“I read the bill.” That was the subject line of the email I sent the Lt. Governor’s policy director. “Uncodified section of HB 297 re: parental involvement is more detailed than our bill draft. Thanks.” was the text. House Bill 297 is the Administration’s pre-K bill. Senator Bill Ferguson and I had a pre-meeting with …more >
The Maryland Constitution requires that only one bill be enacted at each 90-day session – the budget bill. The Maryland Constitution also requires that a defendant be represented by an attorney at a bail hearing. Our Court of Appeals decided that this fall. The estimated cost to provide such representation with public defenders under the …more >
Many of you spent today getting milk and other essentials before tomorrow’s snowstorm. I spent today making bill drafting requests before tomorrow’s deadline. If you’re late, your bill will get a late hearing date, which will not help its chances of getting passed. On the other hand, a drafting request doesn’t require you to introduce …more >
I was at the press conference on pre-kindergarten legislation today because of a teacher and a student. Nancy Grasmick, the State Superintendent of Schools, was a guest lecturer the first year I co-taught the Legislation class at the University of Maryland Law School. For the next 18 years, she spoke to the students about …more >
You always want someone in the room when the decisions are made. That’s the role a good co-sponsor of your bill can play. Today, I wanted someone in the room when the questions are asked. So I asked a committee member who understood my issue to raise the subject. By chance, I ran into …more >
When I applied to college, my mother, Smith College ’45, was my guidance counselor. Today, many students get advice from college admission counselors – if their parents can afford the hefty fees. But those who are doing well in school but don’t have parents with a college education or the resources to supplement their school …more >
I’m a partisan guy – except when it can help pass my bills. House Bill 125 would treat people trying to petition a law to referendum the same way as the people opposing that effort. It would criminalize the same conduct – fraud, duress or force – by either side. The sponsor line reads, “Rosenberg, …more >
“Mr. Obama plans to campaign in 2014 for universal preschool, an increase in the minimum wage and an administration effort to make college less expensive for the middle class,” reports the New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/08/us/politics/obama.html So do I. Last year, Senator Ferguson and I introduced legislation creating a competitive grant program to stimulate innovation and …more >
Today is Day 1 of my 32nd Year in the House of Delegates. More importantly, it is the 50th anniversary of the war on poverty. At an event outside the State House, I quoted from President Johnson’s State of the Union speech when he announced the war on poverty. “Our task is to help replace …more >
Rule One: Nothing stays a secret in Annapolis (or any legislature). Rule Two: Nonetheless, you don’t have to broadcast your strategy. I met with a group today from the Baltimore metropolitan area. We decided I will work on the bill draft. The group will work on expanding its membership to the Washington suburbs. By the …more >
