“This is one of the policies that could help men,” Ron Haskins wrote me this past May. –help finding jobs (perhaps as part of the child support program; many states are now running such programs) When welfare reform passed the Congress, Ron was the majority (Republican) staff director of the House Ways and Means …more >
If a committee wants to vote on your bill, don’t slow it down. An Appropriations Committee staffer informed my Legislative Director that certain amendments are being considered for one of my bills. This means that the committee expects to act favorably on my legislation. You don’t work on amendments for a bill you plan to …more >
The non-meeting meeting was productive. The Subcommittee on Civil Law was supposed to meet at 4:00 to discuss the Attorney General’s bill on structured settlements. When I arrived at the committee room to chair the meeting, the AG’s office and representatives of the affected businesses were already engaged in discussions. No need to interrupt these …more >
I write to you today as the chair of the Third Saturday in May committee. That’s when the Preakness is run at Pimlico Race Course. We took a major step this week to decide if that will be the case for decades to come. The Maryland Stadium Authority approved a study to evaluate Pimlico’s ability …more >
One of the witnesses for property owners would have the committee believe that because of the lead in the water in Flint, Michigan, we’re spending too much money and effort enforcing Maryland’s laws directed at deteriorated rental properties. “As this committee well knows,” I began my testimony in response, “lead paint in poorly maintained housing …more >
Until the bill is passed, there are always next steps. A big step forward today on an issue. I shared the good news with the people I’m working with. One replied, “Great news. Can you follow up…regarding the language to be offered in the budget”? I responded, “Please send me the draft language.”
With two weeks left to pass my bills out of the House of Delegates and avoid the Senate Rules Committee… I spoke to two lobbyists about the amendment I would be offering to my bill, as well as the amendment I won’t be offering. My objective: they won’t oppose the bill in the House, in …more >
Every committee in Annapolis has a pre-meeting meeting. The leadership meets before a public voting session to discuss the bills the full committee will be considering. The result is a voting list with up arrows for bills where a favorable report is recommended, down arrows for an unfavorable report, and both up and down arrows …more >
We spend long hours in bill hearings. The purpose is to enact sound public policy. Every person is presumed to know the law. That’s a centuries old legal maxim. In reality, however, that’s not the case. That’s why people hire lawyers. If you can’t afford a lawyer, you’re at a lopsided disadvantage. The U.S. Constitution …more >
I have four bill hearings tomorrow. And that’s after I attend the oral argument at the Supreme Court on the Texas abortion law. So before the end of the work day, I have to: Make final revisions to my written testimony; Since I don’t read my testimony at the public hearing, start drafting in my …more >
