Saqib's Blog

House Bill 369: Special Election for US Senate Vacancies Act [UPDATE: CT Passed it!]

2009-06-26T17:43:00.000-05:00

President Obama's recent election and cabinet appointments have caused 4 vacancies in the US Senate: Illinois (Sen. Obama), Delaware (Sen. Biden), Colorado (Sen. Salazar) and New York (Sen. Clinton). There are very strong rumors that New Hampshire's Sen. Judd Gregg will be the fifth. In each case, the vacancy has already been filled or will be filled by an appointment of that state's Governor.

As the situation in Illinois has vividly demonstrated, this appointment process can be rife with inside politics, back-room deals and allegedly very serious corruption. But even in the other states, the process has been opaque and most importantly has completely shut-out average voters from choosing their US Senators.

For this reason, I have introduced House Bill #369: Special Elections for US Senate Vacancies Act. This bill would mandate that if a US Senate Vacancy were to arise in Maryland, the Governor would call a special election so that people can decide who represents them in the US Senate. The bill goes into effect in January 2015, after current Governor O'Malley has certainly left office. This was done so as not to seem to impugn the the integrity of our current Governor.

Numerous national newspapers have editorialized strongly in favor of this exact concept. Here is a sampling:

Chicago Tribune: Call An Election (1/5/2009)
Washington Post: How Not to Pick a Senator (1/24/2009)
Washington Post: A Better Choice (2/1/2009)
New York Times: How to Fill a Senate Seat (2/4/2009)
Washington Post: Another Seat Warmer (2/6/2009)
Washington Post: Power to the People (3/20/2009)

You can read the actual text of the bill itself here.

UPDATE 6/26/2009: Connecticut just passed a similar bill into law!

Gazette LTE: Ali's behind-the-scene work brings refund for students

2009-05-13T13:56:00.003-05:00

Click here to see Louis Wilen's great letter to the editor in today's Gazette regarding my involvement in the school-fees issue:

With the end of the school year approaching and the possibility that unpaid curricular fees will prevent some students from participating in graduation ceremonies and other events, I want to acknowledge state Del. Saqib Ali's recent advocacy on behalf of public school students and their parents.
Several weeks ago, Magruder High School announced that students would be charged a $5 fee for "lock rental" for their hallway lockers. (Personally supplied locks are not permitted.) Written inquires to the school confirmed that the fee was a rental charge, not a refundable deposit.
I remembered that Delegate Ali (D-Dist. 39) of Gaithersburg had shown interest in the school fees situation during a televised meeting of our state delegates, so I forwarded the announcement about the lock rental fee to him. Delegate Ali contacted the school system's headquarters and within a day, the school changed the "fee" to a "deposit."
Because of Delegate Ali's intervention, more than 400 graduating Magruder seniors will each receive a $5 refund when they empty their lockers later this month.
Earlier in the semester, I received a letter from Magruder High School stating that if I did not pay a $35 curricular fee, my child would not be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony. A written appeal requesting that the fee be rescinded was denied. I forwarded my correspondence about the fee to Delegate Ali but I did not explicitly ask for his help. Delegate Ali promptly contacted Superintendent Jerry Weast and the fee was rescinded because it was determined to have been "a mistake" on the part of the school. (Please note, though, that the decision to rescind my child's fee may not have been applied to all students' accounts, so parents should be vigilant if they receive a bill for a curricular fee.)
Delegate Ali has made a positive difference for many students and parents, many of whom are probably unaware of his behind-the-scenes advocacy.
Louis Wilen, Olney

Credit Card Blacklist Prevention Passes House but not the full Senate.

2009-04-14T12:00:00.002-05:00

Do you have a credit card? If you are like hundreds of millions of other Americans, of course you do. Most people keep multiple credit cards in their wallets. But in these very difficult economic times, credit card companies are moving aggressively to reduce their risk. That's certainly a reasonable thing to do. Part of this economic meltdown was brought about by banks lending large amounts of money to people who shouldn't have been extended credit.

However, some tactics to reduce risk are out of bounds. It turns out that certain credit-card companies have been engaging in profiling their customers purchase histories and then taking action against them simply based on their shopping patterns. In fact I have learned that certain American Express cardholders who have impeccable credit scores and perfect payment histories have had their credit lines decreased simply because they shopped at the wrong store or because their mortgage was held at a bank that is considered "risky".... even though the cardholder hasn't done anything wrong!

It sounds strange, but it's true. This is how it works: Your credit card company watches where you are shopping and how much money you are spending at each store. If they notice patterns that they recognize as "risky", or if your mortgage company is on one of their "risky list", they may alter the terms of your credit card agreement such as reducing your credit limit.... even if you haven't done anything wrong.

How do you know which "risky" behaviors to avoid? Or what can you do to avoid being flagged? Well, you don't. And as a card-holder there is no way for you to find out. These patterns are completely secret. So there is nothing that you can reasonably do to avoid being targeted in this way. It goes without saying that this practice raises numerous concerns about fairness, privacy, transparency and discrimination.

For this reason, Delegate Bill Frick and I have introduced legislation to prevent this kind of unfair profiling and black-listing. You can read the text of the bill by clicking here.

By the way, its not just Bill Frick and me who are very concerned about this issue. You can read the New York Times article from 1/30/2009 about this issue here.

