loved ones, the angels we all have in our lives for whom the park is named, said Szczybor.

For her, that angel is her son Ryan, who she lost to leukemia at the age of 15 months.

“This whole project is all about the community. My son’s memory is what’s pushing me and inspiring me, but in the end it’s about the whole community and coming together,” she declared.

Szczybor said that they hope to begin construction on Angel Park the first week of September. Hundreds of community volunteers will be needed to build the park, she said. Those interested in helping can visit the Angel Park website or contact Michelle Streckfus at shellestreck@gmail.com.

District 6 delegation sees success with Night in Annapolis, bill passage

(Originally published in The East County Times, Vol. 20, No. 25 [March 26, 2015], pages 5 + 7)
- By Emily Blackner -

The General Assembly delegation from District 6 and 7 welcomed constituents to Annapolis on Monday night, March 23, for the District Night in Annapolis.

This free event was designed to give residents of the district the opportunity to meet their elected officials where they do their work and to observe a General Assembly session. From 6 - 8 p.m., a reception was set up in the Thomas V. Mike Miller Senate Office Building’s President’s Conference Center for visitors to eat food and meet fellow District residents. The elected officials milled about the room speaking to the voters, who came out in large numbers; the room was standing-room only for portions of the night with over 175 constituents in attendance. There were also slideshows featuring facts about the delegates and senators, the General Assembly in general and the legislation introduced this session.

The evening was hosted by the entire District 6 and 7 Delegation, but Sen. Johnny Ray Salling (R-6) spearheaded the effort. “On behalf of myself and Delegates Metzgar, Long and Grammer, we want to thank each and every one of our constituents who joined us for District 6 Night in Annapolis,” Salling stated. “It was a great success and we hope to continue hosting events like this for the hard-working residents of the sixth district for years to come.”

The delegation also welcomed Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford as its special guest for the evening.

“It’s good to be here- well, it’s good to be anywhere, but I was pleased to accept this invitation from these fine representatives,” Rutherford said.

Other notable attendees were 7th District County Councilman Todd Crandell and Al Mendelsohn, chair of the Baltimore County Republican Central Committee.

Senators Salling and J.B. Jennings (R-7) attended for most of the night; however, the House of Delegates was called into session earlier than originally planned, so Dels. Ric Metzgar (R-6), Bob Long (R-6), Robin Grammer (R-6), Kathy Szeliga (R-7), Pat McDonough (R-7) and Rick Impallaria (R-7) had to leave early to attend.

“The House is going in a little early, and that always makes me a little nervous thinking of what they will get up to,” joked Rutherford.

That evening’s session addressed several topics, including a discussion of fracking in Maryland as well as a second reading vote on HB 644, the Welcome Home, Stay Home Act, which was introduced by Del. Metzgar. The bill authorizes county, municipal and city governments to grant a tax credit for senior citizens age 65 years and older who have lived in their homes for 40 years and for all retired members of the armed forces aged 65 or older. The credit would last for up to five years and equal as much as 20 percent of the total property tax assessed. Monday’s vote cleared the way for a third and final reading, which took place on Tuesday morning and resulted in the measure’s passage by a vote of 138 - 0.

“It passed unanimously; not a single red dot was on that board,” Metzgar said. “The word that comes to mind is ‘awesome.’ It was something that I ran on; I’m a strong advocate for veterans and an even stronger advocate for seniors.”

The bill’s initial title is the Welcome Home, Stay Home Act because when first introduced in February, it also included people who had previously resided in Maryland, left the state and then returned in its list of individuals who would be eligible for the tax credit. That version made it out of the Ways and Means Committee with only three “nay” votes, but the general House membership expressed concerns and the language about returning residents was removed from the bill after its first reading.

“They struck a couple of things, but it’s still a workable bill. The important thing to know is you got a bill through by a freshman delegate,” Metzgar said. He also noted that the individual counties and municipalities can decide how - or perhaps whether- to grant the credit.

The bill will now be introduced in the Senate and follow the same process.

“They seem to be moving pretty fast,” Metzgar said of his colleagues in the other chamber. “Now I’d want to urge people to call their senators and ask them to support House Bill 644.”