Busch Honored for Health Care Efforts

House Speaker Michael E. Busch received an honor today from Salisbury University, which recognized him for his efforts to improve the quality of health care in Maryland.

Busch (D-Anne Arundel) received the seventh annual John R. Hargreaves Distinguished Leadership Fellowship during a State House ceremony this afternoon attended by several university students and officials as well as lawmakers.

"Speaker Busch's record of legislative leadership exemplifies the qualities of political leaders that this program honors: a dedication to the public good, an enthusiasm for representative government and a commitment to civic education," Salisbury University President Janet Dudley-Eshbach said.

As part of the fellowship, Busch will lecture students at the Eastern Shore campus several times over the next year on Maryland politics and history. The award is in honor of the late John R. Hargreaves, a long-serving delegate from Caroline County who chaired the House Appropriations Committee.

In accepting the award, Busch said that the "most important role" that lawmakers play in the General Assembly is to protect access to education.

"We need great universities, engaged students and faculty," Busch said. "Of all the awards I've received, I think I'm most humbled by this one."

-- Philip Rucker