You can watch a Good Morning America segment on this same subject from 1/28/2009 by clicking here.

[UPDATE 3/12/2009]:

I had a great bill hearing in the House Economic Matters committee on 3/11/2009. Please watch the video here.
You can see the Power Point presentation I gave during the bill hearing by clicking here.

You can see the written letters of support/opposition that were submitted for this bill:

Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler re: Federal Pre-emption here.
Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler in support here.
Maryland Attorney Commisioner of Financial Regulations Sarah Bloom Raskin in support here.
National Association of Attorney Generals supportive of the concept here.
Mid-Atlantic Financial Services Association, Inc in opposition here.

[UPDATE 3/24/2009]: This bill just passed the House Economic Matters committee today by a 20-2 (& 1 absention) vote! It is expected to pass the full house by Monday March 30th

[UPDATE 3/27/2009]: This bill just passed the full House by a vote of 132-6. Now on to the Senate!

[UPDATE 4/9/2009]: I was on the Kojo Nnamdi radio show on NPR to talk about this bill. You can listen in here.

[UPDATE 4/13/2009]: The Senate finance committee passed the bill today by a vote of 6-5. Now on to the entire Senate.

[UPDATE 4/13/2009]: The legislature ajourned without the whole Senate voting on the bill. So it didn't pass. I will re-introduce it next year.

House Bill 920: No So-Called Sexual Stimulants For Kids Act [Updated 3/17/2009]

2009-03-17T09:58:00.000-05:00

When you walk into a gas-station convenience store do you pay much attention to the items on sale? Many of us don't. But if you did, you would see the usual fare: candy bars, sodas, cigarettes, first-aid supplies, etc. You might also see something more surprising: Aphrodesiac Pills.

Well, actually they claim to be aphrodesiac pills but its highly doubtful they have any effect at all. These products are not FDA approved and are sold under sleazy brand names such as "Horniest Goat Weed", "Stamina-Rx" and "All Nite Long".

Just like unregulated nutritional supplements sold at GNC stores, there is very little government control over what is in these pills. Not only is this a danger to public health. It is also a very big rip-off. It's just a scam to separate over-eager men from their hard-earned money.

Furthermore, these products are available to anybody who walks into the store. Including children. Maryland's age of consent is 16. So marketers of sexual products have no business targeting children under that age.

For this reason I have introduced the "HB 920: No So-Called Sexual Stimulants For Kids Act". This bill would ban selling products marketed as sexual stimulants to minors (people under the age of 18). It would force gas-station owners to check IDs the same way they currently do for cigarettes. They will also have to keep these items behind the counter.

Here is the actual text of the bill.

The scientific research showing that these pills are dangerous is overwhelming. I have laid out the case below with references to peer-reviewed-scientific journals.

All Nite Long Herbal Sexual Supplement causes the dangerous and potentially lethal priapisms [International Journal of Impotence Research, 2005].
Stamina-Rx , which is sold over-the-counter, is "deliberately contaminated with pharmacological doses of PDE5 Inhibitors". "Fatal interactions with PDE5 inhibitors and commonly consumed drugs have been reported, and are well accepted." [Journal of Urology, August 2005].
FDA Warns against taking Stamina-Rx because "FDA has determined that the products actually contain the prescription-strength drug ingredient, tadalafil. Tadalafil is the active ingredient in Cialis, an Eli Lilly product approved in Europe to treat male erectile dysfunction. An interaction between certain prescription drugs containing nitrates (such as nitroglycerin) and tadalafil may cause a drastic lowering of blood pressure. There is real danger that this product may be taken by patients taking nitrates since erectile dysfunction is often a common problem in people with diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), ischemic heart disease and in people who smoke." [FDA, 7/20/2003] .
Rize 2 The Occasion was recalled in July, 2008 because the FDA "found the product contains potentially harmful, undeclared ingredients. FDA asserts that its chemical analysis revealed that Rize 2 The Occasion and Rose 4 Her contain thiomethisosildenafil, an analog of sildenafil, the active ingredient of a FDA-approved drug used for Erectile Dysfunction (ED). FDA maintains that this ingredient is close in structure to sildenafil and is expected to possess a similar pharmacological and adverse event profile. This undeclared chemical poses a potential threat to consumers" [FDA, 7/28/2008].

[UPDATE 3/17/2009]

I had a great bill hearing in the House Economic Matters committee on 3/17/2009. Please watch the video here.
You can see the Power Point presentation I gave during the bill hearing by clicking here.

You can see the written letters of support/opposition that were submitted for this bill:

Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative in support here.
Maryland Delaware Service Station and Automotive Repair Association in support here.
Greater Washington Area Boys and Girls Club in support here.
Montgomery County Government in opposition here.

Saqib Ali's Annapolis Report 3/1/2009

2009-03-01T04:35:00.010-05:00

Dear Friends,

Maryland's annual 90-day legislative session in Annapolis has reached its midway point. I have been working very hard on numerous initiatives. I believe the remaining 45 days will be decisive in making progress for our state on numerous fronts.

Below I have included an extensive list of legislation I am working on this session. Please browse through it and feel free to read the actual text of the bills by clicking on the bill number. Keep in mind that bills are simply proposed laws. Just because a bill is proposed doesn't mean that it will become law. In fact only about one quarter of all proposals become law.

