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2020 Session:
Delegate Trent Kittleman - District 9A
Week Ten
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Contents:
* Coronavirus Updates
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Mt. Airy Nursing Home Hit Hard
* New Directive
from Gov. Hogan
* Latest spread of Coronavirus in Maryland
* Maryland Gets Disaster Aid
* Links to Helpful Information
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Legislative Wrap-Up: by Del. Susan Krebs
* Howard & Carroll Bond Initiatives
* Dirty politics get a rare exposure
* DEADLINE to APPLY for a Delegate Kittleman SCHOLARSHIP
has been EXTENDED to APRIL 30th.
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Please forward this email to your family and friends, and encourage them to sign up to receive the weekly News from Annapolis by sending me an email at [email protected].
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Mt. Airy Nursing Home Hit Hard by Coronavirus
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MARCH 29, 2020 / 8:23 PM / CBS NEWS
"Mount Airy, Maryland
- More than 60 residents of a Maryland nursing home have tested positive for coronavirus, pushing the state's total number of confirmed infections beyond 1,200 this weekend. One man in his 90s with underlying health problems died Saturday evening at the nursing home, health officials said.
"Sixty-six patients at Pleasant View Nursing Home in Mount Airy, Maryland - located about 40 miles outside the nation's capital - have contracted coronavirus, health officials confirmed during a Sunday press conference. Eleven of those patients have been hospitalized."
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UPDATE from GOVERNOR HOGAN
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Latest Statistics on CoronaVirus in Maryland
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The graphs below are from the Baltimore Sun and are updated each day.
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Maryland Receives Major Disaster Aid
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Department of Health GeneraI Information:
Maryland Office of Health Care Quality:
To report safety concerns about hospitals and other health care facilities
The University of Maryland Medical System:
A free call line that is open to the public 24/7 to answer questions related to COVID-19. Calls will be answered and routed by an Operator. A Registered Nurse will then connect with callers to answer their questions The call line number is 1-888-713-0711.
For more information, visit
https://www.umms.org/coronavirus/nurse-call-line
Department of Education:
Information on child care of essential personnel
Department of Aging:
COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund
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Workforce Development and Adult Learning: Governor Larry Hogan and the Maryland Department of Labor have launched the new COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund, which is designed to support businesses undergoing economic stresses due to the pandemic by preventing or minimizing the duration of unemployment resulting from layoffs. The award (up to $50,000 per applicant), will be a quick deployable benefit and customizable to the specific needs of your business to minimize the need for layoffs.
https://commerce.maryland.gov/fund/maryland-small-business-covid-19-emergency-relief-fund-programs
Department of Commerce:
If you have specific questions pertaining to the business community and COVID-19, email secretary: [email protected]
Maryland COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund Programs for Businesses:
Maryland has authorized $130 million in loan and grant funding for small businesses and manufacturers that have been negatively impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). This emergency assistance provides interim relief and proceeds that can be used to pay cash operating expenses including payroll, suppliers, rent, fixed debt payments and other mission critical cash operating costs. For more information, visit:
https://commerce.maryland.gov/fund/maryland-small-business-covid-19-emergency-relief-fund-programs
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The following article was written by my colleague from Carroll District 5, Susan Krebs.
***
I am reprinting it with her permission since she was there, on the floor, right up until the end -- and because I agree with every word! (I take responsibility for adding the images)
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The
Maryland General Assembly adjourned the 2020 Legislative Session on Wednesday, March 18
th
-- almost three weeks early because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
We worked almost nonstop and late into many nights through the last three weeks, including a rare Sunday session- the first in thirty years- to rapidly approve some necessary and some not-so-necessary legislation.
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We condensed the last month of session into three days with a third of the staff available
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The presiding officers were criticized, rightfully so,
as the
General Assembly was meeting in a vacuum- banning the public from the buildings and dealing with significant technological shortcomings both for members of the Legislature and those who attempted to stay engaged remotely.
The Democratic leaders told the public that we were meeting to pass emergency legislation, that was a far stretch from the truth, only a handful of emergency bills were necessary. Why
it is OK for 188 Legislators to gather in close quarters to jam through non-emergency legislation, and the rest of the public is told to shelter in place?
We should have been back in our districts communicating with our constituents on how to navigate the many new orders that were about to affect our lives for the foreseeable future.
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Note: The Governor cannot dictate to the Legislative branch of government what to do- only strongly suggest it - as he did on more than one occasion.
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There were some key pieces of Legislation that we did pass --
a Balanced Budget (required by the Constitution) and those bills dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic, but most of the others could have waited. We were expected to
vote on every one of the 660 pieces of legislation that was presented to us in the last three days-whether we had the ability to read it or not.
It was insane and not the way to do business -- Marylanders deserve better!
This is unprecedented and unlike ANYTHING I have ever seen in my seventeen years as a Maryland State Delegate. . . .
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The $32 Billion Kirwan 10-year Plan Gets Final OK
The much anticipated Kirwan education legislation-
HB1300
the pleas from Republicans to wait until the un-certainty from the COVID-19 pandemic stabilized. My colleagues who voted to rush through the education spending bill, on a party line vote in the House, failed to pass significant legislation to
pay
for the $4 Billion a year price tag when it fully ramps up. Most of the massive tax increases they tried to push through failed -- thank goodness for
t
hat.
