Tracking cancer in Maryland
Alarmed by Maryland's high cancer death rate, the House of Delegates enacted legislation yesterday that will help researchers track cancer cases.
The Schaefer administration bill, approved by the House by a 132-2 vote, will require hospitals, labs and other health-care facilities to report all newly diagnosed cancer cases to a computerized registry.
Maryland has the highest cancer death rate of any state. Proponents of the bill say that keeping track of cancer cases on a confidential basis will provide vital information in research. "This will hopefully provide us with some meaningful information as to why Maryland has that unfortunate distinction," said David S. Iannucci, Gov. William Donald Schaefer's chief legislative officer.
Kelly to the GOP
Francis X. Kelly, a former state senator from Baltimore County, is expected to announce today that he is leaving the Democratic Party to become a Republican.
Mr. Kelly will hold a news conference this morning in Annapolis after a meeting of the legislature's Republican Caucus. He deferred any comment on his plans yesterday.
The 51-year-old insurance executive served in the Senate from 1979 until last year when he was defeated in the Democratic primary by Janice A. Piccinini.
Black Marsh state park
The House of Delegates enacted legislation last night that will convert Baltimore County's Black Marsh into a state park.
By a 125-3 vote, the House gave its approval to a Senate version of the plan to create North Point State Park. Within the 1,310-acre park, about 667 acres will be maintained in a protected state as Black Marsh Wildland.
The legislation, which still must be approved by Governor Schaefer, gives the state Department of Natural Resources control of the park and authority to convert dirt roads to pedestrian trails and construct two observation platforms.
Quote of the day
"We think you can walk away from this legislative session saying you've done the best you possibly can given the fiscal condition of the state."
-- Delegate Charles J. Ryan Jr.,
D-Prince George's, House Appropriations
Committee chairman, addressing
the House on the budget
Today
10 a.m.: House and Senate convene, State House.
1 p.m.: Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee holds hearing on House bill that would require Maryland to adopt a vehicle emissions program comparable to one in place in California, Room 300, Senate Office Building.
1 p.m.: House Environmental Matters Committee considers bill to establish state commission on infant mortality, Room 160, House Office Building.
There are seven days remaining in the 1991 General Assembly session.