Making very good use of bad experiences

Even in today's polarized political landscape, some things are immune to partisanship: supporting your colleagues when they are fighting life-threatening ailments and turning these close calls into educational opportunities or an impetus to change government policies.

Marylanders know a lot more about non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, since Gov. Larry Hogan was diagnosed with it in June 2015 and decided to be open with state residents about his illness and the 18 weeks of chemotherapy he endured. Doctors have since told Hogan he is free of lymphoma. But he recently had to have a 31/2-hour procedure to dealt with a non-life-threatening form of skin cancer.

Last week the Republican governor threw his support behind legislation proposed by Democratic House Speaker Michael E. Busch, who needed the transplantation of part of his sister's liver to survive his own close call with a life-threatening ailment, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. The legislation would provide a $7,500 tax credit to living donors of organs or parts of organs. Eighteen states offer similar credits.

Financial considerations are far down the priority list for most living donors, particularly when their objective is to save a family member. But we see nothing wrong with rewarding such selfless individuals, and perhaps giving them some help with expenses that may not be covered by insurance.

We appreciate the ways in which Hogan and Busch have tried to turn negatives into positives.

Burdon's service

There's a changing of the guard at Anne Arundel County's business organizations. First Claire Louder left what was then the West County Chamber of Commerce in 2016, followed by Linda Zahn of the Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber and Fran Schmidt of the Northern Anne Arundel County Chamber at the end of 2017. Now, Bob Burdon, who has headed what is now the Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce since 1997, has announced he will be stepping down as president and CEO on June 1.

Burdon has been a strong and consistent advocate for the business community - one who, as he told our reporter last week, always stressed "consensus-building." That skill played a role in securing support for some of the major projects that changed the county's landscape during his tenure, including Park Place in Annapolis, Annapolis Towne Centre in Parole and Arundel Mills mall in Hanover. And he pioneered the annual legislative breakfast and the Commerce Hall of Fame to honor local business leaders.

Burdon always made sure the voice of the business community was heard, making him a major asset not only for that sector but for the county as a whole. We'd like to thank him for his years of work and wish him well in whatever he does next.