Sometimes your only option is to withdraw your bill and wait for next year. Make that set the stage for next year. Ken Birnbaum is a life insurance agent and former president of the Cross Country Improvement Association. Last year, he told me that a client had been denied coverage for any travel to the …more >
“Neighborhoods such as Roland Park required homeowners to sign covenants barring African-Americans.” That sentence is from Baltimore leaders agree: City has a race problem, a front-page story in yesterday’s Baltimore Sun. Those restrictive covenants also excluded Jews. I have represented Roland Park my entire career. My three colleagues in the 41st District for the last …more >
Sometimes you keep quiet. My bill was being debated on the House floor. It would authorize the Maryland Attorney General to ask a judge to issue an order prohibiting an imminent violation of the law that would affect a pending election. Republicans have opposed the bill in the past. They did so today. I might …more >
Don’t read your testimony. Know it. That’s the advice I give the law students in my Legislation class, and I follow it myself. You’re far more effective if you know your issue and speak directly to the committee members, instead of constantly glancing down at a piece of paper and losing eye contact. I didn’t …more >
I don’t think I’ve ever said this before. “I’m not sure which is the lion and which is the lamb.” I was testifying between a supporter and an opponent of my legislation. House Bill 1098 would protect the rights of elderly and disabled tenants when their public housing units are sold to private developers. Before …more >
When the legislature is in session for only 90 days, time is your enemy. The session ends five weeks from today. However, two weeks from today is the deadline for my bills to pass the House and cross over to the Senate. Ditto for Senate bills. If your bill doesn’t meet that deadline, it’s delayed …more >
If you have a good shot, take it, Bill Russell advises. When someone opposes your bill but asks you to engage in a dialogue on their home court after the legislature adjourns, take it. That’s the advice I gave someone today. Bill Russell starred on 11 NBA championship teams. He didn’t have to admit defeat …more >
I didn’t think the two lobbyists would be pleased. My legislation to create a college admission outreach program for high-achieving students will have its public hearing tomorrow. http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2015RS/bills/hb/hb0364F.pdf High school seniors without a parent who went to college are really behind the eight ball when it comes to applying to the most suitable schools and …more >
Without amendments, most of your bills don’t have a prayer. Amendments to several of my bills were the focus of my day. My legislation to mandate mental health crisis response teams throughout the state would be costly, as introduced and as pared down by the amendment I offered at the bill hearing. I suggested to …more >
The Speaker honored me by asking me to give the opening prayer for tonight’s session. This is what I said. Father Ted got his last wish. Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, President of Notre Dame University from 1952-1987, died on Thursday. His last wish was to say Mass on his last day on Earth. Thursday morning, …more >
