I’m no expert on health insurance, but I do know how to count. My committee held its first briefing today. The subject was Insurance 101. The Insurance Commissioner, a gubernatorial appointee, was asked whether we could pass a law that would impose certain requirements, with the intent of increasing the number of Marylanders with insurance. …more >
I asked that several bills be drafted today and over the weekend. A week from tomorrow is the deadline to make a request and be guaranteed that our professional staff will draft the legislation in time for it to be guaranteed a public hearing. My bills would address the following issues: 1. How should the …more >
“Pick your spots.” That’s the advice I got shortly before I became a member of the House of Delegates. Listen and learn. Then speak. And only if necessary, introduce a bill. I repeated that advice today for the new members of the Health and Government Operations Committee. When I meet individually with the ten members …more >
I was again honored by the Speaker’s request that I offer the prayer for the Opening Day of the legislative session. This is what I said: When George Washington visited the Hebrew Congregation of Newport in 1790, four states were still debating the first amendments to the Constitution. President Washington later wrote the congregation, “The …more >
A utility player can fill many positions on a baseball team. For my first five terms in Annapolis, I served on the Appropriations Committee. Since then, I’ve been on three different committees. I am now on the Health and Government Operations Committee, where I chair a subcommittee. I will continue as the House chair of …more >
The 90-day session begins Wednesday. My week in Annapolis began today. Among the research requests I made was this one: HR 1, the For The People Act, was introduced Friday by the Democratic caucus in the House of Representatives. What provisions in the bill would enhance voter access and are not already Maryland law? I …more >
I don’t have to introduce a bill every time. Two examples of that this week. As the City and State are building new schools, they’re closing old ones. What do you do with the latter? The site could be a better opportunity for redevelopment if the school is gone. Governor Hogan has funded a demolition …more >
Amazon HQ2 is not coming to Baltimore or to Maryland. It is coming, however, to a Virginia suburb of Washington. Marylanders will still benefit from this influx of high tech jobs, including students participating in the Maryland Technology Internship Program. You may remember that I sponsored the bill creating MTIP in 2014, alongside UMBC President …more >
Hogan wins as Dems make gains That’s the banner headline in today’s Sun. That’s the message the voters sent. Party labels don’t matter. It’s the end product that counts. Pre-kindergarten-12th grade education will be the most important issue before the Governor and the General Assembly the next four years. How much funding should the state …more >
Nothing prepares you for the hate and carnage of the gunman last Sabbath in Pittsburgh. Yet everything prepares you – family, friends, and faith. I offered those thoughts to a friend who lost family there last week. What can each of us do next? We can respond – in ways best suited to who we …more >
