tions included steep upward adjustments in aid to
education and a replacement of the flat-rate in-
come tax with a graduated tax as well as reform
of various business taxes. The "Cooper-Hughes"
program, as it came to be known, was approved
by the Senate, but failed passage in the House of
Delegates by two votes.
The next year, however, Governor Agnew
asked for a reexamination of the program and
appointed Senator Hughes Chairman of the Com-
mittee on Taxation and Fiscal Reform. This Com-
mittee recommended the graduated income tax
that is now our law, a local income tax (piggy-
back tax), a sharing with local governments of the
revenues from the State property tax, an increase
in the aid to education formula, an increase in aid
for school construction, and a grant to the
counties and municipalities for police protection.
Essential provisions of this program were enacted
in 1967. Its recommendation for a restructuring of
business taxes was enacted in 1968.
In 1970 Senator Hughes was named Chairman
of a Commission to Study the State's Role in Fi-
nancing Public Education. It was in accordance
with that Commission's recommendation that the
State assumed most of the costs of public school
construction, embodied in the present State
school construction program. Its recommendation
for further increases in State aid to education was
subsequently adopted.
In 1971 Mr. Hughes was appointed by Gover-
nor Mandel to head the newly created Depart-
ment of Transportation. His first task in that ca-
pacity was to consolidate and coordinate the
several quasi-independent air, rail, port, highway,
and mass transit agencies. Under his direction the
Department created the first State program to

provide both capital and operating assistance to
smaller urban areas for the development of public
transit systems. It was under his guidance that
the vast subway system in the Baltimore area was
initiated.
Hughes was instrumental in the State acquiring
Friendship International Airport, since renamed
Baltimore-Washington International Airport, and
in making major capital and operating im-
provements there. He also spearheaded the State's
acquisition and improvement of the general avia-
tion facility at the Glenn L. Martin State Airport.
During his tenure great emphasis also was given
to improvements in the operation and physical fa-
cilities of the Port of Baltimore. As Secretary of
Transportation, he made a commitment to sup-
port Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) as a so-
cially and economically compelling State
program.
In May 1977 Mr. Hughes resigned his position
as Secretary of Transportation over what he
termed unethical and improper interference with
his Department's procedures for awarding a con-
tract to manage construction of the Baltimore
subway system. After leaving State service he be-
came a partner in the Baltimore law firm of Miles
and Stockbridge.
Governor Hughes has been active in politics —
local, State, and national—since his graduation
from law school. He served as Chairman of the
Democratic Party of Maryland in 1969- 1970.
The Governor is married to the former Patricia
Donoho. They have two daughters, Ann, who
teaches school in Frederick, Maryland, and
Elizabeth, who is studying at the University of
Maryland Law School.