From State Sen. J.B. Jennings:
It was business as usual in Annapolis this week despite a late season snow storm that blanketed much of the State. As we near the end of the legislative session, days are getting longer and committees in both the Senate and the House are on overdrive to meet the annual deadline to pass bills out of their chambers to be sent to the other. This event, known as “Crossover Day,” takes place today, Monday, March 20, 2017, where it allows for the greatest chance for bills to be turned into laws.
Paid Sick Leave
The Senate passed its version of the Maryland Healthy Working Families Act on Thursday by a 29-18 vote, despite what I and others did to stop it. The bill, which states that businesses with at least 15 employees are required to provide five days of paid sick leave per year, will impede job growth in the State and stop businesses from creating additional jobs. There are approximately 20,000 small businesses in the State with at least 15 employees; we cannot expect them to continue to have a positive influence on the economy while simultaneously demanding that they meet unrealistic and expensive demands.
Transportation Scoring Bill
This bill, also known by opponents as “the road kill bill,” would require the State to rank highway and transit plans in order of need and importance before deciding which project to fund. This legislation favors big transit rail projects over road projects, and urban area needs over rural and suburban transportation ones. It has jeopardized funding for almost all of Maryland’s major transportation projects, and will force the State to cancel nearly $1 billion in planned road projects. It was vetoed by the Governor; the veto was subsequently overridden by the General Assembly.
Veterans Service Dogs (SB 441)
I’m a proud co-sponsor of this bill, which establishes the Maryland Veterans Service Animal Program. The purpose of the program is to pair physically and mentally wounded Veterans with service or support dogs, who provide assistance, companionship and help in adjusting to life after war. These dogs have been trained to be familiar with and sensitive to all symptoms and behaviors of PTSD. To be eligible for this program, Veterans must be Maryland residents, must have served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and been honorably discharged.
Less Testing, More Learning Act (SB 452) School Testing
I have co-sponsored this legislation, which would limit schools from spending more than 2% of classroom time on testing mandated by federal, state and local entities. The bill also repeals the requirement for statewide social studies assessments in middle and high school (the high school assessment is known as the Government HSA). Instead, beginning in the 2017-2018 school year, each local board of education would be required to develop a locally designed and implemented performance-based social studies assessment. Each local board of education must also establish a District Committee on Assessments to monitor and evaluate the county’s assessment program.
Kate and Hogan
This week my daughter Kate made a special trip to visit me in Annapolis and ran into her old friend, Governor Hogan.
Thank you for your continued interest in Maryland’s 2017 Legislation Session, and please stay tuned for next week’s Annapolis update. In the meantime, I’d love to hear your feedback on the issues I’ve outlined today, or anything else of importance to you and your family. As always, please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Best regards,
J.B. Jennings
Ah, yes. I now call this ways of thinking about sick leave, minimum wage, and social programs, the Mick Mulvaney Method. When asked a few days ago, Trump’;s new head of OMB said the proposed budget is “about as compassionate as you can get.”
I think he means as economic conservatives can get, be they R’s or D’s,
I would hope that no one from the good Delagates family ever is served by some flu-laden worker who can’t afford to take a day off without this bill. A cost of business is labor and that includes both vacation and sick time. If you can’t provide it, don’t go into business.
I agree with you Five Iron (except for the fact that J.B. Jennings is a Senator).
March 21, 2017 Maryland Healthy Working Families Act
Synopsis: “Requiring employers that employ 15 or more employees to provide employees with earned sick and safe leave that is paid at the same wage rate as the employee normally earns; requiring employers with 14 or fewer employees to provide an employee with unpaid earned sick and safe leave; providing for the manner in which earned sick and safe leave is accrued….”
Analysis: Not available at this time.
Unfavorable Report by Economic Matters; Withdrawn
So the whole report about this bill by Sen. J.B. Jennings is really moot. However, I agree with Five Iron in as much as I hope all people, except those that oppose this bill, are not served by “some flu-laden worker who can’t afford to take a day off without this bill.”
A bunch of employers with 16 employees, just fired two. It’s called unintended consequences. Whenever government gets involved there are unintended consequences. Think of healthcare, one the big problems with it is that it is employer provided so getting coverage is hard due to preexisting conditions. It is tied to employment because it is tax free. So getting $14,000 of insurance is better than getting a $14,000 raise and having to get it by yourself. And since I am not mean spirited like Five Iron I would NOT wish that someone in your family is a worker let go because of this regulation.
I say “Bullshit” to Harford County Constitutionalist’s entire post.
Provide your evidence!
First, the Service Dog Bill should be something that the military handles out of its own accord. Not a State issue. Second, the Less Testing, More Learning Act, or more appropriately the “Ignorance Bill”, is completely irrational. If you don’t test the students, how do you know what they learned? Students should be tested weekly to discover what they retained from their lessons. The other bills are meaningless to debate as they have already been passed. It seems to me that Legislation sponsored by Senator Jennings is fruitless. If the military wants to give Vets dogs, then they should at the military’s expense, which I do believe they can afford on their own. The “Ignorance Bill” will NOT do the next generation any good and passing such Legislation is a detriment to the future of our youth. I am glad your daughter visited you and got to see her old friend Governor Hogan. However, I fail to see why the public needs to know this or why it was included in the press release……
A quote comes to mind that goes something like this:
“Those who do not study history are bound to repeat it …”
How do we know students are “studying” (and understanding) history if we don’t ask them questions about it?
One of teachers’ major complaints is that there are too many government required tests (PARCC, HSA, and Maryland Integrated Science Assessment…I don’t know what any of them are, but they are listed on the school calendar). They feel like preparing students for and administering these various assessments interrupts and takes time away from teaching their curriculum. I certainly remember as a student (and that was a while ago) preparing for and taking a bunch of tests that did not affect my grade. I really don’t think this bill is meant to limit the teachers’ own weekly tests and quizzes to verify learning of their curriculum.
As to the service dogs, sure, the Feds could pay for them, but they won’t. Look at the disaster of the VA as it is now.
You might be right about the curriculum testing thing, as I reread it and see what your saying. When I was in school we had something called the Functional Reading, Writing, Math and Citizenship tests. You had to pass them or you could not graduate. I passed them all first try in 9th grade and was tied with another for highest score on the Math test in Colonel Richardson High School. We did prepare extensively for those tests. I don’t know if I wouldn’t have passed them without preparation, but I do know I did very well on the math test because of all the preparation. I say if it is a mandated test to graduate, test the hell out of them. It did help me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueNQA5z3K3o
Would love to see a car like this driving in the 4th of July Bel Air parade.
Sure would be a whole lot more hilarious than seeing the local politicians and car dealers advertising.
Why did I post it? Because I felt like it, unrelated to the article.