Alumni delegate profile

Delegate Karen S. Montgomery:

Democrat, District 14, Montgomery County. First elected to the House of Delegates in 2002. Member of the House since 2003. Member, Health and Government Operations Committee (Government Operations Subcommittee, Public Health and Long Term Care Committee). President, Women Legislators of Maryland.

Born in Middletown, New York, August 23, 1935. Western High School, Baltimore, Maryland, 1953; Towson University, B.S., Science Education, 1957. Pre-med studies, University of Maryland; George Washington University, M.F.A., 1976.

Full-Time Legislator. Director of Development, Olney Theatre Center for the Arts (1999-2001 and 1989-94); Director of Personal Giving for the Arthritis Foundation (1996-99); Director, Arts for the Aging,Inc. (1994-96); Development Coordinator for Bruce Adams Campaign for County Executive (1994); Assistant Director, Development, National Rehabilitation Hospital (1987-89); Public Programs Coordinator, National Building Museum (1985-86). Faculty Member, George Washington University Fine Arts Department (teaching sculpture and design), (1974-87). Married; 3 children, 4 grandchildren.

Delegate Montgomery says of the 2009 Legislative Session: "As Americans, I know we can pull together in the upcoming hard times. It is my hope we can hold the line in further cuts in Developmental Disabilities and Education. However, all of us will have to be flexible in how we live our lives - using less energy, fewer cars, more work /study and less money, among other belt tightening measures. We can, and must, adjust to several years of fewer luxuries and more hard work. We can do it - as did our grandparents and earlier ancestors. So let's get to work!"

Annapolis office: 222 House Office Building, Annapolis, MD 21401-1912.  Phone: (410) 841-3110 or (301) 858-3110. E-mail: karen.montgomery@house.state.md.us

To view a list of all TU Alumni Delegates, please click here. 

New in the News

Read up on the latest higher education issues that have appeared in the news recently:

• House subcommittees begin making budget cuts-- The Capital
• UM head favors tuition increase-- The Baltimore Sun
• Facility may see major funding cuts-- The Towerlight
• Senate backs in-state tuition for Md. Guard-- The Baltimore Sun
• Tuition freeze stays - for now-- The Gazette
• Md. Senate rejects bill tied to Morgan State-Towson MBA dispute-- The Baltimore Sun
• Maryland budget cutting begins, again-- Daily Record
• Thank you for advocating for UB/Towson University MBA program-- TU Newsroom

Towson University 2010

Towson University's partnership with Harford Community College to provide 4-year and graduate educational opportunities will soon expand to include a new academic complex on the HCC campus. Currently, TU's main campus enrolls more than 1,700 students from Harford County, and Harford Community College serves as TU's third largest feeder school for transfers.

Towson offers undergraduate programs in Elementary and Special Education at the Higher Education and Conference Center at HEAT in Harford County, as well as graduate programs in Elementary & Secondary Education, Human Resource Development and Instructional Technology. The new building complex on the campus of HCC, depicted here in an artist's rendering, would provide 58,000 sq. feet with 3 to 4 stories of academic space, an atrium/lounge area and a retail convenience center.

Towson Learning Network |  2010 Guiding Principles |  Baltimore Sun article

Legislative Bills

Budget Update:
The House Appropriations Committee made its final decision on the State's budget on Friday. HB100, the budget, and HB101, the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act were presented to the House of Delegates on Monday evening. House members will begin debate on the budget on Wednesday. The reports can be accessed at the following links: House Summary Report and Amended HB100 Budget Bill.

Specific information as it pertains to USM:
The Committee approved a Department of Legislative Services (DLS) recommendation to cut more than $5.6 million in general funds under the pretext of an anticipated "under attainment" in the Higher Education Investment Fund (HEIF). The System argued vehemently that this action would result in USM having its base budget reduced twice since the shortfall was already built into the Governor's base budget for USM. The "double-cut" will impact financial aid, student services, and other key priorities related to student access. The Committee added $3.7 million in further general fund reductions in combination with the $5.6 million and accepted another $1 million cut to USM as part of System's Effectiveness and Efficiency Initiative. The Committee also cut $500,000 for the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown (USM-H) and intends to reduce funding for USM-H over 4 years to match that of non-USM regional higher education centers. The Committee also intends for USM-H to find other sources of funding. The cuts to USM FY2010 budget total to approximately $10.8 million.

The Committee also took additional action based on the Budget Reconciliation and Finance (BRFA) Act and agreed to transfer an additional $10 million (on top of the $20 million already committed) from the USM fund balance for a total of $30 million.

The House committee maintains that it did not cut the $16M intended to freeze tuition at the state's 4-year public college and universities, however a base budget cut of $10.8 million and a fund balance cut of $30 million negates the funds intended to keep tuition flat.

Among other actions by the full and subcommittee:

• The full Appropriations Committee rejected a 1% across-the-board salary reduction for state employees.
• Rejected a Department of Legislative Services (DLS) consolidation of UMCES administrative functions and the wholesale relocation of UMBI to other USM campuses. The System argued, and the subcommittee agreed, that the Board of Regents has the responsibility to determine the appropriate organizational structure of USM institutions.
• Rejected a DLS recommendation to eliminate a $1 million grant to USM under the Nano-Biotechnology Initiative Fund.

Understanding Maryland's profound fiscal challenges, USM will continue to work with House and Senate budgetmakers to craft a budget that supports key initiatives of both Governor O'Malley and the General Assembly. The Senate Budget and Tax Committee will begin making their decisions this week.

Hearings and bills to watch:

• House Bill 892  Historically Black Institutions - State Funding - Blount-Warlings-Britt HBI Comparability Program.  Hearing 3/24/09 in House Appropriations Committee at 1:00 p.m.
• House Bill 1518 Student Financial Assistance (Eligible Institutions of Higher Education.) Hearing 3/24/09 in House Ways & Means Committee at 1:00 p.m.
• House Bill 1526 Workforce Development (Maryland Workforce Corporation.)  Hearing 3/25/09 in House Economic Matters Committee at 1:00 p.m.
• Senate Bill 183 College Textbook Competition and Affordability Act.  Hearing 3/25/09 in House Appropriations Committee, 3/31/09 at 1:00 p.m.

For more bill information, please click here.