Today I announced my agenda to Reform Maryland, check out the press release below. (Brunswick, MD) Maryland State Delegate Michael Hough, Frederick & Washington Counties, today released his agenda for fixing Maryland’s broken government. Delegate Hough said, “After watching the Maryland General Assembly in action for the last three years, I have concluded that our problems are mainly the result of career politicians who like to cut backroom deals and raise taxes. Unfortunately our state is being governed by an out-of touch political ruling class.” Hough continued, “Today I am offering real reforms to Maryland’s government that will slow the revolving door from legislator to lobbyist, limit the ability of career politicians to stay in office, bring transparency to the State House, and end the never-ending stream of tax increases.” Delegate Hough’s proposals: Lobbying Reform: Doubles from one year to two years the cooling off time period before legislators can become lobbyists and adds senior legislative staff to the restriction. Over the last two years Maryland’s Senate Majority Leader and the House Chief Deputy Whip have left office to lobby the state legislature. Term Limits: Sets a maximum of three terms in the House and three terms in the Senate that any individual can serve. Maryland currently has the nation’s longest serving Senate President and Speaker of the House. In the House the current committee chairs have 181 combined years in office. Transparency in the State House: This legislation would require all floor sessions and committee meetings of the Maryland General Assembly to be available online for viewers to watch. Currently only House committee hearings are available to watch and no voting sessions. Supermajority Requirement to Raise Taxes: Currently in Maryland a simple majority can vote to raise taxes. This amendment to Maryland’s Constitution would require a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly before a tax could be increased. 18 states require a supermajority vote before taxes can be increased. Hough concluded, “Maryland’s government is broken and the people deserve better. These reforms strike at the heart of the ruling political class in Annapolis. We have politicians and lobbyists in Annapolis who have taken what was once seen as a part-time job and turned it into a career.”
Posted on: Mon, 02 Dec 2013 16:27:21 +0000
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