Tag: abortion

Making choices

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

            “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 decision for each individual woman to make with the people she chooses to consult.”

             “For poor women, that choice is already limited by the existing language.  We should reject this proposal.” 

             The amendment failed, 48-82.

             The same number opposed a similar amendment last year.  I know that because we had discussed it at our strategy meeting this morning.

 — 

             During a discussion of the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act on Morning Joe today, Jeff Greenfield prefaced his remarks by saying, “It’s been a long while since I was in law school, and I never had a practice.” 

             My last semester in law school, Jeff was my co-professor for “Writing About the Law.”  I was thinking about not taking the Bar and sought his advice.

             “I had that conversation with my Jewish mother,” he responded. 

             He lived to tell the tale. 

             So did I. 

             Not taking the Bar was the best thing I never did.

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.

Three of a different kind

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

At the race track, when you try to pick the first three finishers in exact order, it’s called a trifecta.

I had a trifecta of sorts this afternoon – consecutive meetings with the lobbyist for Planned Parenthood, the lobbyist for the Catholic Conference, and the Senator who is the leading proponent of marriage equality.

We talked about abortion, a tax credit for donations to parochial schools, and the death penalty, in that order.

The Catholic Church and I are on opposite sides on social issues (choice, stem cells, and gay rights) but on the same side on death penalty repeal, poverty issues, and aid to parochial schools.

You don’t always count to 71 the same way. (71 votes are needed to pass a bill in the House of Delegates.)

But when you do reach that number, you always cash your ticket.  And move on to the next race in the Senate.

Nearing 3rd base and in the infield

| by delsandy | Sandy's 2011 Legislative Diary | No Comments

          When you’re nearing third base, assume the coach will wave you home.  If you slow down, the catcher may be waiting to tag you out. 

          BJ Surhoff taught us that at a Ripken Fantasy Camp. 

          In Annapolis (and elsewhere), that means plan ahead and be prepared.

          We must have a special session this fall to redraw the lines for the state’s eight Congressional districts.  We could consider other issues at that time – if the Governor and the presiding officers agree to do so. 

           Today was not the first time that a lobbyist asked me whether an issue of interest to him would be on the agenda this fall.  Better to be running at full speed than to be caught unawares.

           The budget bill was debated by the House this afternoon.  Earlier in the day, I was asked to be ready to speak on abortion, stem cell research, and horse racing. 

            “It’s a matter of conscience – for those of us in this body, for the voters who approved abortion when it was on referendum in 1992, and for the women on Medicaid who would be affected if the state no longer paid part of the cost if they choose to have one,” I declared. 

            The floor was as quiet as it has ever been during the many times I have spoken over the last 29 years.  The amendment to eliminate state funding for abortions failed, 52-82. 

             Other members effectively made the argument to preserve state funding of research with both adult and embryonic stem cells.  The amendment to eliminate this program failed, 44-90.

            “If we cut funding for purses and the operating expenses of the race tracks, you won’t have 100,000 people in the infield at Pimlico on the third Saturday in May. The Preakness will be run in another state,” I said.  This amendment failed, 11-121. 

March 23

  • My Key Issues:

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