HEARING ALERT: Legislative Transparency Act Of 2017

Important Legislation Will Require General Assembly Deliberations to be Video Livestreamed

Note: House Health And Government Operations Committee to Hold Hearing on HB 438 on March 14, 2017, 1:00 PM

“The public has a right to know what their lawmakers are saying and doing during the debate on these important issues which are affecting the taxpayers. Legislators should be deliberating and making these important decisions out in the open, in the light of day. Why do they insist on dealing in secrecy? What is it that they have to hide?” - Governor Larry Hogan, January 19, 2017

Governor Hogan Has Been A Proponent Of Livestreaming Video Of Maryland General Assembly Deliberations

Governor Hogan Indicated His Support For The Video Livestreaming Of All General Assembly Deliberations In 2016; Called The Measure “Common Sense.” “The governor said in statement that he backed a bill that would require the state legislature to broadcast not only debates on the floor of each chamber, but also all voting sessions of committees. Committees currently livestream bill hearings, but not all debate and voting sessions. ‘Maryland citizens deserve accountability and transparency from their elected leaders, especially when modern technology should make access easy and inexpensive,’ Hogan said in a statement. ‘This is a common-sense piece of legislation.’” (Erin Cox, “Hogan Backs $1.2 Million Plan To Livestream Maryland General Assembly,” The Baltimore Sun, 2/24/16)

In 2016, Bipartisan Legislation To Establish The Video Livestreaming Of General Assembly Deliberations, Supported By Delegate Kathy Szeliga And Delegate David Moon Was Never Brought Up For A Vote.
Governor Hogan: “We supported similar legislation for this last year. But ironically, this important transparency legislation never saw the light of day, because it was hidden in a drawer and was never even brought to the floor for an up or down vote.” (Remarks, “Integrity In Government Initiative, 1/19/17)

Maryland Is One Of Just 7 States To Not Livestream Video Deliberations Of Either House Of The Legislature

Maryland Is One Of 7 States In The Nation That Does Not Livestream Video Of Deliberations In Either House Of The Legislature. (“Live Coverage Of Floor Proceedings And Committee Hearings,” National Conference Of State Legislatures, 1/23/17)

Video Livestreaming Of Maryland General Assembly Deliberations Receives Bipartisan Support

The Baltimore Sun Editorial: “It’s Past Time” The Maryland General Assembly Is Livestreamed. “With Governor Hogan, House Speaker Michael E. Busch and Mr. Miller on board (if somewhat testily so, in the case of the last two), we have high hopes that the bill will move forward this year. Maryland is one of only seven states that doesn't live-stream floor debates now, and it's past time we did.” (Editorial, “Watching The Legislature In Action,” The Baltimore Sun, 2/29/16)

Capital Gazette Editorial: “We Heartily Agree” That Maryland General Assembly Deliberations Should Be Livestreamed. “Police are hardly the only public servants who could benefit from a video record of how they do their job — something Gov. Larry Hogan recognized this week when he supported a proposal to spend $1.2 million to install cameras and livestream General Assembly floor debates… We heartily agree.” (“Editor's Notebook: Some Disturbing Numbers,”Capital Gazette, 2/25/16)

Damon Effingham, Policy Manager, Common Cause: ““It’s common sense to make sure Marylanders have access to the floor meetings and being able to see and participate more fully...” (Anjali Shastry, “Larry Hogan, Maryland Governor, Backs Plan To Livestream Video From State Legislature,” The Washington Times, 2/24/16)

House Speaker Mike Busch: “We’re happy to have all of those sessions videotaped. I mean, we’re all for transparency and I think the more the general public gets to see the legislature in work, they’ll know the hard work that they do down here.” (“Speaker Busch Downplays Division Between Hogan, Legislators,” WBAL, 2/25/16)

Senate President Mike Miller Has Both, Supported And Expressed Opposition To The Video Livestreaming Of Maryland General Assembly Deliberations.

Senate President Mike Miller Has Suggested That He’d Be Open To The Video Livestreaming Of Legislative Deliberations. “This year, Kittleman’s proposal may be overtaken by a rival offering from Miller that would give wider discretion to committee chairmen to stream debates on some bills during those voting sessions. ‘Most of the stuff we do is mundane,’ said Miller, D-Calvert and Prince George’s. Miller said that voting sessions on more controversial bills such as same-sex marriage or the repeal of capital punishment should probably be made available to the public. ‘I’d hope a committee chairman would say, ‘Let’s record that,’ Miller said.” (Bryan Sears, “Senate May Live-Stream Some Voting Sessions,” The Daily Record,1/12/14)

Senate President Mike Miller Indicated Opposition To Video Livestreaming, Suggested That Video Livestreaming Is An Example Of “Showboating” And Referred To Himself As A "Work Horse." “Then Miller suggested that perhaps Hogan needs his own video livestream. ‘I’ll put one of the cameras up in his office and he can talk to the camera all day long, OK? How’s that?’ Miller said. ‘I’m not big on showboating. That’s not my middle name. I’m not a show horse, I’m a work horse. I get the goddamn job done.’” (Erin Cox and Pamela Wood, “Miller, Busch Support Transparency In Maryland General Assembly, But Jab At Hogan,” The Baltimore Sun, 2/25/16)

Legislative Transparency Act Of 2017

Under The Governor’s Proposal All General Assembly Deliberations Would Be Required To Be Livestreamed. “The General Assembly shall make available to the public live and archived video streaming of each meeting of the Senate, the House, and a standing committee, including any hearings or voting sessions held by a standing committee.” (“Senate Bill 253,” Maryland General Assembly, 1/20/17)

Budgetary Action

Governor Hogan’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Includes Resources To Provide For The Funding Of Livestreaming. “The governor’s FY 2018 budget includes $1.2 million to fund the livestreaming.” (Press Release, “Governor Larry Hogan Announces Integrity In Government Initiative,” Office Of The Governor 1/19/17)