This Week in Annapolis - March 4, 2020

This Week in Annapolis - March 4, 2020

Greetings friends, It's been a busy few weeks in Annapolis. This week we are having multiple floor voting sessions per day and long public hearings as we work through a record number of bills before the “crossover” date on March 16th. This is the date when the House and Senate swap bills -- each house considers legislation sent to it by the other house. Any bills that have not passed in one chamber and “crossed over” to the other by the end of the day are less likely to becom

Women Legislators Lead on Building a More Resilient Maryland

Women Legislators Lead on Building a More Resilient Maryland

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nithin Venkatraman 443-896-7552 nvenkatraman@senate.state.md.us Annapolis, MD - [January 27, 2020] Members of the Maryland General Assembly introduced a number of bills on Monday aimed at combating the increasing risks of climate change and sea level rise that threaten Maryland communities. Senator Katie Fry Hester (D - Howard and Carroll), Senator Sarah Elfreth (D - Anne Arundel), Delegate Brooke Lierman (D - Baltimore City), and Delegat

Briefings, Briefings, Briefings

Briefings, Briefings, Briefings

Briefings, briefings, briefings. Today we heard about the Uninsured Employers Fund and the deficit it has, as well as an update on Minimum Wage, Sick Leave, and other labor issues from the Governor’s staff. Important information to absorb before we start considering legislation. Public hearings on bills start next week for my committee, Economic Matters. #Working4MD #MDGA2020 #Working4MD #MDGA2020 #GeneralAssembly #HowardCounty #HoCoMD #Maryland

Fantastic Howard County League of Women Voters Brunch

Fantastic Howard County League of Women Voters Brunch

Fantastic League of Women Voters brunch today where the county’s state delegation was able to discuss legislation we will be working on in the 2020 session. The League is an important institution in our democracy and I have long appreciated the active chapter in Howard County that my mother was part of from before I was born! #MDGA2020 #Working4MD #HowardCounty #CourtneyWatson #Maryland #hocomd #MDGA2020 #Working4MD

My 2020 Session Agenda

My 2020 Session Agenda

2020 Session Agenda My agenda for the 2020 session will include working to help pass Maryland’s Blueprint for the Future (Kirwan Commission) recommendations to improve Maryland’s public education system. It’s clear that we cannot make all the recommended changes at once, so a plan to prioritize and implement the most beneficial recommendations given funding realties will be much discussed in the weeks ahead. I will be submitting the following bills as the primary sponsor. I w

New Position, Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus

New Position, Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus

News from the House In the past five months since her election, House Speaker Adrienne Jones has taken a steadfast and thoughtful approach to laying the foundation for her time as Speaker of the House of Delegates. She recently announced new leadership appointments. I am pleased to report that Speaker Jones has appointed me as Vice Chairman of the Democratic Caucus. I am grateful to the Speaker and excited about this new opportunity to serve my fellow delegates and the people

Maryland League of Conservation Voters

Economic Matters Committee Tour

Economic Matters Committee Tour

As part of an Economic Matters Committee tour today, I visited a six year old distillery in St. Michael’s, one of only a few in Maryland owned by a woman, Lyon Distilling Company. Just four years ago, there were only a handful of craft distilleries and now there are 30 in operation or planning to open in the next year. Lyon made the first Rye whiskey in MD in over 40 years, but their very successful specialty is Young American Rum for which they won 2nd Best Craft Rum Distill

Happy Maryland Day!

Honoring Trailblazing Women in Maryland

Honoring Trailblazing Women in Maryland

At the 25th Annual Speaker’s Society Dinner tonight, I met some real women trailblazers in the House of Delegates. Elizabeth Smith was first elected in 1974 and served for 20 years. Eileen Rehrmann was first elected in 1983 and went on to become Harford County Executive. The dinner allows existing members and former members to meet each other and provides a great opportunity for the passing along of sage advice. I saw former Senator Marty Madden and former Delegate Bob Flanag

Hearing on Raising the Minimum Wage to $15/Hour

Hearing on Raising the Minimum Wage to $15/Hour

Yesterday’s eight hour hearing on raising the minimum wage brought up some challenging issues. Some organizations that care for vulnerable people and depend on Medicaid reimbursement ( which would be lower than the proposed wage) are concerned they will not have workers because they would leave for another job which pays the new minimum wage. This includes behavioral health, in home care, and medical day care - including care of vulnerable older adults. The bill remedies part

Minimum Wage Bill in the Economic Matters Committee in the House

Great Meeting with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America-Maryland

State of the State Address

State of the State Address

Today was the State of the State address. The senate and house of delegates heard from the Governor and then a reception was held afterward at the Governor’s mansion. While there will be some disagreements on policy, a great number of things we all agree on and there is always a desire to work together for the citizens of Maryland. #hocomd #mdga19 #HoCoMD #MDPolitics #working4md #Maryland

Ganesh Festival

Thank You!

An Important Message from Courtney

An Important Message from Courtney

Friends, Early voting is underway and Primary Election Day is next Tuesday, June 26, from 7 am-8 pm. This is an important vote for our community, and I am heartened by how many voters I have already seen at the polls. I hope to see you there, too. I very much appreciate your support of my candidacy these last few weeks and months and especially in the past few days. The work I have done the last two decades on behalf of our neighborhoods could not have been done without

Endorsement of the Week: Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz

HoCo Forward

HoCo Forward

HoCo Forward is a group of Howard County democratic central committee candidates from all walks of life, some never involved in local politics before, and some long time volunteers. Together they represent an energetic, determined, and positive group of people who are working to improve our political process with equity and inclusion as core values. It was fun to attend their kickoff tonight and wish them well. #MDPolitics #HoCoMD #9B #Maryland #HowardCounty #CourtneyWatson #

Wine, Women & Watson - Come Celebrate Women's History Month with Me!

Wine, Women & Watson - Come Celebrate Women's History Month with Me!

Please join me on Thursday, March 22nd from 5:30 to 7:30 PM for the 6th Annual Wine, Women & Watson! Unite with me and other local women candidates during Women's History Month for an evening of wine from The Wine Bin, lite fare from Tersiguel’s, and good conversation as we discuss the importance of closing the gender gap in politics and how it shapes the future of Howard County. Wine, Women & Watson is one of the most popular events I host each year, and one of my favori

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