@MCPS to Brief Montgomery County Delegation (State Senators and Delegates) on Friday, February 24, 2023 at 9 AM

 

Montgomery County House Delegation Meeting

Friday, February 24, 2023

9:00 a.m.

via Zoom

 

AGENDA
 

Briefing:

• Briefing from Montgomery College

• Briefing from MCPS

2/24/23 Montgomery County House Delegation Agenda (montgomerycountydelegation.com)

Livestream:  Montgomery County Delegation - YouTube

MONTGOMERY COUNTY DELEGATION 2021 CALENDAR - Priorities and Bill Hearings for Fall 2021

 

onday, November 15, 2021	Joint House and Senate Priorities Hearing - 7:00 p.m. This hearing is an opportunity for the public to respond to the MDOT Consolidated Transportation Program Presentation and to bring other issues of importance for the 2022 Session to the attention of the legislators. The 2022 Priorities Hearing will be held virtually and will be livestreamed on the Delegation's YouTube page. Please click here for information on signing up to testify.
Monday, December 6, 2021	Local and Bi-County Bill Hearing - 7:00 p.m. Local bills refer to legislation affecting issues specific to Montgomery County. Bi-County bills refer to legislation that requires the approval of the Montgomery County and the Prince George’s County Delegations. Bills will be assigned to a hearing date after the Sponsor Approval Deadline. This year's Bill Hearings will be held virtually and will be livestreamed on the Delegation's YouTube page. Please click here for information on signing up to testify.
Monday, December 13, 2021	Local and Bi-County Bill Hearing - 7:00 p.m. Local bills refer to legislation affecting issues specific to Montgomery County. Bi-County bills refer to legislation that requires the approval of the Montgomery County and the Prince George’s County Delegations. Bills will be assigned to a hearing date after the Sponsor Approval Deadline. This year's Bill Hearings will be held virtually and will be livestreamed on the Delegation's YouTube page. Please click here for information on signing up to testify.

Will You Stand With Us? Support the Hidden Predator Act MD Senate Bill 134. 50+ organizations agree it’s time for the Senate to vote YES to Hidden Predator Act (SB134) without amendments! @Willcsmithjr @jwaldstreicher @SenatorSusanLee

The Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, MD supports the Hidden Predator Act.  

Will YOU Stand With Us? 

We stand united behind SB134 with over 50 faith-based, professional, non-profit, business, research and advocacy groups who have added their organizational support to this legislation.

It’s time for the Senate to vote YES to SB134 without amendments!
https://youtu.be/0v58y1FqEus

TAKE ACTION:

Email to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee Chair, Senator Will Smith (Montgomery County) and Co-Chair Senator Jeff Waldstreicher (Montgomery County) and share your organizations support of the legislation, a copy of the organizational letter of support is attached. Let them know that it is time for this bill to come for a vote in the committee.
will.smith@senate.state.md.us; jeff.waldstreicher@senate.state.md.us

If you have questions regarding the bill or would like additional data points in support of the legislation please visit our grassroots partner’s website www.Justice4MDsurvivors.org

Superintendent Smith to brief Montgomery County Annapolis Delegation Friday Jan 15, 10am

The agenda for the Montgomery County House Delegation Meeting on January 15 at 10:00 a.m. has been revised. The meeting will be livestreamed on the Delegation’s YouTube page. Please note that the meeting may take a few minutes to show up on the YouTube page after livestreaming has started, but you will be able to go back and view the meeting from the beginning.

The agenda has been posted to the calendar page of the Delegation website: January 15^th Montgomery County House Delegation Meeting Agenda.

 The bill hearing for MC 19-21 will be held during the meeting. Please click here or  email RStryer@house.state.md.us for information on how to testify.

 Rebecca Stryer

Montgomery County Delegation Administrator

Maryland House of Delegates

Lowe House Office Building

6 Bladen Street, Room 219

Annapolis, MD  21401

301-957-6332

RStryer@house.state.md.us

www.montgomerycountydelegation.com

 

Fri. 1/31/20 MoCo Delegation to Vote on Pay Increase for Adult and Student Board of Ed.

