Field Notes
Observations and Reflections on Legislative Activities
By Delegate Mike McDermott
March 21st-26th, 2011
- On Monday evening, the House heard Second Reader bills and received a copy of HB-70 and HB-72, the House Budget Bill and the Budget Reconciliation Bill which will be heard on Wednesday afternoon. These documents consist of hundreds of pages and will be difficult to review in such a short amount of time.
- On Tuesday morning, the House voted on the following bills on Third Reader:
NOTE: (For quick review, check out the bills which have significant vote counts in opposition.)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #27
Third Reading Passed (96-44)
Third Reading Passed (126-12)
Third Reading Passed (105-33)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (130-9)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (98-41)
Third Reading Passed (134-5)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #28
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (136-1)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (102-38)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
Third Reading Passed (138-1)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #29
Third Reading Passed (139-1)
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
Third Reading Passed (140-0)
Third Reading Passed (133-5)
- On Tuesday, the following bills were heard in the Judiciary Committee:
- HB-1327: Increases the penalty for the distribution of Salvia to persons under 21 years of age. The increases have been sought by Ocean City Police as they attempt to battle the use of Salvia by juveniles.
- HB-1327: Seeks to change forfeiture laws in Maryland to address certain financial crimes. Currently the law does not allow a prosecutor to attempt seizure of assets from a criminal involved in fraudulent financial dealings. This makes sense in that it gives the prosecutor to do more than simply request restitution for a victim.
- HB-1248: Seeks to establish “Earned Compliance Credits” for inmates on Parole and Probation as a means of encouraging parolees to remain out of prison and cut down on recidivism. The program has been utilized in other states, like Texas, with a great deal of success. It has led to a reduction in the prison population in those states and a tremendous cost savings.
- HB-1264: Seeks to the penalty of Elder Abuse from 10 to 20 years on a First Degree offense as well as doubling of the fines. It would also place further restrictions on the pretrial release of anyone charged under this statute.
- HB-1320: Would remove all credits for “Good Time” or Diminutive credits for a person convicted of a violent crime. It would require any time negotiated by any plea agreement be served in full prior to release from incarceration.
- HB-1332: Would create a “Drug Free” zone pilot program for the Anne Arundel County Parks and Recreation Department. It addresses possession of paraphernalia, etc. on park areas designated in the zoned pilot program. The program is similar to the Drug Free School Zones already utilized across the state.
- HB-896: Seeks to punish law enforcement officers if they violate the law concerning race based profiling. There was much discussion over this bill. It was clearly indicated that the 10-year study commissioned in Maryland since 2000 that Officers are not discriminating on traffic stop based simply on their race. This did not sway the ACLU from being a big supporter of this bill. This is bad legislation and many from the law enforcement community testified against it.
- HB-744: Seeks to introduce the “Arizona Law” into Maryland law which would provide protection to officers who check the immigration status of a person stopped for another violation. There were differences of opinion, but the idea of securing our state is sound, and our immigration issues are growing exponentially.
- On Wednesday morning, the House voted on the following bills during Third Reader:
Special Order Calendar
Second Reading Passed with Amendments
Third Reading Passed (101-37)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #30
Third Reading Passed (111-26)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (97-37)
Third Reading Passed (134-2)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-1)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #31
Third Reading Passed (97-41)
Third Reading Passed (136-2)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (135-3)
Third Reading Passed (137-4)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (132-6)
Third Reading Passed (134-3)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #32
Third Reading Passed (122-13)
Third Reading Passed (101-37)
Third Reading Passed (136-0)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (113-25)
Third Reading Passed (134-3)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #33
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (98-40)
Third Reading Passed (136-0)
Third Reading Passed (136-0)
Third Reading Passed (124-14)
Third Reading Passed (136-2)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #34
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (122-14)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-1)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (108-31)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #35
Third Reading Passed (108-31)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (123-10)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (135-1)
Third Reading Passed (126-12)
Third Reading Passed (95-42)
Third Reading Passed (133-5)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #36
Third Reading Passed (136-2)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (135-4)
Third Reading Passed (100-38)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (83-56)
- Following the morning session, I had a nice visit from the AFP (Americans for Prosperity) group from Worcester County. We gathered in the Delegation Room for the Eastern Shore and I spent about an hour responding to questions and providing them an overview of our current state of affairs. It was great to see so many interested and concerned citizens including many young people on a Field Trip from an area private school.
