Legislative Session 2015 Update from local District 23 Senator Peters

Dear Neighbor, Last year the Legislature created the nonpartisan Maryland Economic Development and Business Climate Commission, more commonly known as the “Augustine Commission.” The Commission is made up of leaders from the business community, organized labor, and various interest groups, and was created to examine Maryland’s current economic development structure and incentive programs, and to make recommendations to keep Maryland competitive in economic and private sector growth and prosperity. The Commission was lead by Norman Augustine. Mr Augustine is the retired Chairman and CEO of the Lockheed Martin Corporation, the nation’s largest defense contractor, and a former Under Secretary of the U.S. Army, President of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a former member of the board of trustees of Princeton and MIT. Chairman Augustine is a globally recognized expert in the business and technology fields who has been a trusted advisor to numerous businesses, organizations, States, and Presidents. Last month Mr. Augustine and the Commission released a series of recommendations aimed at improving Maryland’s business climate and growing our economy. As a result, my colleagues and I in the General Assembly introduced a series of bills based on the Commission’s recommendations in order to encourage both large and small business growth in Maryland, reduce burdensome regulations, and provide Marylanders with the resources and training they need through apprenticeship programs to get jobs in our state’s growing industries. You can read through the full report by clicking here. The House and Senate will hold joint hearings on these bills. You can watch these hearings live online starting at by clicking here. It remains a great honor to represent our community in the Maryland Senate. If I can be of service to you or anyone you know please call my office at 301-858-3631, or email me at Douglas.Peters@senate.state.md.us. Best Regards, Senator Douglas J.J. Peters District 23, Maryland