As the second half of the 2009 session begins, I will have many challenging decisions to make as Delegate. To help me make wise decisions, I need to hear from you, my constituents, neighbors and friends. Please contact me about your stance on issues & legislation of concern to you, so that I can be the best representative possible.

- Saqib

Bill Number	Support Level	Description
MC/PG 101	Lead Sponsor	WSSC Financial Oversight Act Forcing WSSC to disclose details of its budget to the Montgomery County Inspector General who is in charge of eliminating waste, fraud and abuse. Read more about it here.
MC 912	Lead Sponsor	Speed Camera Fairness Act Mandating that contractors that run Montgomery County's speed camera program do not receive a per-ticket fee as they currently do. Read more about it here.
HB 6	Lead Sponsor	Malfunctioning Traffic Light Act Requiring drivers to treat a malfunctioning traffic light the same as a 4-way stop sign. Read more about it here.
HB 63	Lead Sponsor	Candidacy Deadline Reform Act Unifying the filing deadline and the dropout deadline for candidates running for public office. Read more about it here.
HB 115	Lead Sponsor	Punjabi Cultural Awareness Day Act Recognizing April 13 as Punjabi Cultural Awareness Day. Read more about it here.
HB 233	Lead Sponsor	Full Disclosure in Real-Estate Taxes Act Disclosing to home buyers that their property taxes may be significantly higher than the seller's. Read more about it here.
HB 362	Lead Sponsor	Moving Violation Points Accountability Act Preventing bad drivers from reducing their accountability by postponing their court dates. Read more about it here.
HB 369	Lead Sponsor	Special Election for US Senate Vacancies Act Changing the process to fill US Senate vacancies from gubernatorial appointment to special election. Read more about it here.
HB 558	Lead Sponsor	Rental Car Parking Ticket Fairness Act Relieving rental-car companies from paying for parking tickets earned by their customers. Read more about it here.
HB 661	Lead Sponsor	Special Session Campaign Finance Reform Act Banning political fund-raising during special legislative sessions of the General Assembly. Read more about it here.
HB 677	Lead Sponsor	Expanding access to cancer radiation therapy by allowing a larger set of medical facilities to administer the treatment. Read more about it here.
HB 844	Lead Sponsor	Civil Judgment Advance Regulation Act Preventing legal-financing companies from charging usurious interest rates.
HB 920	Lead Sponsor	No So-Called Sexual Stimulants For Kids Act Banning the sale of herbal sexual stimulant pills to minors. Read more about it here.
HB 980	Lead Sponsor	Web-Based Campaign Finance Reporting Act Creating a secure website for campaign finance entities to submit their financial records.
HB 1292	Lead Sponsor	Credit Card Blacklist Prevention Act Prohibiting credit card companies from sanctioning their cardholders based on where they shop or who holds their mortgage. Read more about it here.
HB 1293	Lead Sponsor	State Employees Telework Act Mandating that the state government plan to allow non-essential employees to telecommute 20% of the time.
HB 1294	Lead Sponsor	Credit and Debit Card Fraud Prevention Act Requiring a merchant to check ID when accepting credit or debit card payment over $500.
HB 1320	Lead Sponsor	Insurance Payment Fee Prevention Act Prohibiting automobile insurance companies from charging an "installment fee" simply to make your payment.
HB 72	Co-Sponsor	Banning text messaging while driving.
HB 84	Co-Sponsor	Recognizing the second Saturday in May as Negro Baseball League Day.
HB 85	Co-Sponsor	Requiring universities to take steps to make textbooks more affordable.
HB 126	Co-Sponsor	Establishing a fund to pay for higher education through excess remainder funds on gift cards.
HB 176	Co-Sponsor	Mandating that new septic tanks and replacement septic tanks are most environmentally friendly.
HB 182	Co-Sponsor	*Freedom of Association and Assembly Protection Act* Preventing State Troopers from spying on peaceful protestors and political dissidents.
HB 184	Co-Sponsor	Moving Maryland towards universal pre-kindergarten by increasing access to expanded federal funding.
HB 199	Co-Sponsor	Requiring the Maryland Transit Administration to hold public hearings before changing bus schedules.
HB 208	Co-Sponsor	Mandating that the labels of all fur clothing identify the country of origin and the animal used.
HB 209	Co-Sponsor	Authorizing $275,000 capital-funding for RCI Group Home Renovation.
HB 220	Co-Sponsor	Giving municipalities the right to annex lots that straddle their municipal borders
HB 248	Co-Sponsor	Creating a task force to study returnable bottle deposits.
HB 266	Co-Sponsor	Improving the quality of care for adults with autism by training direct staff.
HB 273	Co-Sponsor	Forcing health-insurance companies to pay for the most effective autism care.
HB 286	Co-Sponsor	Prohibiting information received by "Crime Solver" organizations from being admissible in court.
HB 293	Co-Sponsor	Increasing the criminal penalties for repeat drunk-drivers offense.
HB 294	Co-Sponsor	Naming 12 new visions for smart-growth.
HB 295	Co-Sponsor	Requiring local planning commissions to include information about smart growth measures.
HB 297	Co-Sponsor	Requiring local jurisdictions to implement and adopt comprehensive plans for future development.
HB 303	Co-Sponsor	Delaying the minimum age at which learner's permits and driver's licenses are issued by 3 months.
HB 304	Co-Sponsor	Increasing the penalties and strengthening the states ability to recover damages from those who engage in healthcare fraud.
HB 306	Co-Sponsor	Enabling states to collaborate to ensure that the educational needs of military children are met.
HB 312	Co-Sponsor	Loosening restrictions on aquaculture farmers.
HB 315	Co-Sponsor	Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.
HB 316	Co-Sponsor	Abolishing the death penalty.
HB 317	Co-Sponsor	Creating a "Silver Alert" program to disseminate information about elderly missing persons suffering from dementia.
HB 323	Co-Sponsor	Banning text messaging while driving.
HB 339	Co-Sponsor	Making sure that the slots money promised for education stays there.
HB 375	Co-Sponsor	Creating an Off-Highway Vehicle Fund in the Department of Natural Resources.
HB 405	Co-Sponsor	Requiring medical insurers and HMOs to provide more frequent breast cancer screenings.
HB 406	Co-Sponsor	Authorizing the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund to accept premiums on an installment.
HB 413	Co-Sponsor	Requiring a timely, full campaign finance disclosure report for ballot issue committees.
HB 414	Co-Sponsor	Authorizing $50,000 capital-funding for Northgate Homes Lighting Upgrade.
HB 417	Co-Sponsor	Guaranteeing individuals with disabilities full and equal access to business establishments.
