Tag: Affordable Care Act

The rules of the drama are the same wherever it’s staged.

| by delsandy | Uncategorized | No Comments

The legislative drama regarding President Biden’s stimulus bill has been played out before – in Washington, Annapolis, and every legislative body.

Frustrated and believing Democrats were being strung along, Mr. Obama in September 2009 summoned Mr. Grassley to the White House along with Senator Max Baucus, Democrat of Montana [to discuss the Affordable Care Act]…

Mr. Obama recounted the scene in his new memoir, writing that he had pressed Mr. Grassley on whether, “if Max took every one of your latest suggestions, could you support the bill?” Mr. Grassley was hesitant. “Are there any changes — any at all — that would get us your vote?” Mr. Obama asked, drawing what he described as an awkward silence from the Republican senator.

“I guess not, Mr. President,” Mr. Grassley eventually responded.

As they plunge forward this year, Democrats say they do not want to find themselves in a similar position, working with Republicans only to come up short with an insufficient response that does not draw bipartisan support.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/31/us/politics/democrats-agenda-coronavirus-economy.html

Former Delegate Paul Weisengoff put it to me this way: “If your amendments get on the bill, you have to vote for the bill as well.”

—

When you introduce legislation, you have to answer this question: “Why do we need this bill?”

Last week, I sent a colleague a newspaper article about an issue that directly related to a bill before his committee.

Today, he responded: “Would this be prevented under existing law?”

I’m working on a response – with the people who testified for my bill.

Good Advice

| by delsandy | Uncategorized | No Comments

It’s good to get some advice that you already follow.

The Attorney General and Solicitor of New Jersey have written:

First, state elected officials must be ready to respond quickly to, or act in advance of, rulings from the Supreme Court. If, for example, the Affordable Care Act is weakened or struck down, Democratic state legislatures should have bills drafted to introduce that day to protect people who will lose coverage. And officials must act now to protect and expand access to reproductive health care — especially for poor women and women of color — given the clear threat to Roe v. Wade.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/16/opinion/progressive-conservative-courts.html

When the General Assembly enacted HB 959, Health Insurance – Consumer Protections, we made it  as consistent as possible with the ACA protections.

When we wrote the holding of Roe v. Wade into Maryland law, I was the floor leader in the House of Delegates.  If the Supreme Court overturns Roe, women’s reproductive health will still be protected in our state.

“The new court may also make it easier for companies to degrade the environment,” the op-ed continues.

Last year, I introduced HB 869 to require that all State agencies adopt environmental regulations consistent with the federal standards in effect on January 1, 2020, in case the Trump administration weakened those protections.   After reading the op-ed, I wrote state environmental advocates, “Are there cases on the Supreme Court’s docket that pose this problem?”

The Supreme Court will reach decisions this term regarding the free exercise of religion.  I’ve already written a colleague about working on an appropriate response.

Reducing the nicotine level, Free speech in the work place, and Our AG can sue

| by delsandy | Sandy's 2017 Legislative Diary | No Comments

Nicotine kills. It’s what makes cigarettes addictive.

The federal Food and Drug Administration has announced a plan aimed at reducing the nicotine in cigarettes to a nonaddictive level.

The likelihood of that being adopted by the Trump Administration is slim and none.

Is there anything we can do in Maryland?

Should we lower the tax on cigarettes if they’re not addictive?

I’m looking into it.

—

Does free speech stop at the work place door?

Jimmy John’s was within its rights to fire six employees for making signs that protested the company’s policy of forcing workers to come to work when ill, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Employers have First Amendment rights, most notably to make unlimited campaign contributions under the Citizens United decision.

Should the General Assembly enact free speech protections for workers?

I’m looking into this as well.

—

State Attorneys General, including Brian Frosh, can sue the federal government regarding the Affordable Care Act, because they have identified concrete injuries – an increase in insurance prices and a decrease in the number of insured individuals in their states, that would result if the Trump Administration stopped making payments for peoples’ health insurance.

That was the ruling yesterday of a three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit Court, one step below the Supreme Court. As you may remember, I sponsored the law broadening AG Frosh’s ability to bring such lawsuits.

A Real Human Being

| by delsandy | featured, Sandy's 2014 Legislative Diary | No Comments

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 the Administration’s health insurance bill on the floor Tuesday, he was most effective when he talked about a 62-year old constitunt who had gotten insurance because of the Affordable Care Act.

No doubt many of those listening thought of constituents, friends, and family who would benefit from having health coverage and with it, the ability to obtain preventive care.

No joke and crossing over to dry land

| by delsandy | Sandy's 2012 Legislative Diary, Uncategorized | No Comments

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 the legislation.

What followed was entertainment only if you’re amused by excessive and misleading rhetoric.

My Republican colleagues declared:

“This bill takes us down the dark night of socialism.”

“This won’t solve our uncompensated care problem because the people in emergency rooms are not lawfully present in this country.”

People will still be buying their health insurance from private companies. The Congress did not nationalize the industry.

Far too many of the people seeking care at an emergency room don’t have health insurance on the job. The vast majority of them are citizens of this country.

That’s no joke.

—-

I now have two file cards in my breast pocket.

One lists the 14 bills or issues I’m working on that have passed the House of Delegates and will avoid the delay of the Rules Committee.

The other has my five bills still waiting for the Red Sea to part in the House so that they can cross over to the dry land of the Senate.

The same as it was 29 years ago

| by delsandy | Sandy's 2012 Legislative Diary | No Comments

            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 Act, the health insurance law passed by the Congress.

Amendments prohibiting coverage of abortions under plans offered on the exchange were rejected by the Health and Government Operations Committee.   We expect they will be offered again on the House floor.

Our preparation will be the same as it was 29 years ago:

Don’t take anything for granted.  Inform pro-choice members prior to the vote.  Prepare for unfavorable contingencies.

In 1983, I passed my first bond bill.

          It was for the Jewish Museum.

          This session, I’m trying to do the same thing for the Roland Park Water Tower.

          For the first time, however, I need to demonstrate that a local project will remain eligible to receive state dollars.

          That’s because the Water Tower is on a list of historic properties now owned by Baltimore City that may be sold or leased if recommended by a consultant the City just hired.

             We need to draft language that would reassure the budget committees here that the tower will not be sold to a for-profit business.

  • My Key Issues:

  • Pimlico and The Preakness
  • Our Neighborhoods
  • Pre-Kindergarten
  • Lead Paint Poisoning