The Montgomery County Delegation will be meeting on Friday, January 31, 2020, at 9:00 AM in Annapolis.  If you can't attend the meeting in person you should be able to watch the livestream of the meeting on the Montgomery County House Delegation Facebook.

The Montgomery County Senators and Delegates will be voting on two bills involving Montgomery County's Board of Education.  One bill involves increasing the compensation paid to Board of Education members, including upping the student member's compensation to $48,000.

The other bill involves giving the Montgomery County Inspector General authority over MCPS.

Montgomery County House Delegation

Friday, January 31, 2020

9:00 a.m.

Room 170 Lowe House Office Building
Annapolis, Maryland

AGENDA

Briefing

• Hiram Burch - DLS Local Fiscal Briefing

• Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation with the Maryland Technology Council and the Montgomery County Chamber

Voting Session - Education, Elections, and Housing Committee Report (1/24/20):

• MC 8-20  Montgomery County – Public Campaign Financing – Board of Education

  Requested by Delegates Moon, Acevero, Carr, Charkoudian, Crutchfield, Cullison, Kelly, Lopez, Love, Luedtke, Palakovich Carr, Shetty, Solomon, Stewart & Wilkins & Senators Smith & Waldstreicher

  Education, Elections, and Housing Committee - Favorable

  
  
  

• MC 13-20  Montgomery County – Board of Education – Compensation

Requested by Chair on behalf of Montgomery County Board of Education Compensation Commission

Education, Elections, and Housing Committee - Favorable with Amendment

• MC 14-20  Montgomery County – Authority of County Council Over Inspector General – Montgomery County Public Schools

Requested by Senator Kramer & Delegate Solomon

Education, Elections, and Housing Committee - Favorable

http://montgomerycountydelegation.com/legislation.html 

E-mail addresses for Montgomery County Delegation:

eric.luedtke@house.state.md.us; anne.kaiser@house.state.md.us; craig.zucker@senate.state.md.us; pam.queen@house.state.md.us; brian.feldman@senate.state.md.us; kathleen.dumais@house.state.md.us; lily.qi@house.state.md.us; susan.lee@senate.state.md.us; ariana.kelly@house.state.md.us; marc.korman@house.state.md.us; sara.love@house.state.md.us; cheryl.kagan@senate.state.md.us; kumar.barve@house.state.md.us; jim.gilchrist@house.state.md.us; julie.palakovichcarr@house.state.md.us; jeff.waldstreicher@senate.state.md.us; alfred.carr@house.state.md.us; emily.shetty@house.state.md.us; jared.solomon@house.state.md.us; ben.kramer@senate.state.md.us; charlotte.crutchfield@house.state.md.us; bonnie.cullison@house.state.md.us; vaughn.stewart@house.state.md.us; will.smith@senate.state.md.us; lorig.charkoudian@house.state.md.us; david.moon@house.state.md.us; jheanelle.wilkins@house.state.md.us; Nancy.King@senate.state.md.us; gabriel.acevero@house.state.md.us; lesley.lopez@house.state.md.us; kirill.reznik@house.state.md.us; david.fraser.hidalgo@house.state.md.us

One-party delegations use loophole to evade Maryland open meeting law

The Prince George's County delegation in the House of Delegates will not meet Friday, but the Democratic caucus of that delegation will.

The membership of the delegation and the caucus are precisely the same. The difference is that where delegation meetings are generally open to the public, party caucus meetings are not.

Caucus meetings in counties with single-party delegations are a popular way for Maryland lawmakers to hash out local issues free from the prying eyes of the public. But the practice, defended by delegation members, raises red flags among advocates of open government.

"We're very concerned any time they use a loophole in the Open Meetings Act to avoid transparency," said Jennifer Bevan-Dangel, executive director of Common Cause Maryland.