HB 422	Co-Sponsor	Requiring notation in court documents of a parents absence due to overseas military deployment during custody proceedings.
HB 458	Co-Sponsor	Requiring the State Highway Administration to post highway traffic accident information on a public website.
HB 468	Co-Sponsor	Expanding insurance coverage of habilitative services up to 25 years of age from 19.
HB 474	Co-Sponsor	Prohibiting employment and housing discrimination based on gender identity.
HB 476	Co-Sponsor	Allowing election day voter registration.
HB 495	Co-Sponsor	Banning large, abusive puppy-mills.
HB 503	Co-Sponsor	Establishing a commission on autism.
HB 509	Co-Sponsor	Prohibiting cyber-bullying.
HB 541	Co-Sponsor	Requiring new state-funded community college buildings to be green.
HB 544	Co-Sponsor	Allowing interior designers to place a lien on a building for unpaid work done during construction.
HB 571	Co-Sponsor	Banning misrepresentation of senior-citizen specific credentials.
HB 583	Co-Sponsor	Prohibiting scams targeting the elderly.
HB 589	Co-Sponsor	Unifying the deadline for new voter registrations and party change applications.
HB 601	Co-Sponsor	Requiring chain restaurants to provide nutritional information on their menus.
HB 612	Co-Sponsor	Allowing all graduates of Maryland public schools to be eligible for in-state tuition.
HB 614	Co-Sponsor	Expanding enterprise zone tax credits to go directly to business-owning tenants
HB 640	Co-Sponsor	Requiring banks to notify municipalities and counties of their foreclosed property.
HB 644	Co-Sponsor	Creating an apprenticeship program to assist young people who don't attend college.
HB 655	Co-Sponsor	Funding best management practices at marinas to protect the marine habitat.
HB 659	Co-Sponsor	Creation of a Federal REAL-ID compliant ID separate from their drivers licenses.
HB 664	Co-Sponsor	Requiring foods that contained cloned animals to be labeled.
HB 673	Co-Sponsor	Expanding access to MRI, radiation therapy and CT scans by allowing a larger set of medical facilities to administer the treatment.
HB 717	Co-Sponsor	Improving the procedures which courts use to determine the legal and physical custody of a minor.
HB 733	Co-Sponsor	Providing timely notice to tenants living in homes undergoing foreclosure.
HB 742	Co-Sponsor	Providing for two separate state-issued ID cards to comply with federal REAL-ID without its punitive effects.
HB 756	Co-Sponsor	Establishing a Cultural and Linguistic Health Care Provider Competency Program to improve communication between health care providers and patients.
HB 776	Co-Sponsor	Providing timely notice to tenants living in homes undergoing foreclosure.
HB 792	Co-Sponsor	Allowing collective bargaining for school teachers in personnel related cases.
HB 793	Co-Sponsor	Creating a task force to study classroom indoor air quality standards.
HB 819	Co-Sponsor	Preventing employers from misclassifying their workers as contractors to avoid taxes and benefits.
HB 842	Co-Sponsor	Re-regulating electricity production.
HB 845	Co-Sponsoring	Educating public school "tweens" about dating violence.
HB 876	Co-Sponsor	Creating a Healthy Homes Initiative in the Department of Environment.
HB 877	Co-Sponsor	Allowing motorcyclists to enter a signal-controlled intersection after 120 seconds if the pressure-plate doesn't detect their weight.
HB 901	Co-Sponsor	Authorizing judges to issue restraining orders to protect pets and service animals in cases of domestic disputes.
HB 907	Co-Sponsor	Preventing foreign deployments of the National Guard without a congressional declaration of war.
HB 921	Co-Sponsor	Extending the duration of construction permits to increase employment opportunities and increase economic activity.
HB 951	Co-Sponsor	Establishing the Maryland Institute for Clinical Value to improve healthcare delivery.
HB 1001	Co-Sponsor	Requiring financial institutions to annually report to state government the number of their employees on Medicaid.
HB 1055	Co-Sponsor	Affording marriage equality to all regardless of sexual orientation.
HB 1087	Co-Sponsor	Increasing the penalty for stealing the identity of a minor.
HB 1107	Co-Sponsor	Creating a task force on Alzheimer's Disease.
HB 1116	Co-Sponsor	Defining explicitly exact metrics as Smart Growth criteria.
HB 1118	Co-Sponsor	Allowing bank records and other documents to be presented in court as evidence in identity-theft cases.
HB 1120	Co-Sponsor	Prohibiting the use and storage of Social Security numbers on magnetic cards to avoid identity theft.
HB 1126	Co-Sponsor	Allowing victims of identity theft to seek compensation for lost wages from perpetrators.
HB 1155	Co-Sponsor	Preventing doctors from selling prescription information to pharmaceutical companies.
HB 1158	Co-Sponsor	Creating the Maryland Food and Hunger Policy Council in the Department of Agriculture to help eliminate hunger for children.
HB 1160	Co-Sponsor	Increasing sales taxes on hard liquor.
HB 1169	Co-Sponsor	Requiring a helmet for riders of all-terrain vehicles.
HB 1180	Co-Sponsor	Classifying malt beverages ("alcopops") as liquor for the purposes of taxes and sales.
HB 1201	Co-Sponsor	Banning the display of a noose, Swastika or other hate symbol with the intent to threaten or intimidate.
HB 1208	Co-Sponsor	Increasing the criminal penalty for cruelty to pets.
HB 1210	Co-Sponsor	Requiring that stores charge 5 cents for non-recyclable plastic shopping bags.
HB 1217	Co-Sponsor	Requiring the installation of Ignition Interlock System in drunk drivers' cars.
HB 1226	Co-Sponsor	Creation of a two-tier system of drivers licenses to comply with Federal REAL-ID legislation.
HB 1238	Co-Sponsor	Establishing energy-efficient standards for TVs similar to other appliances.
HB 1241	Co-Sponsor	Changing the state song to omit lyrics sympathetic to the confederacy and denigrating "northern scum".
HB 1243	Co-Sponsor	Establishing parameters for good-faith negotiations amongst representatives of labor unions and public-schools.
HB 1249	Co-Sponsor	Mandating overtime pay for hourly workers who work more than 8 hours in any day or 40 hours in any week.
HB 1257	Co-Sponsor	Authorizing $300,000 capital-funding for the Capital Area Food Bank.
HB 1260	Co-Sponsor	Protecting the first $5,000 of a debtor's personal property from creditors in bankruptcy proceedings.
HB 1262	Co-Sponsor	Allowing catalog/internet sales of wine into Maryland.
HB 1267	Co-Sponsor	Requiring that all uses of SWAT teams are fully documented and explained.
HB 1287	Co-Sponsor	Increasing penalties for violating wage laws.
HB 1288	Co-Sponsor	Allowing employees to recover damages from employers who violated wage laws.
HB 1290	Co-Sponsor	Mandating that public school systems develop a plan and strategy for recycling materials.
HB 1340	Co-Sponsor	Increasing protection for homeowners in bankruptcy by protecting a larger amount of their home-equity from creditors.
HB 1360	Co-Sponsor	Authorizing $250,000 capital funding for the Black Rock Center for the Arts.

