I may not be good at science, but I do know the chemistry of the legislature.
Governor O’Malley budgeted $18.4 million for stem cell research. Our staff has recommended a drastic reduction – to only $5 million.
I thought this would send the wrong signal to the scientific community about Maryland’s commitment to this research specifically and the biotechnology sector generally.
So I asked that the Stem Cell Research Commission send me a one-pager on the benefits of the state’s funding this research.
When I give this memo to members of the relevant Appropriations subcommittee, here’s how I boil down their argument.
* This is stimulus money for the biotech sector in the short term
* Significant federal $$ are not coming soon
* A cut of this size would jeopardize MD’s leadership in this area of research in the long term
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I began testifying on my resolution for the Jim McKay Maryland Million, the annual day of racing for horses sired by stallions standing in the state, by saying:
“If you’re as old as I am, you remember watching Wide World of Sports on a black-and-white tv.
“But I’m sure that everyone on this committee heard Jim McKay say, ‘They’re all gone,’ when he informed the world of the fate of the Israeli hostages at the Munich Olympics.”
Afterwards, one of the committee members came up to me and said, “I wasn’t born until 1973, the year after Munich.”
I may not have known his age, but I hope I have his vote.
Showing posts with label Maryland Million. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maryland Million. Show all posts
Monday, March 16, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Exceptions to the rule
Asking other members to co-sponsor your bill is the biggest waste of time in Annapolis – except when it isn’t.
As I’ve written in the past, getting your colleagues to scribble their initials on your legislation has little, if any, impact on the committee that will hear your bill. But there are exceptions.
Last year, I was the lead sponsor of the death penalty repeal legislation in the House. This year, Governor O’Malley is introducing the bill. My name will be listed second.
One of the Governor’s lobbyists asked me today if I wanted to walk the bill around and get co-sponsors to sign on.
After hesitating for a moment, I said, “Last year it was a high when I was gathering names on the House floor and people asked to cosponsor the bill who had not in the past. I’ll do it.”
If we get additional co-sponsors again this year, it will generate some momentum for repeal.
A great deal of momentum was generated today for my legislation to rename the Maryland Million in memory of its originator, Jim McKay.
After the hearing on the companion bill in the Senate this afternoon, the motion to give the bill a favorable report was unanimously approved.
I turned to Joe Kelly. He and McKay were the announcers for the first telecast of a horse race on local tv – sixty years ago.
“It’s not usually a sprint in Annapolis,” I said in a stage whisper.
Except, I could have added, when it is.
As I’ve written in the past, getting your colleagues to scribble their initials on your legislation has little, if any, impact on the committee that will hear your bill. But there are exceptions.
Last year, I was the lead sponsor of the death penalty repeal legislation in the House. This year, Governor O’Malley is introducing the bill. My name will be listed second.
One of the Governor’s lobbyists asked me today if I wanted to walk the bill around and get co-sponsors to sign on.
After hesitating for a moment, I said, “Last year it was a high when I was gathering names on the House floor and people asked to cosponsor the bill who had not in the past. I’ll do it.”
If we get additional co-sponsors again this year, it will generate some momentum for repeal.
A great deal of momentum was generated today for my legislation to rename the Maryland Million in memory of its originator, Jim McKay.
After the hearing on the companion bill in the Senate this afternoon, the motion to give the bill a favorable report was unanimously approved.
I turned to Joe Kelly. He and McKay were the announcers for the first telecast of a horse race on local tv – sixty years ago.
“It’s not usually a sprint in Annapolis,” I said in a stage whisper.
Except, I could have added, when it is.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Spanning the Globe
Bad news travels fast.
The session hasn’t started, and I attended my first budget briefing today.
No, I haven’t returned to the Appropriations Committee. The projected deficit was the topic at our Democratic Caucus meeting this morning.
“The forecast for 2009 is very bad, and that’s assuming benefits to the economy from the Obama stimulus package,” the General Assembly’s principal fiscal adviser informed us. “Even if we freeze spending, we still have a $1 billion problem.”
That deficit would be even greater if we had not enacted tax increases at the 2007 special session and reduced state spending by $1.75 billion over the last two years.
Better news for two of my bills at meetings this afternoon.
The first would prohibit the State Police from infiltrating undercover agents into groups engaging in lawful First Amendment activity. We had what we hope will be our last meeting to discuss the language in the bill.
The second bill would rename the Maryland Million, the annual day of racing for horses bred in Maryland. To honor the person who thought of this event, it would be called the Jim McKay Maryland Million. I met with the chair of the committee that will hear the bill, and she agreed to co-sponsor it.
From police surveillance to the race track.
To paraphrase what Jim McKay said in the opening sequence of Wide World of Sports: “Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of the sport of legislation.”
The session hasn’t started, and I attended my first budget briefing today.
No, I haven’t returned to the Appropriations Committee. The projected deficit was the topic at our Democratic Caucus meeting this morning.
“The forecast for 2009 is very bad, and that’s assuming benefits to the economy from the Obama stimulus package,” the General Assembly’s principal fiscal adviser informed us. “Even if we freeze spending, we still have a $1 billion problem.”
That deficit would be even greater if we had not enacted tax increases at the 2007 special session and reduced state spending by $1.75 billion over the last two years.
Better news for two of my bills at meetings this afternoon.
The first would prohibit the State Police from infiltrating undercover agents into groups engaging in lawful First Amendment activity. We had what we hope will be our last meeting to discuss the language in the bill.
The second bill would rename the Maryland Million, the annual day of racing for horses bred in Maryland. To honor the person who thought of this event, it would be called the Jim McKay Maryland Million. I met with the chair of the committee that will hear the bill, and she agreed to co-sponsor it.
From police surveillance to the race track.
To paraphrase what Jim McKay said in the opening sequence of Wide World of Sports: “Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of the sport of legislation.”
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