2020 Legislative Priorities
UPHOLD ALL OF THE GOVERNOR’S POLICY VETOES, IN PARTICULAR:
HB262/SB 537 – Undocumented immigrants may attend 4-yr. college/university at in-state tuition rates without first earning 60 credits at a community college. Reduces requirement for filing Maryland Income taxes to 3 years prior to college; and attending MD high school for 3 years to simply attending. Increase cost to taxpayers as 4-year college tuition is double cost of tuition at community colleges.
HB 720/SB830 – Fishery Management Plans – Oysters. Increases bureaucracy by doubling size of Oyster Commission, reduces trust, transparency and accountability by allowing closed meetings, and delays and endangers state’s long-term oyster restoration efforts to build sustainable harvests.
HB994/SB839- Criminal Record Screening Practices in hiring (Ban the Box) prohibits employers from inquiring about criminal record of applicant until first in-person interview.
REDISRICTING REFORM:
Support Governor Hogan’s Plan for an Independent Commission process to draft new Legislative and Congressional Districts that are compact, contiguous and of equal population after 2020 census.
VOTING INTEGRITY ISSUES:
a) Oppose Ranked Choice Voting (Montgomery County Bill and Baltimore City Bill)
b) Support Showing Government-Issued Photo ID to Vote
EDUCATION: KIRWAN FUNDING MUST BE ACCOUNTABLE AND AFFORDABLE
a) Funding formula/mechanism for Kirwan Commission recommendations must link local school systems’ progress on achieving improved student outcomes to continued increases in funding, such as: percent of students competent in reading and mathematics at grade level within a reasonable time (2-3 years).
b) Cost affordability must be addressed and increased funding be phased in without tax increases.
OTHER MAJOR ISSUES OF CONCERN
Immigration – Sanctuary City/State:
Oppose prohibiting local and State law enforcement officials from cooperating with Federal DOJ or ICE or providing immigration status of anyone in custody without a federal criminal warrant.
Respect for Life:
a) Oppose Physician Assisted Suicide or “Death with Dignity” legislation.
b) Support Pain-Capable Unborn Child legislation.
c) Support more effective treatment vs incarceration for opioid addiction.
Economic Impact:
a) Support allowing individuals to claim all of their deductions on MD income tax return even if they don’t itemize on Federal Income Tax return.
b) Oppose an Individual Mandate to purchase Health Insurance or enacting a single-payer health care syste
Contacts:
Diana Waterman, President (diana@watermanrealty.com)
Ella Ennis, Legislative Chairman (eee437@comcast.net)