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Calling All Women Veterans!
Women Veterans are invited to the annual legislative reception for veterans, hosted by the Women's Veterans United Committee Inc.
Lt. Governor Rutherford will be one of the guest speakers for this event. Great opportunity to meet your state representatives, and voice your opinions on legislation to benefit our Veterans.
The event will be March 22, 2017
10 a.m.-2p.m.
House of Delegates Office, room 180
6 Bladen Street,
Annapolis, MD 21401
Our first Carroll County Night was held in Annapolis this week at the Governor Calvert House. Carroll County Night was an opportunity for legislators throughout the State to meet with Carroll County Economic Development and the business community. Events like this allow community partners to interact and ensure we are all doing what we can to help Carroll County!
Health and Government Operations Committee-
What We Do
I serve on the HGO Committee while in session. I also serve on the Health Facilities and Pharmaceuticals subcommittee and the Government Operations Estates and Trusts subcommittee.
Take a look at what my colleagues and I focus on:
- Health facilities,
i.e., hospitals,
assisted living and
all other healthcare
facilities, equipment, and products
- Long-term care
- Public health, including Medicaid
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- Health insurance
- Health occupations and professions
- State government organization, procedures, and operations
- Administrative law
- Procurement
- Human relations
- Trusts and estates
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Our committee meetings have been running late into the evening and will continue next week, as we quickly approach the cross over point.
FYI, Cross over is when the Senate bills come to the House, and the House bills go to the Senate, so they can then go to the floor for a final vote. All bills need to be passed in both the House and Senate.
A large focus in our committee this session is our fight against the Opiod Crisis. See the latest hotline information found in this newsletter.
We are working hard Annapolis to pass important legislation!
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Photo taken from msa.maryland.gov
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Democrats Weaken Power of Governor
at the Expense of Public Safety
A
s we saw earlier this session with their expansion of the powers of the Attorney General, the Democrats in the General Assembly are spending a significant amount of time trying to limit the powers of Governor Hogan.
The most recent example of this is House Bill 723, which eliminates Governor Hogan's oversight of the parole of inmates serving life sentences. Currently, when the Parole Commission recommends parole for an inmate sentenced to life, the Governor can do one of three things; disapprove the recommendation and deny parole, grant parole, or take no action and allow the recommendation to go into effect after 180 days. This bill eliminates the Governor oversight of the Parole Commission's recommendations.
This bill is a solution looking for a problem and it reeks of partisanship. Governor Hogan takes his executive clemency powers very seriously and, unlike his predecessor, has been diligent in the execution of these duties. Over the past two years, Governor Hogan has received five non-medical parole requests. He has approved two. He has also commuted four life sentences. By comparison, over eight years, the O'Malley Administration granted two medical paroles, three commutations, and zero non-medical paroles. Despite Governor O'Malley's clear failure to act, the General Assembly did not feel the need to move this legislation during his Administration. They have instead chosen to act now, when they have a Governor who takes his responsibilities seriously, but just happens to be from another party.
While partisanship on some level isn't unexpected, what is most disturbing about this bill is the threat it poses to the safety of Marylanders. The bill removes an important check of having the Governor - who represents and is directly accountable to all of Maryland's citizens - review and approve the release of the very worst offenders - those deemed by the judicial system to be dangerous enough to be sentenced to life imprisonment.
This dangerous and unnecessary bill is just another sad illustration that the Democrats in Annapolis, blinded by their desire to reign-in Governor Hogan, are willing to put the safety of our citizens at risk to achieve their political goals.
No Kid Hungry Maryland has been ending childhood hunger in Maryland since 2008 by connecting kids with the healthy food they need wherever they live, learn, and play.
The Carroll County Maryland Breakfast Challenge winners for this year are William Winchester Elementary School, and Mechanicsville Elementary. Visit:
More Support from Hogan, "Before It's Too Late"
Governor Hogan released a PSA urging parents to discuss the dangers of Heroin and Opioid use with their children. The PSA titled features award winning actor Michael Kelly. To view the PSA, click here
"Addressing this crisis that is ravaging communities across Maryland and the country has been and will continue to be a top priority of our administration," said Governor Hogan. "This epidemic affects people of all walks of life, and opioid abuse is becoming more and more common among our youth. It is critical that parents talk to their children about the dangers of heroin and opioid abuse - before it's too late. I would like to thank Mr. Kelly for partnering with us to raise awareness of this important issue."
Supporting Maryland's Legal Immigrants
A bill has been introduced that would make Maryland a Sanctuary State. HB 1362 would support immigrants that have not entered the United States legally, and it would hurt those who are going through the process legally. I support legal immigration, but I do not support making Maryland a Sanctuary State. I believe that with our limited financial resources we should focus on helping our own first.
Have a great day,
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