- On Wednesday afternoon, the Judiciary Committee conducted a voting session with the following outcome:
Favorable: HB-135, HB-407, HB-794, HB-899, HB-1277
Unfavorable:HB-839, HB-896, HB-999
- On Wednesday afternoon, the House heard the Second Reading of the Budget Bill, HB-70 and the Budget Reconciliation Bill , HB-72. (I will cover the budget in a separate article). The following amendments were offered by the Republican Caucus: Among other things, these amendments would have eliminated millions in over spending, tax payer funded abortions, funds for illegal alien education, and, in short, it would have limited our spending to our projected revenue increase of 3% (not the 11% contained in this budget).
- On Thursday’s first session, the House voted on the following bills during Third Reader:
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #37
Third Reading Passed (134-2)
Third Reading Passed (125-10)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (91-45)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #38
Third Reading Passed (137-1)
Third Reading Passed (134-3)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (118-17)
Third Reading Passed (123-12)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #39
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (101-37)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
- On Thursday the Judiciary Committee heard the following bills:
- HB-1255: Would create a mechanism for people with previous convictions for Felony Theft to file for an expungement of the charge after 10-years of not having any issues with the Criminal Justice System. This bill has a few issues that need to be worked out before it is ready for prime time.
- HB-1279: Similar to HB-1255 seeks to allow expungement of charges to which a person did not receive a conviction on their record. This had issues raised by several people and is technically very problematic.
- On Thursday, the Judiciary Committee voted on the following bills:
Favorable:HB-511, HB-801, HB-859, HB-919, HB-1315, HB-1320
Unfavorable: HB-744, HB-1264
- On Thursday evening, the House conducted the Third Reading of the Budget Bill and the Budget Reconciliation Bill (HB-70 and HB-72). There was a great and thorough debate and two clear world views emerged on the floor. The ruling party sees no problem with an 11% increase in spending (a billion more than last year) while we only project a 3% increase in revenues. The minority party believes in cutting the deficit and spending while still allowing for moderate growth. In the end, it broke down on party lines with Republicans voting “No” and Democrats voting “Yes” (42-97).
- On Friday, the House conducted Third Reading votes on the following bills:
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #41
Third Reading Passed (127-7)
Third Reading Passed (117-17)
Third Reading Passed (122-15)
Third Reading Passed (127-10)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (96-41)
Third Reading Passed (136-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (136-1)
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #42
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-1)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (108-30)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #43
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (133-4)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (112-25)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #44
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (136-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #45
Third Reading Passed (107-30)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (135-2)
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #46
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (108-29)
Third Reading Passed (136-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (136-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #47
Third Reading Passed (136-0)
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (124-8)
- On Saturday, the House had a Third Reader Voting Session with the following results:
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #48
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (99-36)
Third Reading Passed (129-8)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #49
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
Third Reading Passed (132-5)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (136-0)
Third Reading Passed (135-1)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (109-25)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #50
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (134-2)
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
Third Reading Passed (135-1)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #51
Third Reading Passed (133-4)
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
Third Reading Passed (125-12)
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
Third Reading Passed (134-0)
Third Reading Passed (120-16)
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #52
Third Reading Passed (89-46)
Third Reading Passed (101-95)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (135-2)
Third Reading Passed (135-1)
Third Reading Passed (135-1)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #53
Third Reading Passed (135-2)
Third Reading Passed (91-46)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (136-2)
Third Reading Passed (123-14)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (132-5)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #54
Third Reading Passed (99-39)
Third Reading Passed (105-32)
Third Reading Passed (122-14)
Third Reading Passed (134-2)
Third Reading Passed (136-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-1)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (99-39)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #55
Third Reading Passed (94-43)Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #48
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (99-36)
Third Reading Passed (129-8)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #49
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
Third Reading Passed (132-5)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (136-0)
Third Reading Passed (135-1)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (109-25)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #50
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (134-2)
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
Third Reading Passed (135-1)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #51
Third Reading Passed (133-4)
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
Third Reading Passed (125-12)
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
Third Reading Passed (134-0)
Third Reading Passed (120-16)
Third Reading Passed (135-0)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #52
Third Reading Passed (89-46)
Third Reading Passed (101-95)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (135-2)
Third Reading Passed (135-1)
Third Reading Passed (135-1)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #53
Third Reading Passed (135-2)
Third Reading Passed (91-46)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (138-0)
Third Reading Passed (136-2)
Third Reading Passed (123-14)
Third Reading Passed (137-0)
Third Reading Passed (132-5)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #54
Third Reading Passed (99-39)
Third Reading Passed (105-32)
Third Reading Passed (122-14)
Third Reading Passed (134-2)
Third Reading Passed (136-0)
Third Reading Passed (137-1)
Third Reading Passed (139-0)
Third Reading Passed (99-39)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #55
Third Reading Passed (94-43)
Third Reading Passed (111-27)
Third Reading Passed (101-36)
Third Reading Passed (124-8)
Third Reading Calendar (House Bills) #56
Third Reading Passed (86-52)
Third Reading Passed (93-45)
Third Reading Passed (111-27)
Third Reading Passed (101-36)
Third Reading Passed (124-8)
- One of the more disturbing bills passed on Saturday was HB-235. This is the “transgender, cross-dresser” bill which now requires for employer accommodations of these confused individuals. The bill will allow for our public school teachers to call themselves “Bob” one week and “Bonnie” the next week. It will be a real problem for small business and big business alike and is sure to be just one more reason not to move a family or a business into Maryland. Myself and Delegate Otto did not vote for this bill for reasons too numerous to name.