It's a loophole that's available to only a few delegations. Most of Maryland's larger jurisdictions, such as Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties, have delegations that include Democrats and Republicans.

But Baltimore City, along with Prince George's, Montgomery and Charles counties, have all-Democratic delegations. Carroll County and some of Maryland's rural counties are all Republicans...

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/blog/bal-one-party-delegations-use-caucus-dodge-to-evade-open-meetings-20160324-story.html

Bill to Permit Alcohol Sales Across Street from BCC High School

Bill MC 8-16 is currently being reviewed by the legislature.

Montgomery County – Alcoholic Beverages Licenses – 
Exemption From Minimum Distance Restrictions

http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2016RS/bills/hb/hb1067f.pdf

Video: Council Retreat - "Don't ask questions" of public at hearings.

Part 2:  Exclusive video of Montgomery County Council Retreat on January 11, 2016.  The retreat was held in Potomac, Maryland.  No members of the press attended the retreat.  The Parents' Coalition was the only outside organization to attend this off-camera, off-site public meeting of the Montgomery County Council.

Floreen: "...warm up for Westbard..."

Floreen on public hearings run by Committees:  Floreen thinks all public hearings should be before the full Council.  Councilmembers are not "up to speed on issues" when they do not attend public hearings.

Riemer:  "immediate impact on schedule" with evening public hearings... "limit number of nights I go out during the week..."

Hucker:  "...we're all grownups and can make good decisions about our time..."

Minute 10 of video
Floreen:  "...we have the Westbard challenge..."

Minute 12 of video
Floreen:  "We've been doing a pretty good job of just letting public testify...Once we start engaging, we really can't stop...If you have questions at the end you can always ask staff at the end..."

Leventhal:  "...long Delegation hearing...amazing for me to hear elected officials argue with their constituents who showed up to testify... it didn't reflect well on our Delegation... reflects better on us just to listen at public hearings... gets us home earlier... Don't ask questions and certainly don't disagree or pick fights..."

Navarro:  "...where you have a theme going on that is factually incorrect..."

Minute 17 of video
Floreen: "...we need supporting staff to help us..." during public hearings. "Keep in mind our job is to help the public."

Minute 19 of video
Floreen on number of people speaking at a public hearing.  "If we keep our mouths shut, the community gets to weigh in... my personal...is more the merrier."  "I know what they are going to say on land use..."

Minute 22 of video
Discussion of problem with lights on microphones at public hearings.

Hucker:  "...we look very bush-league..."

Floreen:  "Mr. Katz runs is own personal timer."

Katz:  "What is follow up after public hearing?"

Minute 32 of video is discussion about making individuals disclose at public hearings when they are actually representing a group.

Montgomery County State Delegation Calendar

http://www.montgomerycountydelegation.com/calendar.html

Jan. 30th 6 PM: Hearing on New Special Taxes for Montgomery County Residents

http://www.montgomerycountydelegation.com/MC24-15.html

In a surprise move last, Thursday, County Executive Ike Leggett sent "late" bill MC 24-15 to our Montgomery County delegation in Annapolis asking for authority to create an Independent Transit Authority funded by a tax added to our property tax that is not subjected to current limits on that tax's increases. The bill is late because it was submitted seven weeks after county bills were due. Most County submitted bills are discussed in public hearings in Rockville in early December. The late submission means there was no public, transparent consideration of the bill – despite the fact that the consultant’s report that formed the basis of this bill was submitted to the County Executive more than one year ago, and was never presented to the Rapid Transit System steering committee.

This bill needs approval by the state legislature before the County can move on it. Late bills are considered on a fast track in Annapolis . The Montgomery County House delegation on Friday voted 19-4 to accept this legislation, and it may well be voted on by both houses before the scheduled April 13 adjournment. In response to a flood of protests from civic activists, legislators have agreed to hold a required hearing in Rockville instead of Annapolis on Friday, January 30, at 6pm.
If passed, this bill will allow the County to create an Independent Transit Authority (ITA). The County needs State authority to create such an agency. Concern among budget and legislation watchers is that there was a lack of transparency leading up to the submission of this bill and no public discussion, yet it gives authority to a new independent agency – and gives the agency authority to circumvent the County Charter 's limit on property tax increases.

