Voter suppression takes many forms. Reducing the number of polling places is one of them. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 required approval by the U.S. Justice Department before polling places could be closed in states with a history of voter suppression. However, the Supreme Court struck down the pre-clearance provision in 2013. In dissent, …more >
You withdraw your bill to avoid a recorded committee vote killing it. It’s tougher to get a member to change a vote from no to yes than from none to yes. At a subcommittee hearing today, a bill sponsor was giving a very lengthy explanation of why her legislation was needed even though she was …more >
When identical bills are introduced in both houses, it’s called crossfiling. You do this only if you’re confident that your sponsor in the other house will do a good job. A bad hearing or effort in the other house could doom the bill. I teach that in my Legislation class. A dozen years ago, one …more >
Over the years, I’ve written quite a few letters seeking legal advice from the Attorney General of Maryland. As the state’s chief legal officer, his counsel on a bill I’ve introduced is respected by my colleagues. His advice on a Supreme Court decision is also respected. That’s why I introduced House Bill 1040. The Supreme …more >
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 …more >
Sometimes I have to cast a tough vote. Many constituents may have written, phoned, or emailed me in opposition to my position. There may be a neighborhood or constituency that won’t like how I vote. I learned a long time ago that if people are aware that you work hard, that you study controversial issues …more >
We had a real debate on the House floor today. Under House Bill 84, students would not be subject to criminal penalties for disruptive, violent, or threatening behavior in a classroom or on the grounds of the school they attend. We need to address parents’ legitimate concerns regarding both conduct and content in the classroom, …more >
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 …more >
Some things I know. Some things I don’t know. I testified today on my Red Line bill. When I mentioned that the system would run from Johns Hopkins Hospital to the Social Security complex, I said that these were two of the biggest employers in the metropolitan area. I didn’t have to look it up. …more >
Several of my bills are moving forward – in different ways. Both Senator Hettleman and I introduced legislation requiring that money received from a violation of the housing provisions of Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act be used to provide legal counsel for tenants facing eviction. Her bill got a favorable committee report. That gives a boost …more >
