Local businesses discuss legislation with Eastern Shore politicians

"Maryland's open for business, but it's not open for business except. It really needs to be open for business period."

That's the reason behind Friday's post session luncheon with the Eastern Shore delegation. The focus, according to Salisbury's Chamber of Commerce President Bill Chambers, is to hold the local leaders in Annapolis accountable for their actions, both good and bad.

"Legislators today are going to hear the message from the business community is we matter, we're the economic engine of the Eastern Shore and Delmarva and we're going to hold you accountable in 2019 to be sure you don't put limits on business, " explains Chambers.

Issues like the offshore wind turbines, Maryland's craft beer industry, and education. Chambers telling 47 ABC that wind turbines are job creators and should be welcomed.

"We have two companies that have agreed to comply with the federal permissions to put the offshore wind facilities off the shore of Ocean City. There was legislation introduced to try and kill that. The two companies have said if that legislation had passed their projects would end."

Legislators like Sen. Addie Eckardt say that there is push back and efforts to change the project because their is opposition along the coast.
 
"We need to make sure it's welcomed by the community and we still have a ways to go with that and that's unfortunate because a well-intentioned project can be slowed down in many ways."

Legislators weren't just dealing with frustration along the coast, but also with an industry that is growing here on the shore, craft breweries.

Chambers saying, "The fact that there was legislation supported by members of our delegation to limit craft breweries, which is a huge industry in Maryland. It's manufacturing, it's tourism, it's jobs. We want to know why there were members of the delegation that made those decisions to support limits on craft brewing."

"They are frustrated but, you know, right now if they want to increase their production they can come to us and there are mechanisms to do that," explains Sen. Eckardt.

They also discussed issues regarding the Mandatory Leave bill and the possible implications on the hospitality industry.

Sen. Eckardt also shared the improvements that were made in education, such as new literacty programs and teacher recruitment efforts.