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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Field Notes By Delegate Mike McDermott

Week 11 March 18-March 23, 2013

Monday Night Session:

Third Reader Bills Highlighted/controversial bills included HB-347 which would require additional permitting for certain corporations. Once again, these bills increase the burden on Maryland businesses and often results in diminished economic returns.

HB-667 would require all school employees across the state to be union members and pay mandatory dues. There was much debate on the issue. 10-counties currently have unions and the bill would force the same conditions on all of the remaining counties. There were attempts to amend the bill to require audit oversight and minimum participation numbers but they were all rejected. Ultimately the bill moved to Third Reader without any amendments.

Tuesday Judiciary Hearings:

Third Reader Bills

HB-1106 would allow the sealing of a Search Warrant Affidavit while an investigation is ongoing on a 30-day basis with 30-day extensions allowed by the court.

HB-1232 would allow for the issuance of a Search Warrant via electronic means. This bill would recognize the digital nature of current law enforcement applications and would speed the process under many circumstances regularly encountered by law enforcement.

HB-1453 would decriminalize the use of marijuana for minimum amounts. The bill also creates a taxation of the drug for revenue collection in the state.

HB-1185 would create a specific charge for 2nd Degree Assault of a health care worker. We heard from many nurses and the respective Health Care Association advocates about the need for this type of charge to be implemented.

Tuesday Judiciary Voting Session:

Bills Approved: HB-129, HB-443, HB-542, HB-777, HB-792, HB-857, HB-942,

HB-1407

Wednesday Judiciary Committee:

HB-1490 would place a prohibition on the right to refuse a chemical test of their breath or blood in cases of drunk or drugged driving for someone who has previously been detained for DWI who refuses a required test. It would place a $1000 fine and a one year jail sentence as potential penalties.

HB-565 would make it a crime to sell a vehicle in Baltimore City that would be illegal to operate in Baltimore City.

Bills Approved: HB-14, HB-489, HB-604, HB-889, HB-909, HB-952

Thursday Morning Session:

Third Reader Bill Link There were a few debated bills on Third Reader: HB-328 which provides for “crony capitalism” on behalf of many special breaks being provided for biotech firms. All businesses in Maryland need a break and giving it to a very narrow sector may encourage their growth and development at the expense of all others. HB-361 provides for some implementation language for Obama Care. It provides for the bureaucracy regarding implementation and funding. It is fraught with regulations and fees. HB-224 would relax the penalties

Thursday Judiciary Committee Hearings:

HB-1523 seeks to significantly restrict the collection and storage of DNA for evidentiary purposes. It would set provisions whereby samples could be collected and would establish the procedures for storage. As written, it would restrict law enforcement in many ways from retaining samples or from the collection of samples from convicted sex offenders.

Bills Approved Wednesday Night by Judiciary Committee: HB-396, HB-428, HB-478, HB-541, HB-631, HB-698, HB-854, HB-941, HB-985, HB-1263, HB-1281, HB-1382, HB-1394, HB-1396, HB-1408 B-1396 HB-H

Friday Morning Session:

Bills Approved on Third Reader Debated Bills: HB-1170 which channels state money in certain programs to “sustainable growth” and development and would deny money to communities who do not adopt the state standards for growth.

Saturday Morning Session:

Bills Approved on Third Reader

Saturday Evening Session:

Bills Approved on Third Reader Debated Bills: HB-863 which is the “Fair Share Act” for certain colleges and universities in Maryland. It would require that all of the employees become paying members of the State Teachers Union. Until this time this has been an option for the employees.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Third Reader Bills Highlighted/controversial bills included HB-347 which would require additional permitting for certain corporations."

Another democrat sponcered bill aimed at ridding competetion for their big corporate buddies.
Anyone who cannot see that it is the democrats who are controlled by big corps truly has their head up their butts.

Anonymous said...

Enough! These proposed bills have to stop! We have too many laws!

Anonymous said...

It's a disgrace what the democratic party has let itself become. There is not one democrat elected official anywhere anymore who can even come close to considering themselves a leader. They are a pathetic bunch of followers who have allowed themselves to be dragged around by the nose doing the biding of special interest.
They bow to special interest in order to get votes because they have no morals or principles and will do anything because in their minds they think it's an 'honor' to be an elected official. In reality these types are little respected because a lot can see them for what they really are-spineless and mindless attention seekers.

ginn said...

It's high time for the Eastern Shore to look seriously at secession. We have little need for the preponderance of these BS bills yet, we are indentured to whatever laws come from them. And, the population difference with the Western Shore insures that our voices are never going to be heard nor even considered in Annapolis. It truly is time to break away.

Anonymous said...

Wouldn't secession be nice ginn but unfortunately we can't.
We have not enough industry left to support ourselves thanks to the democrats. The democratic leadership of yesteryears on the Eastern shore were miserable failures- peons lead around by their noses by big business. Now we have those, who without a hint of embarrassment, are still walking around with their heads shoved up big business and special interest butts killing what's left of this area.
Up until about 50 yrs ago the democrats of the eastern shore had a spine and were real leaders and this area was self supporting. Then the peons were elected and things went to hell.

Anonymous said...

The Eastern Shore has its own home grown areas of Fiscal abuse. There was a thread going yesterday about the Tri-County Council for the Eastern Shore and their use of public funds to support their social activities in area bars and restaurants. In spite of a newly acquired $10M facility in Salisbury, they insist on avoiding meeting there except for employee related events. There were several claims to the public record of expenditures, missions, and processes so I decided to see what I could find from the local Council's website (http://lowershore.org) and, for comparison, the site of a Western Shore Council (tccsmd.org). I could not find budget data for either of these Councils, the local Council did not even have a public Mission Statement or even a public document related to Council meetings newer than a year. The State of Maryland created these councils in 2001 but "where is the beef"? Is there any accountability? Have they ever been audited? So, before crying about the need for the Eastern Shore to break away from State centric money grab from all of its citizens, you need to pay attention to what is happening in your own backyard in Salisbury. You are being governed by a handshake and a wink.

lmclain said...

HB-1453 proposes some taxation and a "revenue collection" for pot. I told you all months ago that EVERY state will come to legalize or tax marijuana. There's gold in them there hills!! They have spent all of our money. For generations. They have raised taxes to the point of revolt. Raised every levy, surcharge, fee, and fine to record levels and there's no end in sight. You think those fees, fines, and taxes won't get raised again NEXT YEAR??? These slimy losers would legalize and tax Satanic sacrifices if they thought there was MONEY in it for them. Hence, politicians who were once rabidly anti-pot are now clamoring for decriminalization or legalization. They are worse than whores. At least you know what you're getting when you pay a whore. You get the same thing from a politician, but HE charges YOU....