I thought we had already solved this problem. Ken Birnbaum, a constituent, wrote me that one of his life insurance clients had been issued a policy denying coverage for future travel to Gaza or the West Bank. I checked with legislative staff. Ten years ago, we prohibited using an insured’s “past lawful travel” to deny …more >
This is why I wanted to become a lawyer. At age 14, I read Gideon’s Trumpet, the account of Gideon v. Wainwright, where the Supreme Court decided that the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to a lawyer if you’re accused of a felony. I wanted to be a lawyer who protected people’s constitutional rights. When …more >
When a member of the committee hearing my legislation talks, I listen. A member of the subcommittee reviewing my bill suggested that we needed an amendment detailing an employer’s legal defense to a harassment lawsuit. That is not necessary, a civil rights attorney advised me yesterday, because it’s addressed by court decisions. Nonetheless, I responded …more >
Very few bills pass unamended. Mine included. Concerns raised at a public hearing are addressed, I hope, by the amendments we drafted for one bill. Lowering the cost are the crux of amendments to two of my bills that will be heard this week. A pilot program in one or two counties is possible, but …more >
“I am a beneficiary of the Jew Bill.” That’s how I began my remarks after a lecture at the Jewish Museum of Maryland on the 1826 bill that allowed Jews to hold public office. Here’s what I learned. There were two versions of the bill. The “universal version” would have prohibited any “religious test” for …more >
“Hi, I’m Sandy Rosenberg.” That’s how I introduced myself to a freshman delegate on the House floor this morning. He didn’t know my name and truth be known, I wasn’t sure of his. Before I introduced myself, I asked a more senior colleague from the delegate’s county if I had the right man. What I …more >
Same strategy, different bills. House Bill 348 would provide for legal counsel in certain areas of family law – protective order, custody, or visitation proceedings. House Bill 367 would require that a 24/7 behavioral health crisis response system be established state-wide to assist people with mental illness. The annual cost to fully implement each bill …more >
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was interviewed on MSNBC last night. MSNBC: You’ve been a champion of reproductive freedom. How does it feel when you look across the country and you see states passing restrictions that make it inaccessible, if not technically illegal? Ginsburg: Inaccessible to poor women. It’s not true that it’s inaccessible to women …more >
You always want to personalize your testimony. Sometimes you also need to diversify it. This summer, a constituent told me his life insurance company would not provide coverage for travel to Gaza or the West Bank when in Israel. After researching the issue, I introduced House Bill 352, which is modeled on laws in several …more >
“Yes, the schools are still a problem, crime is still a problem, gun violence is still a problem,” said a statewide elected official who has watched the city evolve over several decades. “But people have much more optimism about the future now.” “While its public school system remains a mess, its crime rate elastic and …more >
