Two of my guiding principles for the legislative process:
- Co-sponsorship is the biggest waste of time in Annapolis.
2. You always want an advocate in the room when decisions are being made about your bill.
The number of cosponsors on a bill has little impact on a committee’s decision making.
But if your only co-sponsor is the chair of the subcommittee that will consider your legislation, that individual will most definitely be present when your legislation is debated and voted on.
I introduced two bills today with the relevant subcommittee chair as my only co-sponsor.
They did so after reading a two-page summary of the bill in one instance and discussing the issue at a 20-minute meeting in the other case.
Co-sponsorship too often results from a 15-second conversation on the House floor.
The subjects of my two bills: a plan to train pre-k teachers and protections for tenants when their public housing rental unit is transferred to a for-profit developer.
Favorable action is not guaranteed, but I will have eyes and ears and a voice – where and when it matters.