Whether an Independent Transit Authority is a good idea or not, the details and impacts of this legislation need to be publicly debated and discussed before it goes to Annapolis for approval. The stealth with which this bill was developed and submitted lead many to think that quiet negotiations have cleared the road to approval both at the State level and in the County Council. We urge you to write to the Montgomery County House delegation and ask them to send the bill back to the County for public discussion, delaying any state action until County residents and taxpayers have had an opportunity to study and discuss the bill. Legislator email addresses are below.

The proposed Independent Transit Authority is somewhat akin to setting up another WSSC, run by a compensated board and self funded. Instead of "rates," the ITA would be funded by an extra fee on your property tax collected from "special tax areas," which could encompass the whole county, areas along particular transit routes, or whatever parameter the authority chooses. That extra property tax fee would not be subject to the County Charter limit that restricts property tax increases and puts a ceiling on the total amount of property taxes collected by the County. This charter limit was approved by the County residents in 1990.

Right now, as part of our property tax and under the charter limit, we pay a $0.04 per $100 assessed value "mass transit tax." That is not enough to fund the additional public transit projects proposed to reduce congestion in the County. The ITA, as described in the bill, could fund BRT, light rail, bridges, tunnels, property acquisition, parking lots, and garages, and even acquire property by condemnation, and probably even take on the debt on the Silver Spring Transit Center . But it won't have to present a budget to the Council every year like WSSC does.

The ITA, according to the legislation, could also issue bonds and incur debt that will not affect the County's debt ceiling or bond rating. In fact, the County could move debt off their books and onto the ITA's, and then increase spending and debt. The ITA debt will be guaranteed by future special taxes it can collect through the new separate tax on your property taxes. The County "may not require the ITA to submit capital or operating budget to County for approval."

If you think that MC 24-15 should be rejected by the Montgomery County delegation to the State legislature because it has not been properly introduced and discussed among the residents of Montgomery County, please write to the County’s state legislature delegates asking that they reject MC-24-15. Mr. Leggett can re-introduce the legislation next year.

As noted earlier, the Montgomery County delegation has agreed to hold a rare "late" bill public hearing in Rockville instead of Annapolis on Friday, January 30 at 6 pm. This does not substitute for internal public discourse between citizens and the County Executive . The presence of a significant crowd at the hearing would show our legislators that this is not the right way to do things. So please – come to the County Council Building, 100 Maryland Avenue in Rockville on Friday, January 30 at 6 pm.

Here is the voting list showing who in the Montgomery County Delegation voted to allow this bill to move through the legislature this session.

   MC24-15Late-filedVote by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

We didn't really mean . . .

. . . to support your new bill as written, Senator Raskin, says the Montgomery County Board of Education.

The Montgomery County Board of Education, in a letter written by Board President Phil Kauffman, states that while the BOE supports one goal of Senator Raskin's proposed legislation, SB 460, Criminal Law, Person in a Position of Authority, Sexual Offenses with a Minor, they didn't really read the bill before they voted their support.  Oops.  According to the letter:

the Board is uncomfortable with the condition of the bill that establishes an exception for staff that is up to seven years older than a student who is at least 16 years old.

Really?

Advice to the Board:  Read the bill before the vote.  This one isn't that long, and the problems aren't hidden in legislative gobbledygook.  Just because the drafter, Jamie Raskin, has impeccable credentials, doesn't mean that he can write a good piece of legislation.

More advice:  Get rid of the staff member who presented the legislation to you for approval, but didn't disclose the "puppy love" exception.

Thanks Phil, better late than never.

