Datebook
February 28, 2003
Budget time at the Maryland State House, and a trio of
Hopkins doctors is set to testify before Maryland's House
Appropriations Committee at the Cigarette Restitution Fund
budget hearing. The Cigarette Restitution Fund, established
in 2000, has funded the Statewide Academic Health Center
grant, giving Hopkins and the University of Maryland money
to conduct cancer research and public health outreach
efforts. But the state's budget crisis is prompting a wave
of cuts, and the grant is not unscathed: The governor has
budgeted $4.59 million for 2004, significantly less than
the $15 million requested, but nonetheless not a worst-case
scenario, assuming all goes well today, and the Legislature
doesn't cut the amount further.
For Sheila Higdon, the Hopkins government relations
coordinator monitoring this particular grant, this rainy,
wintery afternoon will mark the culmination of a year's
worth of work.
Noon Hopkins doctors Martin Abeloff, Jean Ford, and
John
Groopman arrive in Annapolis. Over tuna, chicken, and ham
sandwiches, Higdon coaches them on last-minute issues. "You
never know what questions might be asked," she says. "They
tend to ask some question that puts you on the spot, like:
'Why isn't a hospital in another part of the state getting
money?' when we have no control over how the money is
distributed."
1 p.m. Hearing starts. The state's Department of
Budget
Management is the first issue up.
2:45 p.m. Still budget management testimony. Higdon
leans
over to Abeloff and asks, "Are you having fun yet?"
2:50 p.m. Cigarette Restitution Fund hearing
begins.
4:20 p.m. The Hopkins doctors are on; Higdon moves
to the
front row to watch them give their presentation.
4:26 p.m. "I'm pleased to say, we've hit our goals,"
says
Abeloff to the legislators. "If you were to visit the
cancer center at Hopkins, you'd see a lot of energy and a
lot of commitment. I realize what the cold realities of
budget deficits are, but the economic consequences of
cancer in this state are enormous. There's a saying that
all politics are local; well, the health of our citizens is
also local." He praises the collaboration that exists
between the state and the
Kimmel
Cancer Center at Hopkins.
5:05 p.m. The hearing is over; the Hopkins doctors
weren't
put on the hot seat during the Q&A. Although the final
budget won't be approved by the Legislature until sometime
in April, Higdon feels good about the reception from the
legislators today. "It's a good thing I don't monitor my
blood pressure during these things," jokes Abeloff. "I'm
sure I get into life-threatening territory."
5:15 p.m. Higdon walks back to her Annapolis office,
a few blocks from the Lowe House Office Building, where
today's hearing was held. She writes a two-paragraph
summary of the hearing, calling it a "success," and works
on other bills.
8:30 p.m. Higdon goes home.
-- SM