Dashain Day  |  HB967

HB967 proclaims October 5 annually as Dashain Day, codifying into law a Hindu religious festival in honor of Durga, the Universal Mother Goddess.

The Senate passed HB967 on April 10, 2023, by a vote of 34 to 0. We have assigned minuses to the yeas because this bill is antithetical to Maryland’s distinct Christian heritage—treating with disdain the life and character upon which its civil institutions were founded. For example, the original Constitution of Maryland, adopted in 1776, required a “declaration of a belief in the Christian religion” to hold public office in the State (Article XXXV). Moreover, the Great Seal of Maryland, which dates back to 1632, is encircled with Psalm 5:12 of the Holy Bible and still used to authenticate acts of the General Assembly. Nevertheless, rather than perform their duty to defend Christian principles, and be “grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty,” as expressed in Maryland’s current Declaration of Rights, legislators in Annapolis have decided to patronize multicultural polytheism. “We, the People,” on the other hand, have been assured by this nation’s forefathers, who gave us the American Republic, that apart from a firm reliance on God, not to mention the removal of His commandments from capitols, courthouses, and elsewhere, our efforts shall succeed “no better than the Builders of Babel.”

“Hate Crime” Commission  |  HB1066

HB1066 establishes the Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention to “develop strategies to prevent and respond to hate crime activity” and “evaluate State laws and policies.”

The Senate passed HB1066 on April 10, 2023, by a vote of 40 to 7. We have assigned pluses to the nays because “hate crime” legislation is a farce being promoted by those who falsely believe it is the duty of government to right every wrong. This concept is not only impossible, but dangerous in a free society. Since not all “hate” is or can be made criminal (e.g., anger, envy, or lust), the legitimate powers of government extend only to acts that are injurious to others (e.g., murder, theft, or rape). In other words, civil authorities have a dual role of both securing the right to life, liberty, and property for each person and punishing anyone who deprives it, regardless of the perpetrator’s motivations or the victim’s sex, race, religion, etc. The power to arrest, prosecute, or retry a person based on allegations of a “hate crime”—which is a misnomer for government thought control—is not one that should be granted to any State agency or court system. Regardless of how unpopular, elusive, or detestable someone or their ideas may be, the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment provide for an “impartial jury,” prevent double jeopardy, and guarantee “due process” with “equal protection of the laws.”

‘No-Fault Divorce’  |  SB36

SB36 authorizes a family court to grant an “absolute divorce” on the grounds of either a six-month separation between the parties or “irreconcilable differences” based on reasons stated by the complainant.

The House passed SB36 on April 10, 2023, by a vote of 128 to 4. We have assigned pluses to the nays because ‘no fault divorce’ is blatantly unjust and unconstitutional. It permits persons to commit serious acts of injury against their spouses and children (e.g., adultery or abandonment) with impunity—thereby aiding and abetting violators of the marital covenant while denying victims due process of law. Innocent parties are sued with no right to their day in court. It also mistakenly assumes that valid grounds for divorce, along with marriage itself, are to be determined exclusively, even frivolously, by the government. Yet, nothing in the Bill of Rights or the 14th Amendment can be used to render marriage vows as meaningless. On the contrary, marriage, being coeval with mankind, is ordained by God, not the State. The most sacred of all human institutions, marriage is a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman, whose one-flesh union serves as the foundation of the family. God-honoring marriages are essential to securing the blessings of liberty and self-government for our children, whereas the fallout from ‘no-fault divorce’ has been devastating. Maryland should seek to protect families rather than tear them apart.

Disarming and Tracking Gun Owners  |  HB3

HB3 directs the Maryland State Police Gun Center to track all firearms surrendered under final protective orders and creates a statewide database for law enforcement agencies to report information on individuals who surrender firearms.