  Followup Letter SB460 by Magnet Mom

One step forward

but two steps back.  That's the problem with the legislation proposed by three of the MoCo delegation -  State Senators Jamie Raskin, Jennie Forehand, and Nancy King.  See the bill here.


This isn't a new problem, but one that has been around for a number of years.  So - again, here is my question - why is our legislature wasting their time on something that creates more problems?  Our Maryland legislators are in session only three months of the year - during the rest of the year they research and draft proposals without the clock ticking towards the end of the legislative session.


Yet - this bill, drafted by a senator who is also a law professor at American University, has too many problems.  Is this an inartfully crafted piece of legal writing?  Or is this a loophole that Senator Raskin really doesn't want to solve?


And - why are his co-sponsors so silent? 


Here is a piece from WTOP:

Bill seeks to close sexual-abuse loophole

Monday - 2/17/2014, 5:22am  ET

WASHINGTON - In 2012, Montgomery County police arrested a 47-year-old teacher on charges he engaged in sex with students - but he wasn't prosecuted.  Under Maryland law, because the students were 16 and older, the teacher was a part-time employee and the sex acts didn't occur at the place he coached or taught, no crime had been committed. Child advocates call it "the Saturday- afternoon loophole."  Maryland legislators moved to close that loophole. So Maryland Senator Jamie Raskin crafted a bill to go after teachers and coaches in a variety of settings: Part-time teachers or coaches at public or private schools and gyms would be subject to criminal law if they engaged in sex with a 16- or 17-year-old. (Sex with minors under 16 is a crime in Maryland; this bill covers teens above the age of consent who are under the direction of a teacher or coach.)
But Senate Bill 460 has a loophole of its own: If a teacher or coach is no more than 7 years older than the student they coach or teach, they would not be subject to the law. So a 24-year- old teacher or coach could legally engage in a sexual relationship with a 16- or 17-year-old. While most schools and organizations would find that a fireable offense, it would not be a crime.


Read more at http://www.wtop.com/46/3564472/Bill-seeks-to-close-sexual-abuse-loophole and then ask your Maryland legislators how they intend to solve the problem of sex abuse in Maryland schools.

Seriously?

Marylanders - we have a problem.

Yes, many of us have noticed that our state legislators are only part time.  The session in Annapolis is only three months long.  Many other states have full time legislators who focus on the interests of their constituents without having to balance another job or law practice to make ends meet.

This session, our part-time legislative representatives have introduced two pieces of legislation designed to address the current crisis in our schools with regards to sexual predators.  You may have noticed that several schools throughout Montgomery County have had the misfortune to find a sex offender on their staff.

So - MOCO legislative delegation to the rescue.

However, instead of making the laws more severe - our lovely delegation is not lessening the crime.  Sexual predators must now be at least 7 years older than the victim, and the predator must be at least 21 years of age.

What does that mean?

Work out the numbers yourself.  A coach on a high school sport, who may be 19 or 20, can have sex with a 15 year old.  A student volunteer/ teacher aide/student teacher can by under the age of 21 and not be charged.  A student teacher who is age 22 can abuse a student who is 15.   A volunteer or sibling of a student?  If under the age of 21, no problem.

Read the bills yourself and then CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS.

Jennie Forehand, Nancy King, and Jamie Raskin - did you really read this before you signed on as sponsors?   OK, so we can excuse Jennie for her lapse - she is getting old, and now we know why she announced her retirement.  Nancy King, a former MoCo school board member, has been around a long time and should also consider getting out of public life.  BUT - JAMIE RASKIN?  How can Mr. Takoma Park/ law professor liberal be a sponsor?  He should be ashamed.  Jamie - did you talk to your students at American University Law School about this?  Did you talk to your children?  Your wife?

Parents - protect your children and take action NOW.  Otherwise, Maryland will be known as the second best state in the nation for sexual perversity.

And don't forget to vote out the legislators who are supporting this bill.

