The other people in the room were busy discussing policy. I was participating, but then I said to myself, “We can talk endlessly about policy among ourselves, but how are we going to make it the law of Maryland?” So I got to work. I emailed someone who works for an advocate whose input should …more >
I’ve been lobbied at the race track before. This time, however, it was about the slots bill, not a “can’t miss” horse running in the next race. I had already made my wagers on the 10th race Saturday when I had a brief conversation with a representative of the horse breeders. The lobbying continued this …more >
No one would mistake a voting session of most committees in Annapolis for a New England town meeting. The bills have been discussed and decided by the committee leadership beforehand. But there are exceptions. Yesterday, Ways and Means was considering legislation to raise the compulsory age for public school attendance from 16 to 18. “The …more >
I began my day by reading through the list of House bills that would be considered by the full Senate today. I learned that a Senate committee acted favorably on some of the bills it heard yesterday but not mine. Does that mean something? Has my bill been taken hostage, to be freed only if …more >
At the Supreme Court today, much of the discussion dealt with what I do for a living. The legal question was this: If the Court finds that the individual mandate is unconstitutional, what is the effect on the other provisions of the health care law? Are all of the other parts of the law nullified? …more >
“EXPAND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE STATE.” Legislation that Senator Bill Ferguson and I introduced had that purpose. It would be one of the permitted uses of money in the Education Trust Fund. No action has been taken on either of our bills. However, that language was amended onto the slots bill that just …more >
This is how our debate began on the bill to create a health exchange, where consumers can evaluate health insurance policies. The exchange would implement the Affordable Care Act. “When I was driving here, I heard something on talk radio,” stated a Republican delegate. “Many people consider that entertainment,” responded the Democratic floor leader for …more >
“A majority of low-income women oppose abortion.” When one of my colleagues said that during the floor debate on her amendment to further restrict Medicaid funding for abortion, I rose to respond. “It’s not a question of what a majority of poor women may or may not believe,” I declared. “It’s a …more >
I’ve been doing this since I first got here. Protecting a woman’s right to choose was the issue when I was a floor whip on Medicaid funding for abortions in 1983. A health benefit exchange will allow Marylanders to compare and purchase health insurance plans. It is a cornerstone of the Affordable Care …more >
“I’m an Old Testament person.” I didn’t say that. Delegate Michael Smigiel did. He was explaining why the death penalty was appropriate vengeance for heinous murders. I had just testified for its repeal. Our back and forth continued. At its conclusion, he said, “I guess I’m Old Testament and you’re New …more >
