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2020 Session:
Delegate Trent Kittleman - District 9A
Week Four
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Contents:
* The Vetoes
* Celebration of 19th Amendment
* Hearing set on my Civic Bill
* Courtesy Rules of Blindness
* Howard Delegation Bills
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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 TrentKittleman@verizon.net.
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Vote today!
7th Congressional District votes today to fill U.S. Congressman Cummings seat
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Tuesday, February 4th
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Three out of Eight - No veto.
The General Assembly voted to override five of the eight bills Governor Hogan vetoed last Session. Somewhat surprising, however, is the fact that the super majority chose NOT to override three other vetoed bills.
The three bills that were not brought up for an override vote were:
- A bill to mandate the appropriation of at least $3.8 million annually to fund a network of bike trails. The bill's sponsor, Delegate Brooke Lierman, noted that the bill wasn't necessary at this time because the Governor had included these funds in the budgets for the next two years.
- A bill to require at least TWO workers on freight trains. Many freight trains run with a lone engineer. Although the bill originally had strong support from the majority, that support waned in the face of opposition from CSX Transportation, a major freight train operator in Maryland. CSX has agreed to contribute to the long-awaited expansion of the Howard Street Tunnel in Baltimore. The tunnel is too low to accommodate double-stacked trains. The expansion will raise the height limit and greatly increase the flow of goods that CSX freight trains can transport out of the Port of Baltimore. It was rumored that CSX would back out of the deal if the 2-worker mandate bill was defeated.
- A bill to require the Governor to submit an annual report on personnel matters. The Governor's veto was allowed to stand.
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Five out of Eight Vetoed
Below is a short sentence describing the five bills that were vetoed by the Governor last year, and overriden by the General Assembly this year.
1.
HB720 Oyster bill. In one of the most hard-fought battles of the last session, legislation to modify oyster restoration and management passed. Delegates from the eastern shore argued passionately that the new law would harm the oyster harvest. The Governor vetoed the bill, but, nonetheless, the more urban and suburban majority of the General Assembly ignored the concerns of the smaller more rural counties and overrode the veto.
2.
HB994 - "Ban the Box." T
his
bill makes it
illegal for employers to ask about an applicant's criminal history before the first interview, specifically prohibiting the question to be included on an employment application (a check-off box);
3.
HB262 Expanding Dreamers Act
. This bill allows students who are not in the country legally but who attended high school in Maryland to apply directly to Maryland four-year institutions and still qualify for in-state tuition. Previously, the students had to attend a community college before becoming eligible for in-state tuition at a four-year college or university.
4.
HB1343 Handgun Permit Review Board - Repeal
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This bill abolished the five-member Handgun Permit Review Board in favor of having such appeals handled by the Office of Administrative Hearings. The Board reviewed appeals from individuals whose application for a concealed carry permit was denied by the Maryland State police. The Governor termed this veto override a "politically motivated, ill-conceived power-grab."
5.
HB891 State Personnel -- Grievance Process Allows additional circumstances for some categories of state employees to be heard before administrative judges, rather than going to an arbitrator (which will cost the employee half of what the arbitrator is paid).
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Cl.
A Celebration & Conversation on the Battle to pass the 19th Amendment
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Members of the Womens Caucus dressed for the event in white, purple and gold. The sashes were hand made with original faithfulness
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Cl.
100 Years ago
Women got the
Vote
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Last Wednesday night, the Womens Caucus
celebrated the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote.
Our First Lady, Yumi Hogan, spoke to the audience of more than 100. She so thoroughly enjoyed herself that she stayed for the entire event. We were also very pleased to have both of our new leaders say a few words -- Adrienne Jones our new Speaker of the House, and Bill Ferguson, President of the Senate.
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Left to right, Elaine Weiss, Dr. Martha Jones, and Sheila Kast.
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During the second hour of our celebration, we had Sheila Kast, award winning host of On the Record at WYPR, moderate a discussion with two women authors and experts on the Suffragette movement: Elaine Weiss, who wrote
The Woman's Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote, and
Dr. Martha Jones, author of
Birthright Citizen: A History of Race and Rights in the Antebellum America.
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Cl.
The "COURTESY" Rules of Blindness
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Visiting with the National Federation of the Blind
One of my favorite activities as a legislator is to visit with individual constituents, activists and even lobbyists. This is where I learn. This past week, I met with representatives of the National Federation of the Blind. They left with me the following handout. It's well worth sharing.
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C
Cane --
My cane (or guide dog) is my independent travel aid. If you think I might need help, please just ask me.
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O Ordinary - Blind people are ordinary. It feels awkward if you think I am amazing when I accomplish ordinary tasks like walking or tying my shoes. I also like ordinary things and have ordinary hobbies. It is okay to be amazed if I do something really exceptional.
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U
Understand
- I may not recognize your voice if I don't know you well. Please say, "Hi, it's Sue."
