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| For one day in Annapolis, bickering — mostly — gave way to celebration | For one day in Annapolis, bickering — mostly — gave way to celebration |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Democrats in the Maryland General Assembly are likely to spend much of the next three months in a tug of war with Gov. Larry Hogan (R) over his tax-relief proposals and his plan to revamp the budget process. | Democrats in the Maryland General Assembly are likely to spend much of the next three months in a tug of war with Gov. Larry Hogan (R) over his tax-relief proposals and his plan to revamp the budget process. |
| But on Wednesday — the opening day of the 90-day legislative session in Annapolis — there was none of that. Instead, it was a day to congratulate lawmakers whose children had been born over the past nine months, say farewell to a retiring U.S. senator and catch up with old friends. | |
| “Families are here, babies are here, congressional people from Capitol Hill are here,” Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. told reporters, explaining why the legislature would wait until next week to try to override vetoes of bills dealing with online hotel-booking sites, voting rights for former inmates, drug paraphernalia, criminal-asset seizures and funding for an arts center in Annapolis. | “Families are here, babies are here, congressional people from Capitol Hill are here,” Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. told reporters, explaining why the legislature would wait until next week to try to override vetoes of bills dealing with online hotel-booking sites, voting rights for former inmates, drug paraphernalia, criminal-asset seizures and funding for an arts center in Annapolis. |
| There was some sniping. Hogan blasted Democrats for criticizing his budget ideas; Miller (D-Calvert) groused that Hogan’s recent proposals have been recycled from Democratic ideas without collaboration or credit. | There was some sniping. Hogan blasted Democrats for criticizing his budget ideas; Miller (D-Calvert) groused that Hogan’s recent proposals have been recycled from Democratic ideas without collaboration or credit. |
| But mostly, there was celebration, with lawmakers taking care to recognize the many staffers, family members, friends and other lawmakers who were sitting in the galleries and in the chambers. | But mostly, there was celebration, with lawmakers taking care to recognize the many staffers, family members, friends and other lawmakers who were sitting in the galleries and in the chambers. |
| [Seven things to watch during the General Assembly session] | [Seven things to watch during the General Assembly session] |
| Retiring U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.), Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D), Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D), Baltimore County Executive Kevin B. Kamenetz (D) and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (D) were each welcomed in turn. | |
| “I forgot to recognize my niece,” said Sen. Victor R. Ramirez (D-Prince George’s), standing up for a second time to welcome a guest. | “I forgot to recognize my niece,” said Sen. Victor R. Ramirez (D-Prince George’s), standing up for a second time to welcome a guest. |
| Each chamber took ceremonial votes to reinstate their leaders: Miller as Senate president, Sen. Nathaniel J. McFadden (D-Baltimore) as president pro tem, Del. Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) as House speaker and Del. Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County) as speaker pro tem. | Each chamber took ceremonial votes to reinstate their leaders: Miller as Senate president, Sen. Nathaniel J. McFadden (D-Baltimore) as president pro tem, Del. Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) as House speaker and Del. Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County) as speaker pro tem. |
| Busch delivered remarks aimed at inspiring delegates, reminding them of such commitments as improving education, restoring the Chesapeake Bay, advancing renewable energy, providing health care for children, delivering services for the developmentally disabled and maintaining the state’s long-standing AAA bond rating. | Busch delivered remarks aimed at inspiring delegates, reminding them of such commitments as improving education, restoring the Chesapeake Bay, advancing renewable energy, providing health care for children, delivering services for the developmentally disabled and maintaining the state’s long-standing AAA bond rating. |
| “We have passionate debates over these issues,” Busch said. “And that’s where these debates should take place.” | “We have passionate debates over these issues,” Busch said. “And that’s where these debates should take place.” |
| McFadden, who has served in the Senate for 20 years and as president pro tem since 2007, was tearful as he thanked his colleagues for their votes. | McFadden, who has served in the Senate for 20 years and as president pro tem since 2007, was tearful as he thanked his colleagues for their votes. |
| Miller was seated on the Senate floor when Ramirez nominated him to return to the podium where he has stood for the past 28 years. “He is the Michael Jordan of politics,” Ramirez said of Miller, who is believed to be the longest-serving state senate president in the United States. “He is a living legend.” | Miller was seated on the Senate floor when Ramirez nominated him to return to the podium where he has stood for the past 28 years. “He is the Michael Jordan of politics,” Ramirez said of Miller, who is believed to be the longest-serving state senate president in the United States. “He is a living legend.” |
| Miller thanked the senators for the good wishes they have offered to his wife, who recently broke her hip. He welcomed his daughter and grandson, and gave silver-wrapped gifts to Minority Leader J.B. Jennings (R-Baltimore County) and Sen. Justin D. Ready (R-Carroll), both of whose wives have had babies since the legislature last convened. | Miller thanked the senators for the good wishes they have offered to his wife, who recently broke her hip. He welcomed his daughter and grandson, and gave silver-wrapped gifts to Minority Leader J.B. Jennings (R-Baltimore County) and Sen. Justin D. Ready (R-Carroll), both of whose wives have had babies since the legislature last convened. |
