Little things count. A staple, in this instance. Late yesterday, I took my staff’s advice and decided to narrow the scope of my legislation exempting a professor’s research or other information of a proprietary nature from the Public Information Act. Using the University System of Maryland’s definition of intellectual property, we …more >
Gov hasn’t found the two votes yet, but he has the power and the skill to “persuade.” That’s how I responded to a friend’s email about the status of the marriage equality bill. That analysis equally applies to the revenue measures that Governor O’Malley discussed in his State of the State address. …more >
No doubt many of you read Taylor Branch’s expose of the NCAA, The Shame of College Sports. Since I know Taylor, I asked him if there was anything that he and I could do in Annapolis to reform how the NCAA rules over intercollegiate athletics. Provide procedural protections for student-athletes who are …more >
“Is there a problem that needs to be fixed?” That’s another way of saying, “Why do we need this bill?” Registered nurses, physician assistants, and licensed clinical social workers could provide health care to minors without the consent of their parents or guardians under my House Bill 68. A physician, psychologist, …more >
My first bill hearings are next week. That means I have to write my testimony. My staff will do the first draft. I’ll revise the first sentence so that it gets the attention of the committee members – the equivalent of hitting my colleagues in the middle of their foreheads with a …more >
Lottery proceeds were never designated for education. Lots of people think that they were, but that’s not the case. So our constituents were skeptical when my 41st District colleagues and I told them four years ago that a portion of slots proceeds would be used to implement the Park Heights Master plan …more >
The story begins with a request from Sen. Delores Kelley. She asked me to introduce in the House a bill she was sponsoring in the Senate – a crossfile in the legislative lexicon. She has done this for me on several occasions; so I said yes. Senate Bill 216/House Bill 164 …more >
On this issue, Justice Scalia and I agree. Your right to privacy extends beyond your home, whether the police are using a wiretap, tracking your movements with a GPS device, or learning the location of your cellphone calls. Yesterday, the Justice wrote a majority opinion holding that before the police attach a …more >
I’m from the government, and I’m here to help you. Ronald Reagan said those were the “nine most terrifying words in the English language.” Elderly homeowners who need minor maintenance on their home would disagree – if such help were available and they knew of its existence. An elderly homeowner may …more >
Even though you don’t want a campaign to be waged on your opponent’s terms, there will be a moment in the debates this fall when President Obama responds to a right-wing falsehood/slur with the equivalent of “Stop lying about my record” or “Have you no sense of decency” and hit the ball/bum out of …more >
