The Preakness, pre-kindergarten, lead poisoning, and Enoch Pratt top my priority list this summer.

Pimlico Race Course should remain the long-term home of the Preakness. The study of that issue is underway, under the auspices of the Maryland Stadium Authority. If the report recommends building a new facility at Pimlico, my job will be to help make those recommendations a reality in Governor Hogan’s capital budget.

Attending kindergarten was not mandatory in Maryland until 2002. Now we must decide whether to do the same for pre-kindergarten. The benefits to 4-year olds are clear. They begin kindergarten with important skills and are less likely to fall behind their peers. How do we pay for this? How does the need compare with other education objectives?

None of my lead poisoning bills passed last session. My efforts this summer should lead to a different outcome next year. People on all sides of the issue have been meeting under the auspices of the state judiciary. Our recommendations, including compromises, will carry the weight of our diversity.

Libraries have become our window to both the printed word and the Internet. That’s the case in Roland Park, Edmondson Village, and the Bronx. House Bill 1401 provides additional funding for Pratt branches that increase their operating hours. Public and philanthropic dollars are needed to make this happen.

See http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/12/opinion/too-poor-to-afford-the-internet.html?ref=opinion&_r=0

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