| In what she called her final speech before the two chambers, Mikulski, the longest-serving woman in the history of the U.S. Congress, thanked lawmakers for working with her to represent the state’s interests. “We put Maryland families first working with you,” she said. “When it comes to fighting for Maryland’s fair share, it was ‘Don’t mess with Maryland.’ ” | In what she called her final speech before the two chambers, Mikulski, the longest-serving woman in the history of the U.S. Congress, thanked lawmakers for working with her to represent the state’s interests. “We put Maryland families first working with you,” she said. “When it comes to fighting for Maryland’s fair share, it was ‘Don’t mess with Maryland.’ ” |
| Then Miller introduced Hogan, whom he called his “longtime friend.” | Then Miller introduced Hogan, whom he called his “longtime friend.” |
| [Defiant Democrats say their will fight for their priorities] | [Defiant Democrats say their will fight for their priorities] |
| The governor, who was joined by Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford (R), received a standing ovation. He gave Miller a slight hug and a slap on the back before delivering a 42-second welcome. | The governor, who was joined by Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford (R), received a standing ovation. He gave Miller a slight hug and a slap on the back before delivering a 42-second welcome. |
| “I’m very much looking forward to working with each one of you on both sides of the aisle to try to continue to make some progress here,” Hogan said. “I want you to know I’m always available to you. Pick up the phone, let us know what you want to talk about. As I’ve said before, I don’t care which side of the aisle the ideas come from, we want to just come up with good ideas to help the citizens of our state.” | “I’m very much looking forward to working with each one of you on both sides of the aisle to try to continue to make some progress here,” Hogan said. “I want you to know I’m always available to you. Pick up the phone, let us know what you want to talk about. As I’ve said before, I don’t care which side of the aisle the ideas come from, we want to just come up with good ideas to help the citizens of our state.” |
| Hours earlier, Miller had complained that Hogan was, in fact, forgetting where some of his ideas had come from — specifically the allocation of money to bulldoze blight in Baltimore and a proposal unveiled Tuesday to ease taxes for the poor and senior citizens. | Hours earlier, Miller had complained that Hogan was, in fact, forgetting where some of his ideas had come from — specifically the allocation of money to bulldoze blight in Baltimore and a proposal unveiled Tuesday to ease taxes for the poor and senior citizens. |
| “These proposals are old Democratic ideas rehashed,” Miller told host Marc Steiner during the “Annapolis Summit,” an annual first-day-of-session broadcast on WEAA (88.9 FM). | “These proposals are old Democratic ideas rehashed,” Miller told host Marc Steiner during the “Annapolis Summit,” an annual first-day-of-session broadcast on WEAA (88.9 FM). |
| After the session, Miller gave more indications of the battles to come, calling Hogan’s modest tax-relief proposals “little bills” that “aren’t worth a hill of beans in terms of the state budget.” | After the session, Miller gave more indications of the battles to come, calling Hogan’s modest tax-relief proposals “little bills” that “aren’t worth a hill of beans in terms of the state budget.” |
| He said Hogan and lawmakers need to talk about the state income tax if they want to address a tax that affects everybody, including businesses looking to locate in the state. | He said Hogan and lawmakers need to talk about the state income tax if they want to address a tax that affects everybody, including businesses looking to locate in the state. |
| Later in the session, lawmakers will debate whether Maryland should join a handful of other jurisdictions in the country that allow assisted suicide and require paid sick leave. They also will consider bills to address poverty and other problems in Baltimore, reform the criminal justice system, improve the business climate, increase college affordability, boost retirement security and expand early voting. | Later in the session, lawmakers will debate whether Maryland should join a handful of other jurisdictions in the country that allow assisted suicide and require paid sick leave. They also will consider bills to address poverty and other problems in Baltimore, reform the criminal justice system, improve the business climate, increase college affordability, boost retirement security and expand early voting. |
| On Wednesday, Cardin, who once served as Maryland House speaker, warned them not to become bogged down by the type of partisan gridlock that has plagued Congress in recent years. | On Wednesday, Cardin, who once served as Maryland House speaker, warned them not to become bogged down by the type of partisan gridlock that has plagued Congress in recent years. |
| “So many Marylanders depend upon what you’re going to do during these next 90 days,” he said. “Take advantage of that opportunity by working together, by listening to each other.” | “So many Marylanders depend upon what you’re going to do during these next 90 days,” he said. “Take advantage of that opportunity by working together, by listening to each other.” |
| Fenit Nirappil contributed to this report. | Fenit Nirappil contributed to this report. |
| Read more Maryland politics: | Read more Maryland politics: |
| Faith leaders add their voices to push for paid sick leave | Faith leaders add their voices to push for paid sick leave |
| Major changes proposed in police policies | Major changes proposed in police policies |
| Hogan proposes modest tax relief for seniors, the poor | Hogan proposes modest tax relief for seniors, the poor |