On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson are joined by MACo Legislative Director Natasha Mehu to breakdown MACo's 2021 Legislative Initiative to put public health first by protecting services and advocating for public health and emergency services to be properly supported with necessary funds to support staff, services, supplies, and technology -- not only in these times of crisis but for the everyday preventative and responsive health services they provide.As previously reported on Conduit Street, MACo’s Legislative Committee voted at the September 16, 2020 meeting to adopt the Association’s four priorities for the 2021 Maryland General Assembly Session. MACo will prioritize county budget security, elections, broadband access, and public health support in the 2021 session.PUT PUBLIC HEALTH FIRST – PROTECT SERVICES AND PROMOTE FUNDINGCounty public health and emergency agencies protect communities against epidemic threats, infectious diseases, addiction, mental illness, poverty, and violence, and provide care for everything from chronic diseases to critical life-threatening incidents. Despite their critical roles, these agencies face gaps in funding and outdated technology and infrastructure that challenge the delivery of vital services. Local health departments are still reeling from drastic state funding cuts from the last recession that remain unrestored, all while they serve on the front lines of a historic public health pandemic.MACo advocates that public health and emergency agencies should be properly supported with necessary funds to support staff, services, supplies, and technology not only in these times of crisis but for the everyday preventative and responsive health services they provide.Each year MACo adopts a slate of top legislative initiatives, typically representing the wide swath of services counties deliver to Maryland residents. The Initiatives Subcommittee meets through the summer to refine and focus a list of dozens of proposed initiatives into no more than four as required by the Association’s bylaws. The slate is then presented to the Legislative Committee for adoption.MACo has made the podcast available through all major platforms by searching Conduit Street Podcast. You can also listen on our Conduit Street blog with a recap and link to the podcast.You can listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website.Useful LinksPrevious Conduit Street Coverage: MACo Announces 2021 Legislative InitiativesConduit Street Podcast: 2021 Top Issues: Broadband Accessibility Act of 2021Conduit Street Podcast: 2021 Top Issues: Elections Fairness and FundingConduit Street Podcast: The Doctor Is In – A Follow-Up Visit