Hard cases make bad law.

I learned that in law school.

Hasty contracts make bad deals.

We learned that in Annapolis during the pandemic.

While the flexibility to move quickly during an emergency is important, some recent procurement contracts have come under scrutiny.

The Blue Flame Medical contract and the purchase of South Korean covid tests were made in the confusion of the crisis, and hindsight has demonstrated they were deeply flawed.

At a pre-session briefing, I asked Gregory Hook, the Legislative Auditor, how we could address this problem.

Limit the length of emergency contracts, he replied.

That prompted me to introduce House Bill 767, which limits the length of emergency contracts to six months.

Then they would have to be rebid under the standard non-emergency procedures.

“But would that second contract be reviewed by the same people who OK’d the first version?” one of my colleagues asked at today’s hearing.

I responded, “To quote Professor Berra, that would be ‘déjà vu, all over again.’”

The House floor is the wrong place to get your amendment adopted.

My Republican colleagues proposed nearly a dozen amendments to several bills today.

All failed on party line votes.

This process applies to liberal causes as well.

An advocate asked me last night to vote for floor amendments that would strengthen climate bills.

I tried to say “no” in a nice way.

Why is this the case?

If other members support your committee’s work product, then you do the same.

What are your options?

Try to get your amendment adopted by the committee before the bill is reported to the floor.

If you’re a Republican, make it known that voters in purple districts will be reminded of members’ votes on Election Day.

In those rare instances where a controversial bill doesn’t have the votes to pass, trade.

An amendment, a bill, or a capital project in your district are the coin of the realm.