Two of my bills passed the House today, 129-0. Two of my bills won’t come to the House floor. I withdrew them because they don’t need to become law to further the policy objective that prompted me to introduce them. The tobacco industry continues to woo young smokers. The State should do more to …more >
A baseball scouting report can evaluate a hot high school prospect or an entire team. My bill defining “supervisor” to reflect the realities of the workplace for sexual harassment cases had its public hearing today. It would adopt Justice Ginsburg’s reasoning when she dissented in a case this past June. Identical legislation will be …more >
No one spoke. That was good. My first two bills were heard on the House floor today. Shortly before the session began, the Republican minority leader commended me for the bipartisan support for my bill criminalizing actions by either side during a referendum signature drive. The second bill would outline how money should be spent …more >
I last prepared for the College Boards in 1967. This afternoon, I prepared with the College Board for a bill hearing on Wednesday. House Bill 854 would require the State to administer an outreach program informing high-achieving high school students about their college options – in terms of schools and financial aid. My legislation is …more >
When you have your case won, sit down and shut up. My first bill is coming to the House floor next week. The day after it was heard in the Judiciary Committee, we gave a unanimous favorable report to my legislation creating programs for survivors of homicide victims. No amendments. No negative votes. “This …more >
I was discussing strategy on a bill that is one of my highest priorities this session. It’s also been introduced in the Senate. The House bill will not be heard by my committee. However, the lead sponsor of the identical Senate bill serves on the committee that will consider the legislation. He’ll be in the …more >
“I couldn’t afford to lose my son too.” “It’s never over.” “Invest in us. It will help a lot of people.” The three witnesses were testifying for my bill creating programs for survivors of homicide victims. Maryland would be the first state to do this after repealing the death penalty. Governor O’Malley put $500,000 for …more >
It’s still a little early to count to 12. That’s a majority of a committee’s members and thus the votes needed to send a bill to the House floor. However, there’s plenty of work to do that will make it more likely I can count to 12. Some examples from my completed list of …more >
The Republicans on the Ways and Means Committee were thinking ahead to the next bill. So was I. The Pre-Kindergarten Expansion Act of 2014 was introduced by the O’Malley-Brown Administration. The legislation would authorize a competitive grant process for public school systems and private providers to expand pre-K. There is $4.3 million in the budget …more >
Justices Ruth Ginsburg and Elena Kagan recently spoke at a panel in New York They discussed the Lilly Ledbetter case, where a 5-4 majority denied a female supervisor her day in court because she had not met the strict time limits the Supreme Court imposed for bringing lawsuits alleging workplace discrimination. Justice Ginsburg read her …more >