House Bill 667: Patient Referrals for Radiation Therapy Services

2009-02-20T13:37:00.000-05:00

Interesting Fact: If you are a cancer patient in Maryland, when you go to visit your private-practice Oncologist, he can administer chemotherapy to you.... but by law he or she cannot administer radiation therapy. It is strange but true.

A "self-referral" is defined as a doctor referring patients to him or herself (or to an associate from whom a financial benefit is received) for services not directly part of their own practice. Current law ban doctors from "self-referrals" for certain services because of the possibility of conflict-of-interest and over-prescription fraud. These services include MRI, CT-Scans and Radiation Therapy.

MRI and CT-Scan though are fundamentally different in one important way than Radiation Therapy. They are diagnostic tools whereas Radiation Therapy is a treatment. Radiation Therapy is a only given to patients who are known to have cancer and it has very significant side effects. MRI and CT-Scans can be given to literally anyone for almost any ailment. So the risk of over-prescription and fraud with Radiation Therapy is far less than with MRI and CT-Scan.

For this reason I have sponsored a bill House Bill 667: Patient Referrals for Radiation Therapy Services that would allow Medical Oncologists to team up with Radiation Oncologists within the same office. This bill will increase the availability and accessibility of Radiation Therapy for Maryland's Cancer patients.

You can read the actual text of the bill by clicking here.

- Saqib

House Bill 661: Special Session Campaign Finance Reform Act

2009-02-20T02:41:00.001-05:00

One of the issues that motivates me the most as a public official is preventing the undue influence of money in politics. I think that all members of our community should have an equal voice in public policy -- not just those with lots of money.

Luckily, the vast majority of my colleagues in the Maryland General Assembly agree with this sentiment. For this reason we have in place a campaign fund-raising ban during the annual 90-day regular legislative session (January - April). During this period, legislators, the Governor, the Comptroller and the Attorney General are prohibited from soliciting or receiving any funds for their campaigns. This allows us to focus on policy and prevents even the appearance of impropriety or conflict of interest.

