Public Health and the Maryland Legislature

As the year starts, so does the legislative session for General Assembly for the State of Maryland in Annapolis. One of the unique aspects of the School of Public Health at the University of Maryland is that we have the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute for Public Policy that works every year to assist legislators and advocate on public health issues. We sat down with Wes Queen, the coordinator of the institute, to get a legislative briefing on the upcoming session and how the School of Public Health is involved with advocacy.

What does the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute for Public Policy do?

Wes Queen: This institute was created in the Center on Aging and is primarily responsible for engaging Baby Boomers who have retired from active careers to become involved in civic engagement and lifelong learning. We recruit individuals, interview them, and bring them to campus for trainings. The trainings take place in September through December and introduce the Legacy Leaders to the Maryland legislative process. Then, starting in January, the Legacy Leaders volunteer for a minimum of two days per week in Maryland General Assembly legislator offices during the 90-day legislative session. The program provides volunteers to the legislators and governmental agencies. The Legacy program provides an opportunity for both the individual to give back to the community through volunteerism, as well as the university to meet its commitment to community service.

How are you involved in advocating at the legislature?

Wes Queen: I always had an interest in public policy and advocacy while I was working in the private sector. Ten years ago, I had the opportunity to join the School of Public Health and develop that interest into a second career. Part of what I do includes administering the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute for Public Policy, coordinating the Legacy Leaders in the legislators’ offices, checking on them through the legislative session, building relationships with the legislators, as well as being the administrator/office manager for the University of System Maryland chancellor’s off

ice on legislative affairs. For the School of Public Health, I have the responsibility of looking at health policy and legislation in Annapolis, making recommendations, and analyzing what impact it is going to have on the school. I also arrange visits for students to visit the legislators and arrange for faculty to visit and sometimes testify. I really enjoy it. It helps to keep the legislators informed that we’re interested in public policy and we’re here to help.

Why is it important for the School of Public Health to be engaged in advocacy at the state legislature?

Wes Queen: As a state institution, a large part of our funding comes from the legislature. And the health funding is probably a third of the state’s budget. So it is natural for us to be involved as much as possible.

What are some of the key issues before the legislature this session that will affect public health?

Wes Queen: Well, everything revolves around the budget. We know there is a budget deficit and the governor is not going to recommend an increase in taxes to reduce the deficit, so there are going to be significant cuts. With health being a third of the budget and education another third, they are going to cut the budget in those two key areas. So discussions are going to focus on how much to cut those two key areas. For education and health, there are a number of formulas that determine how much money goes to these various areas. If the governor proposes changing these formulas, there’s going to be a discussion around that.

On the revenue side, what is going to be discussed is taxes. The governor said he is not going to recommend an increase in taxes, but that doesn’t mean that the legislature can’t pass a bill to do so. On the revenue side, they are looking at an increase in the alcohol tax. We have not had an increase in the alcohol tax for about 30 years or more.

In regards to public health, there’s a provision in the federal health care bill that each state has to establish a health insurance exchange, which is a market place where people can go purchase health insurance. The governor established a coordinating council that issued a report outlining the health insurance exchange for Maryland. Now there needs to be legislation to create this exchange.

Another big discussion is going to be about same sex marriages. There is a better chance for same sex marriages of passing because there was a change in the committee composition that has jurisdiction over it.

Another big issue related to the funding, is a suggestion that the amount that hospitals now pay towards Medicaid should be increased. Then if the governor recommends cutting Medicaid, there’s a fund that hospitals have to help fund Medicaid patient care.

How can students, faculty and staff have an impact on those issues?

Wes Queen: Students can be involved. Those who have the time and interest can work as interns in the legislature. I think the best way students can get involved is by helping in the legislature. One duty as an intern may be researching bills that are health related. If the students are too busy during the semester, then they can volunteer during the summer in a legislator’s office.

For faculty, when the opportunity presents itself, they should testify on a piece of legislation, inform a legislator that they are available to provide information or invite the legislator to campus. They can give presentations on pieces of legislation or the impacts of legislation.

Staff can be involved by being informed and they could advocate to their legislator on a particular issue.