Haddaway-Riccio Named 1st Vice President

(Annapolis, MD) – The Women Legislators of Maryland have announced their slate of officers for 2010-2011 and have elected Delegate Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio (R-District 37B) as 1st Vice President.

During her career in the Maryland House of Delegates, Haddaway-Riccio has served in numerous positions with the Women’s Caucus including co-chair of the legislative policy committee and 2nd Vice President. “I am truly honored to have been elected to this position and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on our priority issues,” Haddaway-Riccio said.

The Women Legislators of Maryland was founded in 1972 and was the first statewide organization of its kind in the country. It is informally referred to as the “Women’s Caucus” and serves as a forum for female senators and delegates in the Maryland General Assembly. Since that time, their mission has been to improve public policy that affects women’s lives and to increase the number of women elected and appointed to public office.

Dems invite GOP to Budget Discussion

If there was ever a time to come together on Maryland’s budget woes, now would be the time. With a cumulative $8 billion deficit by 2015 on the horizon, we have to make systemic changes in Maryland’s budget unless we want future generations to inherit the burden.

Recently the Democrat leadership of the Maryland General Assembly invited the Republicans to share their ideas on how to resolve the structural deficit. The House Republican Caucus accepted that invitation and unveiled a plan that would end the structural deficit, fully fund the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund, eliminate the need for state employee furloughs and allow Maryland to roll back the tax increases from 2007.

I realize that with 188 legislators there are 188 different opinions on how to balance the budget and I also realize that the devil is always in the details. However, the challenge for this legislative session will be choosing options from both sides of the aisle that will ultimately result in a balanced budget without the need for future tax increases. While some have chosen to stand on the sidelines and pick the Republican plan apart or criticize the Democrats for inviting us to the table, the exercise was never meant to be a fait accompli. Rather, it is a starting point. In the words of one Democrat Senator who attended the meeting, “we need all hands on deck” and in the words of Ronald Reagan, “all great change in America begins at the dinner table”.

Haddaway-Riccio & Eckardt Donate Children's Books

(Annapolis, Md.) – Delegates Addie Eckardt and Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio recently met with the Cat in the Hat in honor of Read Across America. The two delegates presented him with donation of children’s books that will go to schools in their district. Read Across America is an annual event sponsored by the National Education Association and is an awareness campaign that calls for children to celebrate reading. It is always held on or around Dr. Seuss’s birthday.

“Reading is essential and the key to success. Dr. Seuss’s contribution through his books captivates minds and motivates our children," Delegate Eckardt said. "There is no better gift than reading to children.”

“Celebrating the birthday of Dr. Seuss is a great way to bring attention to the importance of literacy,” Haddaway said. “I gladly donate books each year in hopes that they will inspire children in our community to read and learn.”

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Haddaway Meets Perino

Delegate Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio and other members of the Republican Caucus met with former White House Press Secretary Dana Perino this week.