Although we have a fund-raising ban for regular sessions, the same ban does not apply to emergency or "Special Sessions" which the Governor can call at his discretion. I believe that our laws should treat the fund-raising during regular and special sessions consistently. So I have introduced House Bill 661: Special Session Campaign Finance Reform Act. This bill enacts the same fund-raising ban for special sessions as we currently have for regular sessions.

This is an issue that I have been discussing for some time now. You can read my October 2007 letter to the Gazette about this issue by clicking here.

Both the Senate President and Speaker of the House have indicated their support for fund-raising parity between regular and special session. You can their comments in the Baltimore Sun by clicking here.

Just to be clear, I'm not at all accusing anyone of wrongdoing. In fact, during the special session, I received a few campaign donations myself. This was completely lawful and in compliance with the guidance given by our Ethics counsel. However, I think the law should change to give our citizens that extra level of confidence in the integrity of their elected officials. The citizens of Maryland certainly deserve that.

You can read the actual text of the legislation by clicking here.

- Saqib

House Bill 558: Rental Car Parking Ticket Fairness Act

2009-02-19T01:23:00.000-05:00

Have you ever rented a car? If so, while renting that car did you ever receive a parking ticket? Now answer the question honestly, did you pay the ticket or did you ignore it knowing that you wouldn't be held liable?

If you didn't pay the ticket (naughty, naughty), then you are like hundreds of other people in Maryland who don't pay their parking tickets on rental vehicles. But then who ends up paying? The rental car company, that's who.

Every year rental car companies end up paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in Maryland alone to cover the costs of parking tickets incurred by their customers. It's an unfair and unjust burden on these companies. And I think they shouldn't be held liable for infractions they weren't responsible for. During these very tough economic times when people are loosing their jobs everyday, I believe we must do all that we can to improve the business climate for Maryland companies so that they can get back into a position where they are prospering and creating more jobs for our residents.

That is why I have introduce House Bill 558: Rental Car Parking Ticket Fairness Act. .This bill allows rental car companies to transfer the financial liability for these parking tickets back to the people who actually earned them. It's a simple issue of fairness. And I think now is the perfect time to make this change.

You can read the actual text of the bill by clicking here.

House Bill 362: Moving Violation Points Accountability Act

2009-02-06T15:26:00.014-05:00

When a driver is ticketed for a moving violation by a police officer, he or she can go to court to contest their guilt. Usually the court date comes months after the ticket was issued. If the driver is found innocent, their are no sanctions of course. But what happens if the driver is found guilty of the charges? Of course they have to pay the fine (plus court costs) and the MVA assesses "points" against their license. If somebody accumulates 8 points, then their license gets suspended.

Of course the points aren't assessed on a driver's license when they are pulled over. They only go into effect when/if they are found guilty. That may occur several months after the actual infraction. If they continue (ie: delay) their court date, it may come as much as a year later.

However, even though the points go into effect at the time of conviction, Maryland law says the points will expire 2 years from the violation. So there is incentive for drivers to delay their court dates in order to shorten the duration in which the points apply. It's a little quirk in our law. But repeat bad drivers exploit this loophole often.

For this reason, I have introduced House Bill 362: The Moving Violation Points Accountability Act. This bill eliminates the loophole by saying that moving violation points expire two years after the conviction (instead of the violation). This eliminates the incentive to delay court dates and ensures that bad drivers are held fully accountable for their actions.

You can read the actual text of the bill by clicking here

[UPDATE 2/10/2009]:

You can view the powerpoint presentation I presented in the House hearing today by clicking here.

You can hear the audio recording of my testimony by clicking here.

House Bill 6: Malfunctioning Traffic Light Act

2009-02-03T16:18:00.001-05:00

Question: What is the law to follow when you approach a malfunctioning signal light in your vehicle?
Answer: Treat it like an all-way Stop Sign.
Wrong.

Currently, most people follow the rule of thumb listed above. They incorrectly believe that is the law. However, Maryland law is silent on what a driver should do when approaching a malfunctioning signal light. It is completely legal to simply ignore the broken traffic light and drive right through.

As a member of the Motor Vehicles Subcommittee of the House Environmental Matters Committee, I'm uniquely positioned to correct this omission in our traffic laws. For this reason, I have introduced House Bill 6: The Malfunctioning Traffic Light Act. Senator James Robey has kindly agreed to introduce this same legislation in the Senate.

The Malfunctioning Traffic Light Act says that "If no lighted indication is visible to a driver approaching traffic control signal, the driver shall reduce speed and prepare yield to other vehicles in or approaching the intersection." This language was modeled after Delaware's law. It has been recommended by John Porcari, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation.

You can read the actual text of the bill by clicking here.

[Updated 2/3/2009]: You can hear the audio recording of the hearing before the House Environemental Matters Committee on 2/3/2009 by clicking here.

House Bill 233: Full Disclosure of Real-Estate Taxes

2009-01-28T14:53:00.005-05:00

In Maryland we have something called the "Homestead Property Tax Credit". This tax credit ensures that the annual increase in your home property sales taxes is capped at a certain amount - regardless of how high your home's value rises. In Montgomery County it is 10%.

The effect of this tax credit is that even though your home's value may have increased dramatically, your property taxes climb much slower. When the house is sold, the new buyer doesn't get the benefit of this tax reduction. He or she will pay the full tax rate. So often buyers will end up paying significantly higher taxes than the sellers were paying.