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It is beyond belief to me that any legislator could vote to increase the spending of taxpayer's money by $32 billion dollars at a time when our citizens and businesses are facing a health and economic disaster unlike any in our lifetimes.
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Governor Hogan has vowed to veto this legislation- but the Democrat leaders have already planned a special session in late May to override the Governor's veto.
Not sure when they plan to figure out which other taxes to raise to pay for it. States can't print money like the federal government. . . .
Wishing you and your family wellness during this challenging time. .
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Howard County Bond Initiatives
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Project Name
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Request
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Senate Initiative |
House Initiative |
Total Funding |
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Athelas Institute
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$
25,000
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$25,000 |
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$25,000
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Howard County Conservancy
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$350,000 |
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$350,000
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$350,000
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Howard County Veterans Monument
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$350,000 |
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$
350,000
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$350,000
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Living in Recovery, Inc
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$75,000 |
$75,000 |
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$65,000
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Long Reach Village Center
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$100,000 |
$100,000 |
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$100,000
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Main Street Ellicott City Streetscape
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$250,000 |
$250,000
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$250,000
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Community Ecology Institute
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$100,000 |
$100,000
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$100,000
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Living Farm Heritage Museum
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$200,000 |
$200,000
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$250,000
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Winter Growth
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$50,000 |
$50,000 |
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$50,000
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Carroll County Bond Initiatives
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Project Name
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Amount Requested
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Senate Initiative
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House Initiative
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Total Funding |
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Historical Society of Carroll
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$40,000 |
$40,000 |
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$40,000 |
| Mount Airy Center Street |
$500,000
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$500,000 |
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$500,000 |
| Penn-Mar Human Services and Change |
$50,000
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$50,000 |
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$50,000 |
| Westminster Rescue Mission |
$100,000 |
$100,000 |
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$100,000 |
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End of Session Bullying
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Why "conservative democrats" can't vote their consciences
One of the frustrating things about politics is that when Democrat legislators vote on major legislation, their first consideration is not 'what is the right thing to do,' but rather,
'what does "l
eadership" want.' Most of the time, legislators can vote their conscience, but when it comes to signature legislation -- such as the $15 Minimum Wage; the Sick and Safe Leave bill; Kirwan's Blueprint for Maryland bill among others -- the majority legislators must toe the line --
or else!
The "or else" can take many forms, but the most common "punishment" is loss of a leadership position. One of the reasons the majority party creates so many leadership positions is to build leverage.
Even more frustrating is how difficult it is to get anyone to
care. This is not the fault of the people. It is the primary fault of the news media for generally ignoring the myriad incidents that happen in Annapolis. Not because the media aren't aware of this practice, but because they, too, can be 'punished' by the political majority, limiting their access for example.
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Del. Geraldine Valentino-Smith
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I raise this topic now because right at the end of this past session, one such incident was
so
blatant -- so in-your-face -- that a reporter who was literally on the scene -- was able (and unafraid) to report what happened.
Delegate Geraldine Valentino-Smith was the only Democrat to speak and vote against SB 1028. In retaliation she was stripped of her position as House chair of the Spending Affordability Committee within minutes of the vote.
According to a former Democrat legislator who served in the Senate for 28 years, SB 1028 "may be the most consequential legislation passed by this year's General Assembly. . . .Given the nature of Senate Bill 1028, the removal of a Spending Affordability Committee chair is very troubling."
The bill is inaptly named "Balancing the State Budget," which it does not do. Maryland's Constitution requires a balanced budget every year. What this bill would do is revise the State Constitution to give the legislature the power to completely re-write the governor's budget, provided it does not increase overall spending. For example, if the Governor's budget provided $500 million to fight the Coronavirus crisis, the legislature could decide to allow half of the $500 million to go to the Coronavirus fight and appropriate the other $250 million for education.
What makes the passage of this bill so problematic -- and Del. Valentino-Smith's comments most appropriate -- is that:
- the House Appropriations Committee (on which Ms. Valentino-Smith serves) never held a hearing on Senate Bill 1028
- the bill was presented to members of the committee with just six hours to go in the session
- the language regarding the required referendum was partial and misleading, suggesting that the bill made no significant changes, which, along with it's "Balancing the State Budget" title suggests the exact opposite of what this bill will do;
Voters ought to be able to count on legislators to speak up and speak out on bills of this significance, regardless of party. Unfortunately, the only thing voters can count on is that most of their legislators will do what's in their own best interests. Fortunately, what is in their own best interests is usually what their constituents consider the "right thing" -- just not always.
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Cl.
Delegate Kittleman Scholarship
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District 9-A Residents:
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High school seniors, current undergraduate students at a 4-year college, a community college, or a private career school are eligible to apply for a Legislative Scholarship.
NOTICE:
DEADLINE FOR FILING APPLICATION HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO APRIL 30TH
For questions regarding the application process, call my Annapolis office and speak with Chelsea Leigh Murphy, my Legislative Aide, at 410-841-3556.
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Delegate Trent Kittleman
District 9A, Western Howard County and Southern Carroll County (Sykesville)
Room 202, Lowe House Office Building
6 Bladen Street, Annapolis, MD 21401
Interim Office
3000 Kittleman Lane, West Friendship, MD 21794
Administrative Aide: Chelsea Leigh Murphy
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