  Mgaleg.maryland.gov 2014RS Bills Sb Sb0460f

  Mgaleg.maryland.gov 2014RS Bills Hb Hb0781f by Magnet Mom

More on the Common Core

This paper provides a useful historical timeline concerning how our educational systems adopted the Common Core.

As far as the political perspective, note that the views in the paper represent the views of the authors from the Pioneer Institute and American Principles Project,, and not this blogger.

http://americanprinciplesproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Controlling-Education-From-the-Top-2013.pdf

MoCo voters need to start understanding the Common Core, and decide whether this is a good initiative for our students.  We have an election coming up next year.  Remember, education is 50 percent of the county budget - do you think your tax dollars are well spent?

Off site/Off camera: Wed. Nov. 13th BOE meets with Montgomery Co. Delegation

Wed, November 13, 2013
08:45 AM Annual Meeting with the Delegation -
Seneca Valley High School

The Montgomery County Board of Education 
The Montgomery County Delegation 
November 13, 2013 
Seneca Valley High School 
19401 Crystal Rock Drive, Germantown, MD 
Media Center 
8:15-10:15 

AGENDA 

Coffee and Light Breakfast Fare 

Welcome 
Mr. Christopher Barclay, President 
Mr. Marc Cohen, Principal 


MCPS Demographics and Enrollment Overview 
Mr. Christopher Barclay, President 


MCPS School Capacity and Construction Issues 
Mr. Phil Kauffman, Vice President 
Mr. Larry Bowers, Chief Operating Officer 


Dialogue on Key Legislative Priorities 

 State School Construction Funding 
 Adequacy of State Education Funding 

 Common Core State Standards 

MONTGOMERY COUNTY DELEGATION 2013 CALENDAR

Thursday, October 3, 2013	Bill Request Deadline for local and bi-county bills (This is a "guarantee" deadline. All bills submitted by this date are guaranteed to be back to the legislator for approval prior to the Sponsor Approval Deadline.)
Thursday, October 17, 2013	Consolidated Transportation Program Presentation ("Road Show") by State Highway Administration 7:00 p.m. - 3rd Floor Hearing Room, Stella Werner Council Office Bldg., 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD 20850. The Road Show will be carried live over County Cable Montgomery (Channel 6 on Comcast and Channel 30 on Verizon).
Thursday, October 31, 2013	Sponsor Approval Deadline for local and bi-county bills (This is the deadline for the requesting legislator to approve local and bi-county legislation in order to be guaranteed a hearing without the bill considered to be "late filed.")
Wednesday, November 20, 2013	Joint House and Senate Priorities Hearing - 7:00 p.m. - 3rd Floor Hearing Room, Stella Werner Council Office Bldg., 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD 20850 - This hearing is an opportunity for the public to respond to the Road Show and to bring other issues of importance for the 2014 Session to the attention of the legislators.  The Priorities Hearing will be carried live over County Cable Montgomery (Channel 6 on Comcast and Channel 30 on Verizon).
Monday, December 2, 2013	House Hearing for local bills - 7:00 p.m. - 3rd Floor Hearing Room, Stella Werner Council Office Bldg., 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD 20850 - Local bills refer to legislation affecting issues specific to Montgomery County.  The Local Bill Hearing will be carried live over County Cable Montgomery (Channel 6 on Comcast and Channel 30 on Verizon).
Wednesday, December 4, 2013	House Hearing for bi-county bills - 7:00 p.m. - 3rd Floor Hearing Room, Stella Werner Council Office Bldg., 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD 20850 - Bi-County bills refer to legislation that requires the approval of the Montgomery County and the Prince George’s County Delegations.  The Bi-County Bill Hearing will be carried live over County Cable Montgomery (Channel 6 on Comcast and Channel 30 on Verizon).

WBAL - Roll Call Votes on SB1 Gaming Expansion Bill

WBAL:  House Roll Call Vote [Showing only members of the Montgomery County Delegation below.]

