Legislative Diary

Turf battles and a scientific discovery

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 >

January 12 – The Room Where It Happens

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 >

Preakness, Northwestern Senior High, and Laboratories

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 >

November 14 – Legislative Laboratories

“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 >

On voting rights, Mr. Trump is not alone.

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 >

September 22 – Landlords and the Law

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 >

  • My Key Issues:

  • Pimlico and The Preakness
  • Our Neighborhoods
  • Pre-Kindergarten
  • Lead Paint Poisoning