District 15 Representatives Recap Legislative Session

Fiscal challenges, social issues and transportation projects were just a few of the things District 15 representatives tackled during the 428th session of the Maryland General Assembly, which ended at midnight on Tuesday.

Sen. Rob Garagiola (D), Del. Kathleen Dumais (D) and Del. Aruna Miller (D) spoke about some of the highs and lows of the 90-day legislative session at the West Montgomery County Citizens Association meeting on Wednesday at the . Del. Brian Feldman (D), the other District 15 representative, was not able to attend the meeting.

Although the recession may be over, fiscal challenges remained in the Senate, said Garagiola, the majority leader. Maryland has reduced spending by more than $6 billion, with more than $750 million in cuts this past year, he said.

Even with scaling back, the Senate worked to invest in education for kindergarteners through 12th-graders with modest reductions, Garagiola said. The state has increased investment in education by $1.2 billion, he added. 

Also, Garagiola mentioned his push to for Maryland’s utility companies, especially Pepco, which have allowed their systems to deteriorate without consequences, he said. The Maryland Electricity Service Quality and Reliability Act passed with just hours left in the legislative session.

Dumais, who has been a delegate for nine years, said this session was one of the most tense and controversial sessions she has been a part of because of the number of social issues covered in the Maryland House of Delegates.

The , medical marijuana bill and were just a few of the bills that caused divides when they went through the House, she said.

“One-third of the delegates this year were new to the House and that shakes up committees a lot,” Dumais said. “We have a new crop of legislators, and it sets a different tone with different patterns.”

Miller began her first year as a delegate as a member of the Ways and Means Committee, which is responsible for legislation involving such areas as children, education, transportation funding and revenues.

The Purple Line and Corridor Cities Transitway were two transportation projects Miller worked to fund during the session.

Another bill Miller worked to pass included the state’s regulations for distributing the White Pages. Now, residents have to opt in to receive the White Pages, which only 2 percent of the population requests, she said.

“When I get mine it usually goes right into the recycling bin,” Miller said. “We are hoping that through this bill we can reduce wastage and help save the environment because many of the books wind up in a land fill.”

Many attendees enjoyed the opportunity to speak directly with their representatives and ask questions regarding policy.

“A lot of people don’t know what’s going on with these bills. They might hear a blurb on the news and that’s it,” said John Yassin, a member of the WMCCA’s board of directors. “I got a chance to have them explain their contributions and ask what they are voting on and why. It’s a great experience.”