The Senate passed HB3 on April 7, 2023, by a vote of 41 to 2. We have assigned pluses to the nays because state and federal laws prohibiting or tracking firearm possession by individuals subject to protective orders are inherently unconstitutional. They amount to blanket “searches and seizures” that automatically disarm an entire class of citizens. Protective orders often pertain to civil—not criminal— matters, but regardless, every law-abiding citizen, including those who have made just restitution for their past wrongs, retains an “unalienable” individual right to self-defense. Persons not guilty of a violent capital or first-degree crime (e.g., murder or rape) need not suffer a permanent loss of their constitutional privileges or immunities. The Second Amendment guarantees “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed,” and the Fifth and the 14th Amendments prevent “any State” from depriving or denying “any person” of their “life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.”

Medicaid-Covered Sex Mutilation  |  HB283

HB283, the “Trans Health Equity Act,” requires Medicaid to provide coverage for “gender-affirming treatment” to all “transgender, nonbinary, intersex, two-spirit, and other gender diverse individuals.”    

The House passed HB283 on April 7, 2023, by a vote of 97 to 39. We have assigned pluses to the nays because health care, let alone sex mutilation, is not the role of government. No person has a right to harm another using the pretext of “trans health” or LGBTQ+ ideology, and Medicaid, like other so-called ‘entitlement programs,’ is financed by immoral and anti-constitutional forms of taxation (e.g., personal or corporate income taxes) that take from citizens the wages they have duly earned. Not only do both the Bill of Rights and the 14^th Amendment affirm the basic humanity (i.e., right to life and limb) of every person, but Medicaid remains an ever-expanding and unsustainable Federal-State program that is not authorized under Article I, Section 8, of the U.S. Constitution.

“Hate Crime” Commission  |  HB1066

HB1066 establishes the Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention to “develop strategies to prevent and respond to hate crime activity” and “evaluate State laws and policies.”

The House passed HB1066 on March 31, 2023, by a vote of 106 to 31. We have assigned pluses to the nays because “hate crime” legislation is a farce being promoted by those who falsely believe it is the duty of government to right every wrong. This concept is not only impossible, but dangerous in a free society. Since not all “hate” is or can be made criminal (e.g., anger, envy, or lust), the legitimate powers of government extend only to acts that are injurious to others (e.g., murder, theft, or rape). In other words, civil authorities have a dual role of both securing the right to life, liberty, and property for each person and punishing anyone who deprives it, regardless of the perpetrator’s motivations or the victim’s sex, race, religion, etc. The power to arrest, prosecute, or retry a person based on allegations of a “hate crime”—which is a misnomer for government thought control—is not one that should be granted to any State agency or court system. Regardless of how unpopular, elusive, or detestable someone or their ideas may be, the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment provide for an “impartial jury,” prevent double jeopardy, and guarantee “due process” with “equal protection of the laws.”

Medicaid-Covered Sex Mutilation  |  HB283

HB283, the “Trans Health Equity Act,” requires Medicaid to provide coverage for “gender-affirming treatment” to all “transgender, nonbinary, intersex, two-spirit, and other gender diverse individuals.”    

The Senate passed HB283 on March 31, 2023, by a vote of 31 to 13. We have assigned pluses to the nays because health care, let alone sex mutilation, is not the role of government. No person has a right to harm another using the pretext of “trans health” or LGBTQ+ ideology, and Medicaid, like other so-called ‘entitlement programs,’ is financed by immoral and anti-constitutional forms of taxation (e.g., personal or corporate income taxes) that take from citizens the wages they have duly earned. Not only do both the Bill of Rights and the 14^th Amendment affirm the basic humanity (i.e., right to life and limb) of every person, but Medicaid remains an ever-expanding and unsustainable Federal-State program that is not authorized under Article I, Section 8, of the U.S. Constitution.

‘Right to Abortion’ in the Maryland Constitution  |  HB705

HB705 proposes to amend the Maryland Constitution to declare a “fundamental right” to “reproductive freedom,” including but not limited to the ability to “prevent, continue, or end one’s own pregnancy.”

