Serafini

Del. Andrew A. Serafini, R-Washington, is holding a public forum May 23 to talk about new changes to the state retirement and pension system. Two representatives of the State Retirement Agency are scheduled to join Serafini: Executive Director R. Dean Kenderdine and J. Howard Pleines, the director of legislation and research. The forum will be at South Hagerstown High School from 7 to 9 p.m., according to Rebecca Fishack, Serafini’s assistant. Serafini said he called the meeting because there wouldn’t be enough time to talk in-depth about the topic at post-legislative wrap-up forums May 11. The meeting is free to the public, members of which will have a chance to ask questions.

Del. Andrew A. Serafini, R-Washington, is trying to keep his legislative colleagues informed about the state's pension system shortfall. Serafini has made the pension gap one of his top issues since he became a delegate in 2008. As of June 2010, the state's pension system was funded at about 64 percent — well below 80 percent, which is considered a safe level, according to a report prepared by a commission studying the issue. On Tuesday, Serafini gave an informal presentation on the state pension system to a group of delegates in Annapolis.

Washington County Republican Del. Andrew A. Serafini Tuesday presented several bills that would revamp the state's underfunded pension system. Maryland's leaders are wrestling with how to handle $19 billion in unfunded pension liabilities and another $16 billion in unfunded liabilities for retiree health care. Earlier this legislative session, at the request of the House Republican Caucus, Serafini led a work group that explored the problem and possible solutions and heard suggestions from various labor and government organizations.

Del. Andrew A. Serafini soundly defeated two Republican opponents Tuesday in his quest to win a full term in the Maryland House of Delegates. With all 16 precincts in Subdistrict 2A reporting, plus early-voting results, Serafini had 2,569 votes. Denny Stouffer had 1,178 votes and William J. Wivell, a Washington County commissioner, had 1,052 votes. Serafini now will face Neil Becker, who was not opposed in the Democratic primary. The general election is Nov. 2. Serafini said the major issue in the race was the challenge the state faces as it struggles with its financial health.

After nearly five legislative sessions as the Washington County delegation's chairman, Del. LeRoy E. Myers is handing control over to Del. Andrew A. Serafini. On Wednesday, the delegation picked Serafini as the next chairman and Del. Neil C. Parrott as the next vice chairman. Myers said it's time to let someone else be in charge. "I think I've tried to do my best," he said during a brief delegation meeting Wednesday morning. While he was a delegate, Christopher B. Shank, now a senator, was the delegation chairman through 2006.

When Del. Andrew A. Serafini tells the truth, his colleagues, including many of his fellow Republicans, head for the hills. The message - that the state could be brought to its knees by its gelatinous beer belly of a pension system - is considered toxic, especially in an election year. But Serafini is less concerned with his political career than he is with the $1 trillion question: Why should public pensions be sacred when just about every private pension in America has been scaled back or eliminated altogether?

ANNAPOLIS -- Del. Andrew A. Serafini warned fellow lawmakers Friday about the dangers of borrowing money to pay for the state's capital budget. Serafini, R-Washington, said $1.1 billion of the $1.7 billion state capital budget approved Friday by the House of Delegates is paid for with borrowed money, which will result in even larger sums of debt over the long term from interest payments. Maryland currently has about $5.4 billion in state debt, which results in $692 million annually in principal and interest.

HAGERSTOWN -- A Maryland delegate and investment adviser discussed the state of the economy during a luncheon Friday at the Associated Builders and Contractors office on North Locust Street in Hagerstown. About 15 people attended the event. Del. Andrew A. Serafini, R-Washington, said although the national unemployment rate is approaching 10 percent, it is nowhere near the 25 percent unemployment rate the country suffered during the Great Depression of the 1930s. "I don't want to dismiss that and say (the unemployment rate)

Md. House OKs death penalty restrictions; bill goes to O'Malley ANNAPOLIS -- Del. Andrew A. Serafini offered an amendment to the death penalty bill Thursday that would have allowed those who kill correctional officers to be sentenced to death. The amendment was defeated 75-61, but received the most support of any of the amendments offered Thursday. All five delegates representing Washington County supported the measure. Serafini, R-Washington, said he offered the amendment because without it, there is little to deter an inmate serving a life sentence to continue killing while in prison.

Maryland Del. Andrew A. Serafini, R-Washington, has planned two town meetings to hear from constituents. Serafini represents Subdistrict 2A, which includes the towns of Smithsburg and Williamsport. The first meeting will be at the Community Building in Byron Memorial Park in Williamsport on Monday from 7 to 8 p.m. The second will be at the Smithsburg fire hall on Nov. 6 from 7 to 8 p.m. Local residents are encouraged to share their concerns or views with Serafini before the 2009 Maryland General Assembly begins in January.

