Witnesses are not under oath in Annapolis. Perhaps they should be. “The deck is stacked against many consumers,” I began my remarks to the committee on House Bill 442, the Transparency in Consumer Arbitration Act. The nursing home industry was the only opponent. Its witness alleged that I had introduced …more >
It’s not often that a witness begins his testimony at a bill hearing by congratulating the vice chairman for winning a Most Valuable Player award. The witness was Billy Ripken. The bill would encourage physical fitness by providing a tax credit for the cost of qualified physical activity programs. The award was …more >
I’ll take support for my bills from whomever and for whatever reason. Citizens United is the controversial Supreme Court decision that said corporations are people too – with rights under the First Amendment. The government can’t limit how much they spend on a political campaign. However, you can require them to report …more >
My work doesn’t end when a bill becomes law. Significant economic and community development projects will be funded with slots money in the neighborhoods surrounding Pimlico Race Track. My 41st District colleagues and I worked with Speaker Busch and Governor O’Malley at the 2007 special session to keep that allocation in the bill. …more >
As I joined the hundreds of young adults streaming into the Teach For America 20th Anniversary Summit at the DC Convention Center, I said to myself, “Tahrir Square has come from Cairo to Washington.” Inside, several speakers referred to the “Egypt moment” for education reform. The potential exists for significant reform in the wake of …more >
There are lots of reasons to oppose the death penalty. “Legislators, advocates, and lawyers spend an extraordinary amount of time and money on these cases. Those resources would be far better spent on initiatives that would protect our citizens in their daily lives,” I began my remarks at a press conference announcing that a record …more >
They saved the best (and most important) comment for last. “Homeless kids must find food and shelter on their own, but it’s difficult for them to obtain health care,” I began my testimony. “They need their parents’ consent, but they’re living on the street without them.” House Bill 32 would allow someone from 12-18 years …more >
My first bill had already passed my new committee four times. House Bill 31 is designed to thwart dirty tricks before they affect the outcome on Election Day. It would enable the Attorney General or a registered voter to prove to a judge that there are reasonable grounds to believe someone has or will violate …more >
It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts. Harry Truman, John Wooden, and Earl Weaver said that. (I knew Weaver had; Google told me about the others.) Today I experienced that expression. We were talking about the floor amendment that did serious damage to one of my bills a few years ago. …more >
