The committee chairman’s questions are very valuable.

They are asked after my supporters and I have testified and all other members of the committee have asked their questions.

The chair’s questions provide insight into his or her thinking on my bill.

House Bill 457 would require schools to test more frequently for the presence of lead in each drinking water outlet more frequently than is currently required.

“I understand why the Maryland Association of Boardsof Education submitted written testimony,” noted chairman Kumar Barve. (A comment in this instance instead of a question.)

Unsaid was the fact that the association wanted to avoid having its representative testify in front of the committee and be asked tough questions.

I will ask the chair tomorrow what steps he wants to take next on my bill.

—

Peter Diamandis may not have been to Baltimore until last night, when he spoke at the Stevenson University Lecture Series at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.

The founder of Xprize Foundation. Diamandis predicted that the next decade will witness faster rates of positive change, fostered by tehnological advances, my brother Bruce wrote me.

I responded: “I agree with Peter D’s insight.  Public attention is focused on the actions of the powerful, but there are countless Sergeys [Sergey Brin co-founded Google.]out there.

And on a day when people are justifiably bemoaning the loss of Legg Mason, I am heartened by the fact that we are on the verge of taking a small step in a positive direction for the City by preserving the Preakness and redeveloping the Pimlico site.