Del. LeRoy E. Myers, R-Washington/Allegany, announced Wednesday that he will not seek re-election to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2014, ending a run as a state legislator that began with an upset victory in 2002 over longtime House Speaker Casper R. Taylor, a Western Maryland Democratic heavyweight. Myers, who is 61, is getting ready for a second act in politics. “You can expect an announcement in September,” Myers said, adding that he was looking at several options.

In an effort to provide open and transparent government, the Washington County delegation to the Maryland General Assembly will be hosting a post-legislative public forum on Thursday, May 9, 2013. The forum will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be held in Room 212 of the Career Programs Building on the campus of Hagerstown Community College. The delegation members will give a brief overview of the 2013 legislative session and afterwards, audience members will be able to ask questions. The event is free and open to the public.

Washington County lawmakers are hosting a public forum Thursday evening to discuss the 2013 legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly and answer queries from residents. The post-legislative forum, which is being held at Hagerstown Community College, gives constituents a chance to question county lawmakers. “This is our chance to have an open and transparent government so that citizens of the county who have questions can ask them,” said Del. Andrew A. Serafini, R-Washington, chairman of the Washington County delegation.

Washington County's state legislators said that the 2013 session of the Maryland General Assembly was a productive one for the county, with many delegation bills being approved. The county also got a $1.55 million share of a wealth-based grant called the disparity grant for fiscal year 2014. Getting the grant money was one of the top priorities for the delegation during the session, which ended earlier this month. The disparity grant money comes to the county through the budget process, with delegation members trying various strategies to ensure money for the county.

Minutes after the Maryland General Assembly adjourned for the final time in 2013 last week, two Washington County delegates headed out the door, even as many of their colleagues readied for the late-night parties in Annapolis that typically follow the end of the session. Del. Andrew A. Serafini, R-Washington, and Del. LeRoy E. Myers, R-Washington/Allegany, said they were eager to get back home, and also keen to get away from the State House. A few days later, Myers seemed more upbeat as he tended to business at Myers Building Systems, a Clear Spring-based general contracting firm that he owns.

When it comes to figuring out who should get credit for bringing Washington County a share of a wealth-based grant called the disparity grant, it depends on whom you ask. House Speaker Michael E. Busch, D-Anne Arundel, credits John Donoghue, D-Washington, with bringing home disparity funding for Washington County. But Republican members of the county delegation, and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, D-Calvert/Prince George's, credits a wider circle of people, including local legislators such as Christopher B. Shank, R-Washington.

Legislators in Annapolis spent a marathon day Monday in sessions spread throughout the day and the evening as they addressed business one last time before the Maryland General Assembly adjourned at midnight. Republican lawmakers from Washington County expressed fears that the state had veered too far to the left during the current session with a gun-control measure, the repeal of the death penalty and a hike in the gas tax. But Gov. Martin O'Malley appeared to be what could be called a celebratory mood, thanking Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, D-Calvert/Prince George's, and Speaker of the House Michael E. Busch, D-Anne Arundel, for the smooth and orderly passages of some of the measures.

A bill that would give Maryland farmers a 10-year break from new state and local environmental regulations related to water quality if they agree to take part in a state program to reduce nutrient and sediment discharges into the water was heard Tuesday before a House committee. The bill, introduced by state Sen. Thomas M. Middleton, D-Charles, has cleared the Senate and has the support of Gov. Martin O'Malley. Del. Andrew A. Serafini, chairman of the Washington County delegation to the Maryland General Assembly, also supports the bill.

Seasoned legislators in Annapolis know a lot can happen in the last week of a session in the Maryland General Assembly. Money can show up for capital projects after fierce lobbying. Bills with momentum can stall as other issues take precedence. For the 2013 session of the Maryland General Assembly, most of the bills sponsored by the Washington County delegation appear to be on their way to final passage. But several key issues that could bring state money to the county in the form of grants or money related to capital projects likely will be hammered out this week and early next week before the session ends April 8. Disparity grant Del. John P. Donoghue said earlier this week he is holding out hope for getting $100,000 related to planning for downtown revitalization through the state's supplemental budget.

With less than two weeks remaining in the 2013 session of the Maryland General Assembly, Washington County legislators are banking on the passage of a measure cleared by a senate committee that would bring the county $1.55 million in fiscal year 2014 as part of a wealth-based grant known as the disparity grant. However, the prospect for success is uncertain, and the amount is less than the county would have received if it had remained eligible for a share of the grant. Additionally, prospects for passage of a House bill seeking relief are grim.   County lawmakers have been looking at various avenues in the General Assembly to get the county a share of the grant.