Blog Archives

National Politics

1/31/2017

If you are a regular reader of my updates, you know I try to stay in my lane as a state elected official. But recent national events have stirred me and many others up. I spent a part of last weekend asking Governor Hogan to explain how he would implement the President's Executive Order regarding visitors and refugees in the state-owned Marshall-BWI Airport. Thus far, the Governor has not responded with any specifics. I also joined my colleagues in a statement regarding the misguided order which I believe will not make us safer--none of the countries covered by the order have had an immigrant cause a terrorist incident as far back as, and including, 9/11--and runs counter to our values.

The Budget

1/24/2017

As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I spend a lot of time working on the state budget. Last week, that process began with the introduction of the Governor's budget proposal. The budget includes an operating budget (costs to run state agencies), capital budget (costs for state construction projects), and a Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (known as the BRFA). The BRFA is used to alter state funding formulas when necessary to bring the budget into balance. You can review the Governor's submission here. The Department of Legislative Services provided a fiscal briefing on Monday analyzing the budget and you can read that online as well.

First Week Back

1/17/2017

The legislature has been back in Annapolis for one week. The first few days of the session are like the first few days of a new school year. Friends and colleagues reconnect, catch up, and discuss the exciting months ahead. It is about this time that the real work begins. Sleeves get rolled up, bill hearings begin, and in the case of the Appropriations Committee I serve on, the budget gets introduced

An Annapolis Agenda for 2017

1/11/2017

The 437th Session of the Maryland General Assembly convenes today. Although the legislature only meets for 90 days, as your Delegate I work year-round to represent each of you and our district. But the next 90 days will be a sprint of legislative productivity in Annapolis.

I will be called upon to consider and vote on numerous legislative issues during the session, many of which you may have read about in the news. Below are some of the major issues on my own Annapolis agenda for the year. Many of these issues will be the subject of future emails

WMATA-Metro Work Group 2017 Meetings

1/2/2017

The WMATA-Metro Work Group will reconvene during the 2017 legislative session. Work Group co-chair Delegate Erek Barron (Prince George's County) and I are pleased to announce the tentative schedule.

Two major issues facing Metro will also be a significant focus for the session: addressing some of Metro’s budget problems and the formation of the new, federally mandated Metro Safety Commission.

LATEST NEWS

National Politics

The Budget

First Week Back

An Annapolis Agenda for 2017

WMATA-Metro Work Group 2017 Meetings

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