The Senate passed HB705 on March 31, 2023, by a vote of 33 to 14. We have assigned pluses to the nays because the care of human life—not its destruction—is the greatest responsibility of government. Maryland ought to forbid all methods of abortion and other grotesque methods of population control entirely and uphold the sanctity of life for every person, especially preborn children. The right to life is the most fundamental, God-given, and unalienable right asserted in the Declaration of Independence and protected by the Fifth and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

‘Right to Abortion’ in the Maryland Constitution  |  SB798

SB798 proposes to amend the Maryland Constitution to declare a “fundamental right” to “reproductive freedom,” including but not limited to the ability to “prevent, continue, or end one’s own pregnancy.”

The House passed SB798 on March 30, 2023, by a vote of 98 to 38. We have assigned pluses to the nays because the care of human life—not its destruction—is the greatest responsibility of government. Maryland ought to forbid all methods of abortion and other grotesque methods of population control entirely and uphold the sanctity of life for every person, especially preborn children. The right to life is the most fundamental, God-given, and unalienable right asserted in the Declaration of Independence and protected by the Fifth and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Dashain Day  |  HB967

HB967 proclaims October 5 annually as Dashain Day, codifying into law a Hindu religious festival in honor of Durga, the Universal Mother Goddess.

The House passed HB967 on March 20, 2023, by a vote of 135 to 1. We have assigned minuses to the yeas because this bill is antithetical to Maryland’s distinct Christian heritage—treating with disdain the life and character upon which its civil institutions were founded. For example, the original Constitution of Maryland, adopted in 1776, required a “declaration of a belief in the Christian religion” to hold public office in the State (Article XXXV). Moreover, the Great Seal of Maryland, which dates back to 1632, is encircled with Psalm 5:12 of the Holy Bible and still used to authenticate acts of the General Assembly. Nevertheless, rather than perform their duty to defend Christian principles, and be “grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty,” as expressed in Maryland’s current Declaration of Rights, legislators in Annapolis have decided to patronize multicultural polytheism. “We, the People,” on the other hand, have been assured by this nation’s forefathers, who gave us the American Republic, that apart from a firm reliance on God, not to mention the removal of His commandments from capitols, courthouses, and elsewhere, our efforts shall succeed “no better than the Builders of Babel.”

‘No-Fault Divorce’  |  SB36

SB36 authorizes a family court to grant an “absolute divorce” on the grounds of either a six-month separation between the parties or “irreconcilable differences” based on reasons stated by the complainant.

The Senate passed SB36 on March 20, 2023, by a vote of 33 to 10. We have assigned pluses to the nays because ‘no fault divorce’ is blatantly unjust and unconstitutional. It permits persons to commit serious acts of injury against their spouses and children (e.g., adultery or abandonment) with impunity—thereby aiding and abetting violators of the marital covenant while denying victims due process of law. Innocent parties are sued with no right to their day in court. It also mistakenly assumes that valid grounds for divorce, along with marriage itself, are to be determined exclusively, even frivolously, by the government. Yet, nothing in the Bill of Rights or the 14th Amendment can be used to render marriage vows as meaningless. On the contrary, marriage, being coeval with mankind, is ordained by God, not the State. The most sacred of all human institutions, marriage is a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman, whose one-flesh union serves as the foundation of the family. God-honoring marriages are essential to securing the blessings of liberty and self-government for our children, whereas the fallout from ‘no-fault divorce’ has been devastating. Maryland should seek to protect families rather than tear them apart.

Warrantless Arrest for Firearms Purchases  |  HB159

HB159 would allow a police officer to arrest a person without a warrant if the police officer has probable cause to believe that the person is a knowing participant in a “straw purchase” of a “regulated firearm.”