- I am working on a budget summary over the next few days. It will not be a pretty report if you care about spending.
More Posts for today are under the older posts tab.
21 comments:
Mr. Garrison will be so proud of MD HB-235.
Sounds like a busy week! And a bad one for the citizens of Maryland. Too bad it's going to be 3 years before we can do anything about it.
Thanks, Mike!
Craig Theobald
Ironshire
Revenues increase by 3%, but our spending increases by 11%.
And an elementary teacher can show up for work in drag if they want to.
This is 'Hope and Change', right?
I can't get my breath.
If this doesn't prove beyond any doubt that liberals are mentally ill, I don't know what will.
Joe have you ever thought about adding a "Continue reading" link to your posts (not ones from major sites)? Something like this is very long and if you added the "jump" it wouldn't take up so much on the front page. I think it would make certain posts look much better.
Something is very wrong with Blogger today. I'll look into that option.
I don't get from reading HB 235 that it refers to just teachers? Am I missing something? Why are they being singled out?
Del. Rudolph Cane (D-Dorchester and Wicomico) said the bill is about ending discrimination.
Some things deserve to be discriminated against or there would be no civil order.
How did Norm Conway vote on this one?
HB-235 is just plain stupid. What a bunch of clowns we have in Annapolis! Yea,To end discrimination. Thats a crock of S---. Now ask me what I really think. Democrats have to remember that they work for the majority of the voters. MAJORITY!
Vote these twisted sick politicians out, and identify any teacher publicly so we can weed them out ourselves. If the elected crooks won't protect our children we must do it ourselves.
norm probably voted for the sausage one week and the taco the next
No, this isn't just 'teachers', 10:55-- that was just an example of where this could show up.
What a great job Mike is doing!!! I think he is the FIRST elected official who has kept his constiuents informed during the legislative session. THANK YOU Mike!!!
I take offense that he used the example of a teacher when it relates to anyone in business. Sounds like he was trying to send a point.
Now, if he only knew that "myself" is not a subject noun, he'd be just perfect!
Would someone please tell Del. McDermott that there is a website called mlis.state.md.us that lists all of this information?
Maybe he should spend a little time on grammar instead of recreating a webpage that already exists.
I think Del. McDermott cannot bear to put anyone's name ahead of his own. Just look at the credit-hogging he did on the bill to abolish the LCB. That was Mathias's idea, but he stole credit for it.
Well, 2:53-- imagine if a male 2nd grade teacher decided to start being a female.
He would have to explain that to the children, wouldn't he?
"I just had to let my inner woman out.."
He was just using one of the more egregious possibilities (and there's no shortage of those...)
"Would someone please tell Del. McDermott that there is a website called mlis.state.md.us that lists all of this information? "
Good point. I suspected this all along. It would be great if he could simply summarize and add his opinions. More meaningful than emailing the yellow pages.
I thought the folks would like an easy way to review the votes without getting lost on the state site. My comments on committee activities are not available, and the up/down votes in committee are not readily available to the public.
I do find it odd that some would complain about this approach to "open government".
As to the LCB...it takes the House and Senate to pass anything. I have worked with the senator on this issue. I put my bill in first and then worked with him to make changes so they would be the same when they passed out of both Chambers.
"Thank you" to those who have kept up with the postings since the first week. Your encouragement is greatly appreciated.
Godspeed,
Mike
HB 896 is interesting. The police DO NOT do traffic stops based on race??? The police are FAMOUS for profiling, to the point of being the butt of jokes. The interesting thing is the base info for that study was provided by the State Police themselves. Do you THINK they would give information that would SUPPORT that accusation? LOL... ANOTHER example of the police investigating THEMSELVES and do you wonder why they alaways come out smelling like a rose? That is, except when they are being filmed without their knowledge. And now, I get to throw that wonderful Nazi catchphrase back at you ----"if you're not doing anything wrong, then why worry?" The police say "we don't do that", but they are quite vocally against the bill. Well, if you're not doing it, why worry if its a law against it or not? And I'll bet --- you already know the answer...
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