Glen Burnie Area Lawmakers Reflect on 2011 Legislative Session

Editor's Note: This article was updated April 14 to remove comments from Distrist 32 Delegate Pam Beidle (D-Linthicum) at her request.

Glen Burnie Patch caught up with a few of the delegates from the 31st and 32nd legislative districts on Monday to find out what they thought about the 2011 session.

District 31

Delegate Nic Kipke (R-Pasadena)—Excerpts from a Facebook note

“This session, between the House of Delegates and the Senate, we will have acted on over two thousand bills. Many of these I voted against, however I am extremely proud to have supported increased penalties for criminal child neglect, cruelty to pets and increased penalties for child molesters.

Also this year we created a program that will better assist physicians to guard against the proliferation of painkillers and other addictive drugs through the creation of the Maryland Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. 

While I was unable to support the budget I am pleased to report that we are finally going to begin licensing locksmiths in Maryland. This professional license is essential to guard against unscrupulous companies that have been overcharging individuals in District 31, a problem that sadly I was made aware of when an 80-year-old woman was [charged] $1,995 just to open her car door after locking her keys in the car.“

Delegate Steve Schuh (R-Gibson Island)—Excerpts from a letter to constituents

“As we deliberated over [the] issues, I tried my best to be guided by my core principles of reducing taxes and crime, stopping illegal immigration, increasing job opportunities, standing up for traditional values, and protecting the environment.

Despite the belt tightening of every family in Maryland, the General Assembly approved a $1 billion increase in state spending to $34.1 billion. … Separately, I contributed to the development of an Alternative Budget Plan that would have resolved Maryland’s budget problems without new taxes. I also sponsored legislation that would have prevented further raids on the Transportation Trust Fund.

The General Assembly adopted two major tax increases this year, both of which I fought vigorously. The first of these was an increase in the tax on hospitals and nursing homes (known as the “Granny Tax”), which will ultimately be paid by all users of the health care system. The second was an increase in the sales tax on alcohol. Despite the increase in sales tax on alcohol in 2007 (from 5 percent to 6 percent), the General Assembly approved legislation to further increase the tax (from 6 percent to 9 percent) … Separately, I sponsored legislation to reduce sales taxes, taxes on retirement income, income taxes and estate taxes.

The legislature passed a bill to allow illegal immigrants living in Maryland to pay the taxpayer subsidized, in-state tuition rate at the University of Maryland rather than to pay the full tuition rate. Such bills are an affront to U.S. citizens and to the many immigrants who have played by the rules and come to our country legally.

Encouraged by Governor O’Malley’s declared support, gay-rights advocates made an aggressive push for same-sex marriage in Maryland. The bill failed and was returned to Committee without a vote. Separately, I sponsored the Marriage Protection Act, which would amend the Maryland Constitution to assure that marriage remains between one man and one woman.

Working with Anne Arundel County Sheriff Ron Bateman, I sponsored a bill that would block income-tax refunds for people with outstanding criminal arrest warrants. I also sponsored bills to disallow the use of ‘good time’ credits for criminals who use firearms in the commission of a crime and to require sex offenders to wear GPS tracking devices.”

District 32

Delegate Ted Sophocleus (D-Linthicum)—From a phone interview with Patch

Sophocleus said it was a rough session where he worked to protect education as well as retirees’ pension, by trying to establish a healthcare package that was reasonable.

Sophocleus said he was especially proud of sponsoring a consumer protection bill that regulates the sale of precious metal in the state. The bill requires dealers to ensure that any items that must be tagged with a transaction number must remain tagged for the entire period that the item is stored in the dealer’s inventory, according to the fiscal note.

In regard to a medical marijuana bill that was passed this year, Sophocleus said he had a difficult time voting positive on a bill that takes something that’s illegal and says it’s OK.

“It went out of [the House] as a study and came back from the Senate as a [law],” he said.

The bill allows for qualified medical marijuana patients to present doctor’s note if they are being prosecuted for using the medicine.

But Sophocleus said over his years in office he’s learned that as a legislator there must be room for compromise.

“It’s like with the budget. If you agree with 85 or 90 percent of the budget, but not the last 10 percent, you don’t throw the baby out with the wash water,” he said.