Recently I asked you to complete a pre-session legislative survey, and I wanted to highlight to you how much these informal surveys help as we fight in Annapolis to be your voice.
The outcome of the newly approved legislation draws attention to how dissimilar today's Democratic Party is with our region's way of life. Here are a few examples of the survey questions, the survey results, and the legislation passed. I added the pertinent bills and amendment links to each of the survey questions so you can see how many people answered for a given issue versus the actual legislation being passed:
Survey Question #5: Maryland's fuel tax is connected to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). As inflation increases, so does our fuel tax. Last year fuel tax went up .07 cents per/gallon of gas. This year the tax is predicted to increase another .07 per/gallon.
Do you support decoupling Maryland's fuel tax from CPI, which would preemptively stop a fuel tax increase?
Survey Votes
756 - Yes
62 - No
98 - Uncertain
HB 422, the bill I have introduced in the past and once again this year, would have decoupled the Maryland Gas tax from the CPI. While the bill didn't make it to the floor, I offered it as a floor amendment on another bill. The amendment was rejected mostly down party lines. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2023RS/votes/house/0319.pdf
Clink the READ MORE link below.
Survey Question #7: On the topic of crime, in Maryland, the theft of a firearm from a law-abiding gun owner is treated as a misdemeanor offense and is often plea-bargained out. Do you support elevating theft of a firearm to a felony with a two-year mandatory jail sentence for criminals who steal guns?
Survey Votes
827 - Yes - I support increasing the penalty.
30 - No - leave Theft of a Firearm a misdemeanor status
56 – Uncertain
HB 750- is a bill that Republicans have tried for several years to pass. This makes the theft of a firearm a felony. While the bill did not reach the floor, we got a vote on the record by turning it into a floor amendment. Unfortunately, the majority party voted the amendment down. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2023RS/votes/house/0445.pdf
Survey Question #9: Do you support eliminating the teaching of gender identity to K-3rd grade children in Maryland public schools?
Survey Votes
799 - Agree
71 - Disagree
40 – Uncertain
HB 119 removes local school board control and puts the State Superintendent in charge of setting the health curriculum. An amendment by my colleague, Lauren Arikan, which would have prohibited teaching gender ideology to children grades k-3rd grade, was rejected by Annapolis Democrats. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2023RS/votes/house/0215.pdf
Survey Question #10: Current Maryland law does not regulate at what age children can receive gender-affirming treatment, including puberty blockers, chemical castration, and surgery. Do you support an age limit to receiving those types of treatments?
Survey Votes
804 - Yes, limit gender-affirming treatments to at least 18 years of age.
56 - No, I support the current law of no age restrictions for treatment
51 - Uncertain
HB 283 Requires taxpayers to pay for children to receive surgery to change their gender.
Medicaid currently covers such procedures for those over 18. However, this bill was written specifically to include minors to permit them to enter hazardous and controversial procedures with taxpayer dollars. Delegate Mark Fisher offered an amendment to exclude children from receiving these gender therapies and surgeries. Unfortunately, the amendment was rejected by Annapolis Democrats.
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2023RS/votes/house/0440.pdf
Survey Question #11: California recently banned gas-powered vehicles. Maryland typically follows California's environmental standards. Do you support banning the sale of gas-powered cars in Maryland by 2030?
Survey Votes
33 - Yes
852 - No
31 - Uncertain
HB 487- This bill would only allow the adoption of the regressive emissions standards set by California if specific analyses are prepared and submitted to the General Assembly, and the General Assembly enacts a law authorizing the adoption of the regulations. This basic "follow the evidence" legislation would ensure that the push to zero emissions is based on actual data rather than green ideology alone. Unfortunately, this bill stagnated without a committee vote, and Governor Moore recently committed to Maryland to follow California's model. (No Vote has yet to be recorded.)