...On Tuesday Night, August 14, the House of Delegates voted 71-58 to approve SB1 "Gaming Expansion-Video Lottery Terminals and Table Games"...

Voting Yes

Sam Arora

Kumar Barve

Bonnie Cullison

Kathleen Dumais

Brian Feldman

Bill Frick

Sheila Hixon

Anne Kaiser

Ben Kramer

Eric Luedtke

Kirill Reznik

Jeff Waldstreicher

Craig Zucker

Voting No

Charles Barkley

Jim Gilchrist

Arianna Kelly

Susan Lee

Heather Mizeur

Shane Robinson

Luiz Simmons

Aruna Miller

Delegates Absent

Alfred Carr (D)

Ana Sol Guttierrrez (D)

Tom Hucker (D)

Senate Roll Call

On Wednesday morning , August 15, the Maryland Senate voted 32-14 to approve SB1 "Gaming Expansion-Video Lottery Terminals and Table Games"

Voting Yes

Jennie Forehand

Rob Garagiola

Nancy King

Richard Madaleno

Roger Manno

Democrats Voting No

Brian Frosh

Karen Montgomery

Jamie Raskin

How our legislators in Annapolis operate behind closed doors

...Early Monday, most of the county’s delegation to the House of Delegates met in a closed-door meeting to discuss what they could get for the county as the General Assembly hashed out final details on the state budget, a tax package on high-income earners and a measure to build a full-fledged casino in Prince George’s County, state officials said.
“A bunch of us got together to say, ‘Hey, is this budget and tax package a good thing for Montgomery County? Can we ask for some of the things that our county needs?’” said one of the officials, who was granted anonymity to speak freely about matters that weren’t public. “And the conversation sort of went to, ‘Well, we haven’t done a good job of articulating our demands.’”
After the meeting, a one-page e-mail was circulated among state legislators that said the administration of County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) wanted money for Ride-On buses and small transportation projects and legislation that would allow the county to approve an ambulance fee that couldn’t be struck down by referendum....

Read full article on how Montgomery County legislators met behind closed doors in Annapolis on the last day of the legislative session to propose new legislation that had not been vetted through a public process.

MD Reporter: Alcohol tax money goes to districts that supported it

What do Cabin John Middle School, Farmland Elementary School, Garrett Park Elementary School and Cannon Road Elementary School have in common? Read this article from the Maryland Reporter.

It took some Annapolis deal making in order to get the new 3% alcohol tax passed at the tail end of this year’s legislative session, and charges are being levied that politics are being played with where those proceeds are being spent...

...“There’s some precision associated with that,” Kamenetz responded. “When the General Assembly agreed to create an opportunity for one-time funding using revenues from the alcohol tax, the delegation agreed those districts that supported the funding would be the beneficiaries.”Kamenetz said that the seven schools that got the funding were selected based on the “hard vote” taken by their representatives... 

...Sen. Jim Brochin, D- Baltimore County, represents District 42. His district has plenty of educational facility needs – he said that elementary schools are currently at 140% of their capacity – but they got no funds. 

In the General Assembly, Brochin opposed the alcohol tax because he thought the money should go toward the disabled. School construction already has solid funding sources, he said.“This is a very sophisticated shell game,” Brochin said.

Read more: http://marylandreporter.com/2011/10/25/alcohol-tax-money-goes-to-districts-that-supported-it/#ixzz1bnmcrWTJ
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

Redistricting Petition Directed at Montgomery County Delegation

Support the Amendment to Congressional Redistricting Bill SB1

SB1 as passed by the Senate is unfair to Montgomery County residents, especially those living in diverse East County neighborhoods like Silver Spring. These neighborhoods will be placed into an oddly shaped congressional district that stretches to areas north of Baltimore City. An alternative is available that is fairer and will allow more Montgomery County residents to keep the same local congressional representation that they depend on. I look forward to your response.


http://www.change.org/petitions/the-governor-of-md-support-the-amendment-to-congressional-redistricting-bill-sb1