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R
Remember
- I may have some sight, but use nonvisual tech-niques and tools like a cane because it works best for me Sometimes people think I'm "faking" because I see a little, but I am just picking techniques that are most efficient and safe in light of my vision.
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T
Talk
- Please talk to me rather than a companion, and there is no need to speak up so just use your normal speaking voice and talk with me like you would with other people.
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E
Experience
- I probably have years of experience using nonvisual techniques to live my life. Feel free to ask me how I do something, or how best you can assist me, if help is needed.
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S
See
--It's OK to still use words such as see and look. I will talk with you like everyone else, although I may not be able to make direct contact.
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Y
Yield
- In all 50 states the law requires drivers to yield the right of way when they see my extended white cane or guide dog. Only the blind may legally carry white canes. I listen to traffic patterns to know when to cross streets and to keep a straight line when moving around.
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Cl.
Hearing on My Civics Bill this Wednesday
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The
Civics Test Requirement bill sponsored by Minority Whip, Kathy Szeliga, and myself will be heard by the Ways and Means Committee this upcoming Wednesday afternoon.
This was the first bill I introduced in the House back in 2014 when I was first elected. It requires every student in Maryland to pass the
U.S. Naturalization and Civics Test. This is the test that immigrants must pass to become an American Citizen.
The test is on the Internet. It consists of 100 yes-no, multiple choice, and very short-answer questions, so there would be very little cost to the State to administer this test -- and it is critical that we begin to teach our own children what makes America, America.
About 95% of the immigrants who take this test, pass it on the first try. Only 67% of Americans born here can pass the test.
PLEASE CONSIDER COMING TO ANNAPOLIS TO TESTIFY ON THE AFTERNOON OF WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH TO SUPPORT THIS BILL!
To find out more about testifying, along with other logistical information, call my office and speak to Chelsea Murphy, my wonderful legislative aide. Our number is 410-841-3556.
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Christopher Tomlinson, member of the Carroll County Republican Central Committee, has written an excellent opinion piece in the Carroll County Times on Crime in Baltimore. He writes:
"One would think that Baltimore's politicians are using every waking moment to pass laws aimed at decreasing the number of murders. Well, think again. . . .
"Instead, Republican Gov. Larry Hogan and the House of Delegates' minority caucus, the Republicans, have grabbed the bull by the horns and have introduced a number of bills to combat violent crime not only in Baltimore, but across the entire state. At a news conference Wednesday, Republican Nic Kipke, the House minority leader, roared, "This General Assembly is doing nothing to protect people in our communities. It is shameful!"
To read the entire article, click on the title above.
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Bill Hearing in Howard County
Thursday, February 13th, 2020-
7:30p.m.
Banneker Room, George Howard Building
3430 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City, MD
Public Notice for Hearing on Statewide Issues
The Howard County Delegation of the Maryland General Assembly, chaired by Senator Clarence Lam and Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary, will hold a public hearing for citizen input on statewide issues that may be considered by the legislature during the upcoming legislative session.
Howard County local bills and bonds that have not yet had a public hearing will also be heard at this time.
No Howard County local bills or bond request that were previously given a public hearing will be heard.
While speaking is not a requirement, the Delegation will hear testimony from members of the public on any statewide issue they would like to bring to the Delegation's attention. There will be a 3 minute limit to testimonies.
Signup will begin at 7:00pm and will close at 7:20pm.
Advance sign up is not available.
You are encouraged to bring 15 - 20 copies of your testimony for the Delegation.
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Bond Initiative Requests
Howard County Historic Barnard Fort House Restoration, Ho. Co. 39-20; Sponsored by: Chair, Howard County Delegation
Howard County Long Reach Village Center Revitalization, Ho. Co. 40-20; Sponsored by: Howard County Delegation
Proposed Local Bills
Howard County - Alcoholic Beverages Licenses - Class A Alcoholic Beverages Licenses - Quota by Election, Ho. Co. 38-20
By: Senator Guzzone
FOR the purpose of altering the quota system for Class A licenses in Howard County so as to limit the issuance of the licenses to not more than one for a certain number of residents in each election district, rather than in the county; and generally relating to Class A alcoholic beverages licenses in Howard County.
Howard County Board of Education - School Redistricting Plan - Testimony, Ho. Co. 41-20
By: Senator Lam
FOR the purpose of requiring, during a school redistricting process in which the redistricting plan proposed by the Howard County Board of Education differs from the redistricting plan proposed by the Howard County Superintendent of Schools, that the Board allow a household whose school assignment is changed only in the Board's plan to provide public testimony before the final vote on either school redistricting plan; and generally relating to the Howard County Board of Education and school redistricting.
For further information, contact Kam Bridges at the Howard County Delegation office at 410-841-3360 or hoc1@mlis.state.md.us
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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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