Many people don't understand or realize this "tax-gap" exists. Sellers often advertise the taxes they pay on the real-estate fliers leaving the buyer with "sticker-shock" after they move in and get their first tax bill.

Montgomery County Councilman Phil Andrews identified this problem and passed a local ordinance to fix it in 2007. I'm seeking to take Councilman Andrews idea and expand it state-wide.

For this reason, I have introduced House Bill 233: Full Disclosure of Real-Estate Taxes Act. This bill ensures that home sellers (and their agents) will properly list on any advertisement the property tax that the new buyer would pay.

You can read Councilman Andrews' excellent letter to the editor in the Washington Post about this issue by clicking here.

You can read the actual text of the bill by clicking here.

- Saqib

UPDATE 2/26/2009: This bill just passed the Maryland House of Delegates unanimously 135-0. Now onto the Senate!

House Bill 115: Punjabi Cultural Awareness Day Act

2009-01-25T08:22:00.001-05:00

Do you know any Sikh people? I do. There are thousands of Sikh residents in Maryland. Many Sikh men can be identified by the turbans they wear. But many others choose not to wear turbans. But aside from the turbans, I have found that most people are completely unaware about the Sikh religion and culture.

Sikhism founded on the teachings of Guru Nanak and nine successive Sikh Gurus in fifteenth century Indian/Pakistani state of Punjab, is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world. This system of religious philosophy and expression has been traditionally known as the Gurmat (literally the counsel of the gurus) or the Sikh Dharma. Sikhism originated from the word Sikh, which in turn comes from the Sanskrit root śiṣya meaning "disciple" or "learner", or śikṣa meaning "instruction."

Most Maryland Sikhs are hard-working and successful professionals. Not all Punjabis are Sikh. But almost all Sikhs are Punjbai. This is a community that can be considered a model for other immigrant communities in America. Yet in the public's mind, they are nearly invisible. I believe we need to recognize this community as an asset to our state and nation.

For this reason, I have introduced House Bill #115: The Punjabi Cultural Awareness Day Act. This bill simply establishes April 13th as a day to officialy recognize the contribution that Punjabi Culture has made to world civilization.

You can read the text of the bill here.

House Bill 63: Candidacy Deadline Reform Act

2009-01-21T22:03:00.002-05:00

Maryland has numerous state-level elected offices that go up for election every four years:

141 State Representatives (Delegates)
47 State Senators
1 Attorney General
1 Comptroller
1 Governor + 1 Lieutenant Governor

Aside from these we have 2 US Senators, 8 US Congressmen and a multitude of county-level offices that go up for election at various times as well. Each of these elections attract multiple candidates. That's a good thing. Democracy requires people to elect their leaders. As far as I'm concerned, the more choices we have, the better!

Candidates for these offices have to jump through numerous hoops to qualify for elections. The most significant such hoop is actually filing a candidacy with the Maryland State Board of Elections. As you might expect, their is a "filing deadline" by which all candidates must register their candidacies. If you miss the deadline, your name will not appear on the ballot. Fair enough, right?

However, strangely enough, Maryland law allows 10 days after the filing deadline for any candidate to remove their name from the ballot. During this 10 day period, no new candidates can file, but existing candidates can remove their names from contention. This might seem like an innocuous little quirk but in fact, this oddity allows for some nefarious activity on the part of candidates and those attempting to distort the democratic process. People might file their candidacies to run for office without any intention of actually contesting the election. By doing this, they might discourage other potential candidates from filing their candidacies (this is called "clearing the field"). If they collude with another preferred candidate, they can easily game the system so that their preferred is the only other candidate in the race. Then, once the filing deadline has passed (but before the drop-out deadline), the "fake-candidate" can simply withdraw their candidacy.... thus leaving their preferred candidate as the only horse in the race. They can play this deceptive game because they are safe in the knowledge that within that 10-day period, no new candidates can enter the race, but they can exit.

Who would engage in such a contrived scheme? Unfortunately, there have been recent cases in Maryland in which this exact scenario has occurred. It's a shame that people would cynically try to warp the democratic process in such a way. But it happens.

For this reason, I have introduced House Bill 63: Candidacy Deadline Reform Act. This bill changes the current law such that the drop-out deadline is the same as the filing deadline. Thus closing the 10-day loophole window. You can read the actual text of the bill here.

MC 912/09: Speed Camera Fairness Act

2008-10-23T15:51:00.003-05:00

Of course nobody likes to get a ticket from one of the numerous speed cameras posted on Montgomery County's roads. However, many would agree that they are necessity to increase safety of our motorists and pedestrians. What many people don't know (and this came as a surpise to me too) is that Montgomery County Government is paying the contractors -- Affiliated Computer Services Inc (ACS) -- who own, maintain and run the speed cameras a $16.25 fee per ticket. Although this may not technically violate the language of state law, it certainly violates the spirit: "If a contractor operates a speed monitoring system on behalf of a local jurisdiction or agency, the contractor's fee may not be contingent on the number of citations issued or paid". The result is that ACS has a financial incentive to issue as many speed camera tickets as possible. In March, the Washington Times covered this story in detail. You can read that article by clicking here. I think this is an area that needs serious reform.