The House passed HB159 on February 28, 2023, by a vote of 115 to 19. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this bill attempts to force universal background checks for firearms purchases under the threat of warrantless arrest. However, neither the bill’s classification of “regulated firearms” (e.g., handguns or semi-automatic rifles) nor its provisions related to the circumstances in which a person is “prohibited by law” from possessing them (e.g., under 21 years of age) is constitutional. The Second Amendment guarantees that “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed,” without exception to a type of firearm or on account of age. In addition, the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment, in conjunction with the 26th Amendment, prevent “any State” from depriving or denying “any person,” such as “citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older,” of their “life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.”

Digital Connectivity Act  |  HB97

HB97 establishes the Office of Statewide Broadband in the Department of Housing and Community Development to ensure that every resident of the State is supported by high-quality broadband Internet service at an affordable price. Ensures all State residents can connect to reliable broadband Internet by December 31, 2026.

The Maryland State House of Representatives passed HB97 on March 30, 2021 by a vote of 115 to 19. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this expands the size of government and is a step towards socialism. The government is unconstitutionally interfering with the free market by subsidizing internet access.

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing  |  SB687

SB687 requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to report to the General Assembly and the Governor by December 1, 2023, and every 5 years thereafter, on the efforts by the State, political subdivisions, and housing authorities to promote fair housing choice and racial and economic housing integration.

The Maryland State Senate passed SB687 on April 9, 2021 by a vote of 47 to 0. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this is a blatant socialist program that accepts Marxist ideas that benefit only certain people in society. That is the opposite of what is said in the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” We are all equal and no one in society should be propped up over another.

Dignity Not Detention Act  |  HB16

HB16 creates a “Sanctuary State” by eliminating Immigration Enforcement and prohibits state and local governments from receiving money from the federal government and benefiting from immigration detention facilities.

The Maryland State House of Representatives passed HB16 on April 12, 2021 by vote of 86 to 46. We have assigned pluses to the nays because state or local governments that pursue “sanctuary policy” undermine the U.S. Constitution’s provision, in both Art. I Sec. 8 and Art. 2 Sec. 3, that the federal government shall have the power to establish uniform immigration law and ensure that such law be faithfully executed.  Moreover, the 10^th Amendment reserves powers to the states that can be used to address the crisis of illegal immigration and provide for their own public safety and this policy does the opposite of that.  

Dignity Not Detention Act  |  HB16

HB16 creates a “Sanctuary State” by eliminating Immigration Enforcement and prohibits state and local governments from receiving money from the federal government and benefiting from immigration detention facilities.

The Maryland State Senate passed HB16 on April 12, 2021 by vote of 30 to 17. We have assigned pluses to the nays because state or local governments that pursue “sanctuary policy” undermine the U.S. Constitution’s provision, in both Art. I Sec. 8 and Art. 2 Sec. 3, that the federal government shall have the power to establish uniform immigration law and ensure that such law be faithfully executed.  Moreover, the 10^th Amendment reserves powers to the states that can be used to address the crisis of illegal immigration and provide for their own public safety and this policy does the opposite of that.

Climate Solutions Now Act  |  SB414

SB414 requires the State to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 60% from 2006 levels by 2030 and requires the State to achieve net-zero statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. Additionally, it requires the Maryland Department of Labor to adopt regulations establishing certain energy conservation requirements for certain buildings by July 1, 2022 and set a goal of planting and maintaining 5,000,000 sustainable trees of species native to the State by the end of 2030.

The Maryland State House of Representatives passed SB414 on April 10, 2021 by a vote of 95 to 42. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this legislation creates more government interference in the free market economy and advances the Marxist climate change agenda. Businesses should have the freedom to conduct business without the government meddling in their affairs by setting unrealistic and costly regulations.

Climate Solutions Now Act  |  SB414

SB414 requires the State to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 60% from 2006 levels by 2030 and requires the State to achieve net-zero statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. Additionally, it requires the Maryland Department of Labor to adopt regulations establishing certain energy conservation requirements for certain buildings by July 1, 2022 and set a goal of planting and maintaining 5,000,000 sustainable trees of species native to the State by the end of 2030.

