HARRY HUGHES, Governor

2267

May 29, 1979

Honorable Benjamin L. Cardin
Speaker of the House of Delegates
State House
Annapolis, Maryland 21404

Dear Mr. Speaker:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the
Maryland Constitution, I have today vetoed House Bill 51.

This bill would create both a Motion Picture and
Television Development Advisory Council, consisting of
twelve members, and a Motion Picture and Television
Development Office within the Department of Economic and
Community Development for the general purpose of promoting
and assisting cinema and TV production in Maryland.

The object of this legislation is laudable; cinema and
television production are economically advantageous
activities to which the diverse resources of Maryland, as
"America in Miniature", are uniquely suited. However, in ay
judgment it is wholly unnecessary to create yet another
commission in order to promote such economic activity. This
Office, the Senate of Maryland and the budget of Maryland
are already burdened with too many less than absolutely
necessary commissions and boards. Furthermore, the office
which this measure would expressly authorize already exists
within the Department of Economic and Community Development,
its existence and funding over the past two years being
ample evidence that both the Executive and Legislative
branches have construed the current statutory authority of
that Department as being sufficiently broad to encompass the
pursuit and encouragement of such activities in Maryland.
Finally, to create a special Council for this industry is to
generate a precedent for the creation of countless other
industry councils, a consequence neither the taxpayers nor
the officials of this State should relish.

For these reasons, I have decided to veto House Bill
51.

Sincerely,
Harry Hughes
Governor

House Bill No. 52