death with dignity – Sandy Rosenberg

I am fine tuning my response.

I’ve gotten lots of positive comments on Facebook for my vote for the death with dignity bill that passed the House last week.

However, I’ve also received critical messages from individuals and groups.

This is an issue that deserves a response where I explain what the bill will do in detail and why I voted for it.

I spent more than an hour today revising the draft prepared by my staff. Now I’m seeking comments from several friends and advisers.

I will share with you the final version.

One person emailed me in opposition to the bill and also asked me about an important neighborhood issue.

That combination goes to the heart of what I do.

We make public policy in Annapolis. Equally important, we are advocates for our constituents on neighborhood issues back home.

The death with dignity bill passed the House of Delegates today, 74-66.

I was prepared to speak, but my voice was not needed.

From the notes I made during the debate and the speech I gave in my mind, I would have said:

“This is a tough vote.

It is also a profound vote.

Nonetheless, the vote each of us casts today pales in comparison to the choices that people make at the end of their life.

This legislation is the product of five years of public debate.

It will not force anyone to end their life.

It will protect an individual’s ability to reach an outcome he or she chooses.”

My use of the word “profound” has great significance for me.

I speak of my work to repeal the death penalty as the most profound thing I will ever do.

I rarely use the word in any other context.

The first call I made after today’s vote was to Steve Sachs, a former Attorney General of Maryland.

Steve testified for this bill several years ago.

The bill is named for Richard Israel, an Assistant Attorney General whom Steve knew well.
I worked with Steve on death penalty repeal.

When I got back to my office from the floor vote, there was a message from Kirk Bloodsworth.

Kirk was on Maryland’s Death Row, but DNA evidence freed him.

I worked with Kirk on death penalty repeal as well.

For me, that is a profound sequence of events.

My Key Issues: