I was being lobbied. Who can be reimbursed for providing medical care is one of the issues considered by my new committee, Health and Government Operations. We call them turf battles. Yesterday afternoon, I was being lobbied by an opthamologist. Dr. Laura Green opposes a bill that would authorize optometrists to perform certain surgical procedures. …more >
I want to be in the room where it happens. When a decision is being made in Annapolis, I want to be in that room – or have someone there who’s looking after my bill. So does Alexander Hamilton. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ovje92D742s I also want to help my constituents be in that room. As our City schools …more >
It was my honor to again be asked by Speaker Mike Busch to offer the prayer at the Opening Day session of the House of Delegates. This is what I said. 34 years ago, a newly elected delegate from Northwest Baltimore took the oath of office for the first time. Today, a 34-year old in Baltimore County is …more >
Fighting for our civil rights in Annapolis for over 30 years. My reelection mailer with that slogan hangs above my desk. Two of the civil rights bills I introduced and helped enact were heard by the Government Operations and Long Term Care Subcommittee. One protects workers who are denied equal pay, and the other resulted …more >
I did not see Meryl Streep on the Golden Globes last night. I was watching Annie Hall on Turner Classic Movies. But after listening to her stirring remarks today, I’m prompted to quote Hubert Humphrey (not from memory or Google, this is on my office wall): The moral test of government is how it treats …more >
The 90-day legislative session starts in two weeks. A reporter asked me today, “What do you want to accomplish in 2017?” This is my reply. Preserving the Preakness at Pimlico – Next month, the Maryland Stadium Authority will release a study evaluating the ability of Pimlico Race Course to serve as the permanent home of …more >
“How concerned should I be?” a constituent and friend, Scott Sherman, emailed me yesterday. Scott asked me about a tweet that said Democrats now control only 13 state legislatures (26%). If they lose one more they fall below the % needed to stop constitutional amendments. “Any words of wisdom or comfort?” he asked. “The states …more >
In light of the response that my post/letter to the editor generated, some additional thoughts. North Carolina’s restrictive voting law imposed voter-ID requirements, reduced the number of early-voting days, and changed registration procedures in ways meant to harm African-Americans’ right to vote. “The new provisions target African Americans with almost surgical precision” and “impose cures …more >
I sent this letter to the editors at the Baltimore Sun: “I hope you people can sort of not just vote on the 8th — go around and look and watch other polling places and make sure that it’s 100 percent fine,” declared Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania last week. His supporters nationwide …more >
I just sent the following letter to the Baltimore Sun. Dear Editors: Courts should strictly scrutinize landlords’ claims of being compliant with lead paint laws, the Public Justice Center recommended in a report issued last year funded by the Abell Foundation. A significant number of landlords did not provide the required proof that they had complied …more >
