Dear Editor:

The end of the 2007 Maryland General Assembly has come and we did many things that will benefit the state for years to come. Although no comprehensive health care plan passed the General Assembly, I feel that we made great strides into the right direction of health care for children and working families. As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, I was present at hearings on several pieces of legislation that had various different ideas as to how this state can help expand health care to those who do not have it currently. Through these bills we now have a roadmap for the 2008 session and I am very optimistic that we will come out with a plan that will work quite well for this state.

One success regarding health insurance, which I supported, was a bill to require private insurers and other insurance plans to allow dependents up to the age of 25 to remain on their parents’ plan. This will help to close the gap that occurs when a dependent has graduated college but has yet to gain employment where they receive health benefits. When going door to door in 2006, this was an issue that I heard about from many of the residents of the Eighth Legislative District.

During the 2008 Legislative session when we look at comprehensive health care coverage, we will look at many different possible sources of revenue for funding such an initiative. I do not believe that we should lock ourselves into just one source, which can result in problems if the revenue level of that source declines severely.

I encourage anyone who would like to voice their opinion on health care expansion to contact my office at Katherine.klausmeier@senate.state.md.us or (410) 841-3620.

Senator Katherine Klausmeier

D-Baltimore County