Click here to view legislation that I worked on during the 2006 Session.

Platform

• Move the drop out age from 16-18 for public schools in Maryland
• Increase funding to build more senior living communities
• Increase funding for Adult Literacy training
• Provide quality healthcare for all citizens
• Introduce legislation to improve programs for incarcerated population returning to the community including identification cards and AIDS testing.
• Provide for additional funding for counselors to assist children at-risk in public schools
  
  

BGE

In 1999 when the general assembly passed the bill to deregulate the BGE,  I was just being elected to the Baltimore City Council.  There were few in the general assembly at that time that did not vote to deregulate.  I believe that while deregulating BG& E was an issue capping the cost has come to be an even greater issue.

A 72% increase no matter how it comes at us is a great impact on any of our budgets.  Our responsibility as legislators was to help minimize the impact of the increase in cost of energy.  As you can tell by the rising gas prices, energy costs are skyrocketing nationwide. 

The deal presently on the table allows for deferral of the 72% increase that we all will eventually pay.  BGE is presently up in arms because the PSC has disallowed the charging of interest on the accounts of customers who do decide to defer.  As a member of the house I did vote for the plan that included deferring the cost to customers.  And as you may have read the house did pass the plan but the Senate said it did not have enough time to read the plan before Sine Die (Ending of the session).

As I have reviewed the plan there is not much difference what we passed in the house.  I attended the public service commission hearing where the public was given a chance to comment.

I did raise the question since we were being told the plan that was on the table was a better plan than the one we passed in the House of Delegates…If the plan as was explained to us in the House was a good plan…and this plan today is a better plan…can you assure us that we now have the best plan?  I also raised the question if customers defer their payments and move outside of a BGE area do they still owe BGE and how will they collect.  I have been assured that the PSC will provide me with answers. We are awaiting the outcome of the Baltimore City Law suit which will help to determine if we are called back to a special session.  I believe we need to come together and provide our citizens with more viable alternatives. 

High School Dropouts

One of the most important issues our community faces is the high number of students who continue to drop out of school in the 9th grade and the to few number of students who make it to the twelfth grade.  Reports indicate that 76% of all African American boys are not finishing our public school system.  In the state of Maryland 72% of those incarcerated in our juvenile justice system are African American males.

I have been studying this problem for a number of years.  Every study I have read indicates that if you increase the allowable drop out age to (18) you increase the chances of a child graduating.  Today in the state of Maryland our permissible drop out age is (16).  We allow children the life changing decision to drop out of school at such a young age and before they have become critical thinkers able to understand the impact of such a negative decision.

 I was able to get a study passed to justify the reasons for moving the drop out age to 18.  Eighteen states have already moved it to 18 and many are suited to follow.  I look forward to working to resubmit a bill in 2007 with your support to get the drop out age in our state moved to (18).  In Maryland we spend on an average ($10,000) year to educate our children and ($40,000) to incarcerate them in the juvenile justice system.

What the state needs to do is shift some of their juvenile justice money to education and provide the counseling and assistance these students need to be successful.  Some of our children have special needs and they need to be accommodated.  This shift is funding is necessary for our teachers who come to school to be teachers and not disciplinarians.