How much does the company pay you? Pretty simple question but not such a simple bill. Under the Women’s Equality Act, introduced by Governor Cuomo of New York, an employer could not prohibit an employee from “inquiring about, discussing, or disclosing the wages of the employee or another employee.” The bill passed the Democratic …more >
I never heard this one before. I had testified on my bill to extend early voting to the Sunday before Election Day. “This is the next logical step in the expansion of the right to vote,” I said. “We no longer limit the franchise to white males who own property; we should no longer limit …more >
My law school training taught me never to concede a point. I relish the back and forth with a committee member when I’m testifying on one of my bills. Ditto when I’m questioning a witness. My legislative training, on the other hand, teaches me that compromise is achieved by conceding a point or two. That …more >
When the legislature meets for only 90 days, time is your enemy. There are many hurdles that you have to clear for your bill to pass and only three months to do so. Consequently, I don’t usually ask that my bills be heard in March. Except for the three times that I pledged to …more >
Keep your friends close but the bureaucrats closer, to paraphrase the Godfather. If you can reach agreement before the bill hearing, a united front and some compromise amendments will increase your chances of passage. The alternative could be a bloated fiscal note exaggerating the cost of implementing your legislation. A letter that commits the agency …more >
Moonlight Graham would have sympathized. Graham, the character played by Burt Lancaster in Field of Dreams, played right field for two innings in one major league game but never came to bat. Dave Ford, a former Orioles pitcher, had not pitched in two weeks when Earl Weaver brought him into a game against the Milwaukee …more >
President Obama promised executive action on the minimum wage last night. There is ample precedent. The Emancipation Procalmation, President Truman’s order to integrate the military, and President Clinton’s expansion of public lands through the declaration of national monuments are cited by the New York Times. I would add the executive actions dealing with fair employmnt taken by …more >
Personalize your testimony. I tell my students that – my staff as well. It’s far better to make your argument by talking about a real human being, instead of some abstract principle. Delegate Pete Hammen, chair of the Healh and Government Operations Committee, is a guest lecturer at my class, not a student. When he defended …more >
Some things depend upon technology. The major obstacle to extending early voting to the Sunday before Election Day are the 36 hours needed to download data between 7 pm on Sunday and 7 am on Tuesday. In Baltimore City, for example, there are five early voting centers for the week of early voting but hundreds …more >
Our election laws should maximize turnout, with sanctions for those who commit fraudulent acts or seek to prevent others from voting. Inspired by the long lines of people voting early during the Obama-Romney election, I introduced a bill last year to authorize voting on the Sunday before Election Day. The State Board of Elections, however, …more >