The Maryland State Senate passed SB414 on March 12, 2021 by a vote of 34 to 11. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this legislation creates more government interference in the free market economy and advances the Marxist climate change agenda. Businesses should have the freedom to conduct business without the government meddling in their affairs by setting unrealistic and costly regulations.

Drop Boxes  |  SB683

SB683 requires a local board of elections to designate the locations of ballot drop boxes. It also requires for a permanent absentee ballot list.

The Maryland State House of Representatives passed SB683 on April 1, 2021 by a vote of 95 to 40. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this legislation compromises the integrity of our elections, opening the door to fraudulent behavior, which drives people to lose faith in our elections. We need to push back against measures like drop boxes and early voting.

Drop Boxes  |  SB683

SB683 requires a local board of elections to designate the locations of ballot drop boxes. It also requires for a permanent absentee ballot list.

The Maryland State Senate passed SB683 on April 2, 2021 by a vote of 32 to 15. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this legislation compromises the integrity of our elections, opening the door to fraudulent behavior, which ultimately drives people to lose faith in the election process. We need to push back against measures like drop boxes and early voting.

Untraceable Firearms  |  HB425

HB425 prohibits the possession of unserialized firearms, “ghost guns” or “privately made firearms”, and prohibits a person from purchasing, receiving, selling, offering to sell, or transferring an unfinished frame, receiver and custom made and unserialized firearms. This bans the possession of every unserialized firearm or unfinished frame or receiver by March 1, 2023.

The Maryland State House of Representatives passed HB425 on April 1, 2022 by a vote of 95 to 38. We have assigned pluses to the nays because the fundamental right of the American people to keep and bear arms is protected by the U.S. Constitution, particularly in the 2nd, 9th, and 10th Amendments, and should not be infringed. Government tracking of firearms and serial numbers are not permitted in the Constitution and an individual has the right to bear the arms of their choosing.

Untraceable Firearms  |  HB425

HB425 prohibits the possession of unserialized firearms, “ghost guns” or “privately made firearms”, and prohibits a person from purchasing, receiving, selling, offering to sell, or transferring an unfinished frame, receiver and custom made and unserialized firearms. This bans the possession of every unserialized firearm or unfinished frame or receiver by March 1, 2023.

The Maryland State Senate passed HB425 on March 31, 2022 by a vote of 34 to 12. We have assigned pluses to the nays because the fundamental right of the American people to keep and bear arms is protected by the U.S. Constitution, particularly in the 2nd, 9th, and 10th Amendments, and should not be infringed. Government tracking of firearms and serial numbers are not permitted in the Constitution and an individual has the right to bear the arms of their choosing.

Abortion Care Access Act  |  HB937

HB937 establishes the Abortion Care Clinical Training Program in the Maryland Department of Health to ensure that there are a sufficient number of health professionals, training funds, and coverage requirements for the Maryland Medical Assistance Program to provide abortion care. Additionally, this requires the Governor to include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $3,500,000 to the abortion program.

The Maryland State House of Representatives voted to override the Governor’s veto for HB937 on April 9, 2022 by a vote of 90 to 46. We have assigned pluses to the nays because the right to life is the most fundamental, God-given, and unalienable right asserted in the Declaration of Independence and protected by the U.S. Constitution.

Abortion Care Access Act  |  HB937

HB937 establishes the Abortion Care Clinical Training Program in the Maryland Department of Health to ensure that there are a sufficient number of health professionals, training funds, and coverage requirements for the Maryland Medical Assistance Program to provide abortion care. Additionally, this requires the Governor to include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $3,500,000 to the abortion program.

The Maryland State Senate voted to override the Governor’s veto for HB937 on April 9, 2022 by a vote of 29 to 15. We have assigned pluses to the nays because the right to life is the most fundamental, God-given, and unalienable right asserted in the Declaration of Independence and protected by the U.S. Constitution.