I testified in the midnight hour last night. I’ve passed bills in the last hour of the 90-day session. I’ve seen my bills die because the clock ran out at midnight. I don’t think I’ve ever testified on a bill as late as I did yesterday. House Bill 819 was one of 40 gun bills …more >
No amendments were offered to the medical marijuana bill. I was the floor leader, responsible for explaining House Bill 2 and defeating unfriendly amendments. “This is your big day,” a committee colleague said to me shortly before today’s session began. “I hope not,” I replied. If we had done our job – bringing a good …more >
I represented my committee, Health and Government Operations, at the Medicaid budget hearing this morning. Medicaid is the second highest expenditure in the budget, exceeded only by aid to local schools. There are 1.2 million Marylanders on Medicaid. That’s 20% of the state’s population and 40% of our children and mothers. Today was not the …more >
I’m a conservative… When it comes to bill drafting. If there’s law that already addresses the issue I’m concerned with, copy it. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. That was the case yesterday for my bill imposing penalties for the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors. They would be the same as those for …more >
The bill before us would impose a stiffer penalty if the violation of our public accommodations law was malicious. “What does that mean?” asked the representatives of restaurant owners and small businesses as they testified in opposition to the bill. I was tempted to respond by saying that Justice Scalia would rely upon the dictionary …more >
My testimony on my bills today was déjà vu all over again. “This committee has dealt with 20th Century domestic election fraud – leaflets and robo calls,” I told the Ways and Means Committee. “Now we have to deal with 21st Century international electronic election fraud.” My bills addressing old fashioned fraud were favorably reported …more >
I’m posting on Facebook. And I’m negotiating with Facebook. House Bill 768 would require online platforms to keep records of political advertisements. Before a bill hearing, I often try to meet with the opponents of my legislation to see if we can reach a compromise. In this instance, the more accurate term would be the …more >
Nothing happens by chance – at the legislature or the race track. The budget analysis for the Maryland Stadium Authority, prepared by our non-partisan professional staff, states, “In March 2016, the Maryland Racing Commission asked MSA to manage a study evaluating Pimlico Race Course’s ability to serve as the permanent home for the Preakness Stakes.” …more >
I read Gideon’s Trumpet when I was 14. The book tells the story of Gideon v. Wainwright, the Supreme Court case which established every defendant’s right to counsel when accused of a felony. Providing legal counsel in non-criminal cases has been one of my priorities as a legislator, in no small measure because of the …more >
When I write this blog, I try to polish each sentence so that every word is the best way to make my point to you clearly and effectively. It’s not that way when I testify. Here’s a transcript of what I said today on House Bill 768, my legislation to treat online political ads as …more >
