Sunday, March 20, 2016

Survey Results

Survey Results

Thanks for everybody who took my survey on some of the more controversial legislative issues.  Over 200 people have responded so far and I am summarizing the responses below.  You can still take the survey by clicking on the following link:https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YDFJ28P

  1. Do you think smoking marijuana in public should be a criminal offense (misdemeanor) or a citation?  (HB334)
    1. Yes:                 40%
    2. No:                   46%
    3. Undecided:     14%
  2. Do you think the minimum penalty for second degree murder should be raised from 30 years to 40 years? (HB 1213)
    1. Yes:                 20%
    2. No:                  52%
    3. Undecided:       28%
  3. Do you think there should be a tax credit for contributions to private and religious schools (as well as public schools) in distressed areas? (HB 453, HB 1213 and HB 1343)
    1. Yes:                 40%
    2. No:                  42%
    3. Undecided:       18%
  4. Do you support death with dignity legislation? (HB 404)
    1. Yes:                 72%
    2. No:                  16%
    3. Undecided:       12%
  5. Do you think Maryland should ‘go it alone’ with non-partisan re-districting?  (HB 458)
    1. Yes:                 54%
    2. No:                  20%
    3. Undecided:       26%
  6. Ranking of top 5 tax credit proposals. 
    1. Tax Credit for Student Loan Debt – HB 103
    2.  Increased Earned Income tax Credit (for people below $25000) HB 452
    3. Improving the homeowner tax credit HB 114
    4. Tax credit for low income renters HB 340
    5. Tax Credit for College Savings Plans -  HB 335
If you want to get the full results of the survey:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-W8N5YRXW/

You can look up each of these bills by going to the MD Legislative Web-site and inputting the bill number.  http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga
 

District 47 Night in Annapolis

Monday, March 21st

6:00 P.M. TILL 8:00 P.M.
Meet your legislators and other important legislators
Find out first hand what’s going on in Annapolis
Dinner available for attendees
Miller Senate Building, Conference Room West, 11 Bladen Street
For More Information and to RSVP:  Call 301-858-3745



Status Report on Some Important

Legislative Issues in Annapolis


Gun Free Campuses

The House of Delegates is about to pass legislation that would ban possession of firearms on college campuses.  Currently, guns on campus are decided on a campus by campus basis.  Washington College closed for a week in November because of threats of gun violence.

A 2010 report by the FBI said that 54% of attacks on college campuses involved firearms.  Furthermore, suicide is the third-leading cause of death for people ages 15 to 24 and 85% of gun suicide attempts are lethal

This legislation would make it illegal for a person to possess a gun on college campuses, including community colleges. The legislation exempts police officers and security personnel.
 
Prince George's County Regional Hospital

Over the last 10 years, the State of Maryland has been engaging in a partnership to build a new, state-of-the-art facility in Prince George’s County to serve as the lynchpin of the State’s trauma system in Southern Maryland. The University of Maryland Medical System is collaborating to operate the new Regional Medical Center. Without this hospital, accessible to over 1.5 million people, the State’s trauma system would be in real jeopardy.

The State made a  commitment to the new hospital center, including operating and capital funding over the next 5 years. Last year the Governor did not provide the funds for the hospital.  House Bill 309 which the House of Delegates passed codifies the commitment of Prince George’s County and includes certain other regulatory requirements to be met.
 
Drunk Driving Legislation

The House of Delegates will pass Noah's Law (HB 1352) early next week.  The legislation is named after Montgomery County police Officer Noah Leotta who died after being hit by an alleged drunken driver on Rockville Pike

The legislation will strengthen our laws to deter drunk driving in Maryland.  The legislation will require an interlock device (wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignition_interlock_device) to be installed in the vehicles of drunk drivers who are convicted of driving under the influence or driving while impaired.

The bill specifically:
  • Increases the length of license suspensions and interlock periods for blood alcohol content at .08 or higher - the legal limit for intoxication - for the first time offenders and repeat offenders.
  • Increases the license suspensions and interlock periods for offenders with high blood alcohol content (.15, under Maryland law).
  • Encourages the broader use of interlock for convictions at .08, .15 and refusing to take a break test.
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