May 27, 1999

The Honorable Casper R. Taylor, Jr.
Speaker of the House
State House
Annapolis MD 21401

Dear Mr. Speaker:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the Maryland Constitution, I have today
vetoed House Bill 185.

This Administration bill creates the Maryland Competitive Advantage Financing
Fund within the Department of Business and Economic Development to provide
financial assistance for the development and expansion of small businesses in the
State. The financial assistance allowed by the bill includes loans, loan guarantees,
interest subsidies, and incentives to private lenders or any other financial assistance
designed to secure business loans from financial institutions.

Senate Bill 136, which was passed by the General Assembly and signed by me on May
13, 1999, accomplishes the same purpose. Therefore, it is not necessary for me to sign
House Bill 185.

Sincerely,

Parris N. Glendening
Governor

House Bill 185

AN ACT concerning

Maryland Competitive Advantage Financing Fund

FOR the purpose of creating the Maryland Competitive Advantage Financing Fund as
a nonlapsing fund within the Department of Business and Economic
Development; providing for the management of the Fund; specifying what
moneys may constitute the Fund; authorizing the Department to use moneys in
the Fund for certain purposes subject to certain requirements and restrictions;
authorizing the Department to set the terms and conditions for loan financing
assistance; providing that the Fund is a growth-related project for the purposes
of determining priorities for State funding of capital projects; requiring the
Department to convene a certain study panel; requiring certain reports; defining
certain terms; providing for the termination of this Act; and generally relating to
the Maryland Competitive Advantage Financing Fund.

BY adding to

Article 83A - Department of Business and Economic Development

Section 5-1301 through 5-1305, inclusive, to be under the new subtitle "Subtitle

13. Maryland Competitive Advantage Financing Fund"
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1998 Replacement Volume)