For this reason, Senator Mike Lenett (D-Olney) and I have teamed up to introduce the "Speed Camera Fairness Act". This bill clarifies and explicitly bans the aforementioned type of contractual arrangement. I'm a supporter of speed cameras because I think they lower speeds and save lives. However, they must be done right. It is crucial that our citizenry has every confidence that the goal of these cameras is to increase public safety -- not to pad the government's coffers or some company's bottom line. You can read the actual text of the bill by clicking here.

This bill will be voted on in Annapolis in January. However, there will be a public hearing for this bill at 7:00 pm on Thursday, December 11, 2008. It will be held in the 1st Floor Auditorium in the Executive Office Bldg (101 Monroe St., Rockville). If you support this bill and you live in Montgomery County, I urge you to attend and testify that evening. Just let me know by email in advance. You must sign up to testify by clicking here.

- Saqib

MC/PG 101/09: The WSSC Financial Oversight Act

2008-10-21T12:11:00.001-05:00

The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) is the agency that delivers water to the homes and businesses in Montgomery County and Prince George's County. It is chartered in Maryland State Law. Elected officials from both counties approve the WSSC’s annual water and sewer fees as well as construction projects in the annual budgets. Montgomery County spends $757 million per fiscal year through the WSSC. Over the past three our county has ponied up $2.3 billion for the WSSC.

Strangely though, when the Montgomery County Inspector General, Thomas Dagely (who is charged with eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in government) recently asked to see how that $2.3 billion dollars was spent the WSSC bluntly refused to provide him with their budgetary data. This is an intolerable situation. Montgomery County's residents must know that their tax-dollars are not being wasted or pilfered. Anything that hinders such reasonable oversight is a major problem. And more importantly, the WSSC should not be in the business of stonewalling the public.

Montgomery County's Inspector General position was created as an agent of the County Council. WSSC lawyers cited a portion of state law saying that it only had to provide the information in question to the County Executive, but not the County Council. You can read about this standoff in a Washington Post article by clicking here. What makes this particular issue even more confounding is that due to a legislative quirk, the Prince George's Council enjoys this oversight authority that Montgomery County lacks. So Montgomery County's tax-payers aren't as well protected as their neighbors to the South-East.

For this reason, I have introduced MC/PG 101/09: The WSSC Financial Oversight Act. This bill would simply give Montgomery County Council the same oversight authority over WSSC's budget as the County Executive and Prince George's Councilmembers currently enjoy. You can read the full text of the bill by clicking here.

This bill will be voted on in Annapolis in January. However, there will be a public hearing for this bill at 7:00 pm on Monday December 8, 2008. It will be held in the 1st Floor Auditorium in the Executive Office Bldg (101 Monroe St. Rockville). If you are interested in observing this hearing, I urge you to attend.

- Saqib

Special Political Opportunity for High School Seniors

2008-10-06T18:14:00.001-05:00

Every year, students from across Maryland come to Annapolis in the winter/spring to participate for two weeks in the Maryland Legislative Page Program. In their roles as Legislative Pages, these students receive an insider's look and get to actively participate in Maryland's legislative process.

Participants in the Legislative Page Program are selected from a large pool of applicants to spend two weeks throughout the legislative session (January - April) interacting with members of Maryland's General Assembly and performing various tasks to support the work of members and staff. Legislative Pages get inside access to Senators and Delegates. Pages do everything from assisting visitors to the State Capital to delivering messages to members on the floor of the Senate and House. Best of all, Montgomery County Public School system gives them excused absences from their school to do this work!

I encourage all high school seniors to apply for this excellent program. Many Senators and Delegates were themselves once legislative pages. If you are a high school senior or know one who is interested in the program, please learn more about and apply for this program by clicking here.

Applications are due October 24th and final selections will be announced by October 31.

Good luck to all who apply! Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding the Legislative Page Program or any other matters of importance to you.

- Saqib

P.S.
High school seniors who attend private schools or schools outside Montgomery County should contact their guidance counselors for information about the Legislative Page Program.

My Letter for Light Rail in Montgomery County

2008-08-11T14:29:00.001-05:00

In case you missed it, I wanted to quickly bring to your attention an my letter to the editor that appeared in last Wednesday's Montgomery County Gazette regarding the need for light-rail in Montgomery County.

Please take a look by clicking here.
(I have included the text of the entire article below for your convenience)

During this time of high gas prices and given the urgency of reducing green-house gas emissions, we need to do whatever we can to reduce the number of miles driven in personal automobiles. I firmly believe that rail-transport is a crucial tool to make that happen.

- Saqib

Upcounty Needs World-Class Transit to Support Needs

Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008
I read the recent Gazette article in which some members of the Montgomery County Planning Board advocated for a bus route along the Corridor Cities Transitway (CCT) instead of light-rail. I respectfully disagree with their assessment.
Like most elected officials from upper Montgomery County, I am a strong advocate for the CCT. I also believe that a light-rail line is a far superior solution than a bus route.
Numerous studies demonstrate that light-rail may be more expensive upfront but is far more effective than express bus routes. More high quality economic development occurs near light-rail versus bus transit. People are far likelier to switch from cars to trains rather than buses. Light-rail is more scalable because as demand increases, cars can be added without paying more operators. Light-rail is perceived as more permanent and, once in place, operational funding is more secure. Travel-times tend to be more predictable because rail is routed along dedicated rights-of-way. Such predictability is crucial for passengers planning their journey with confidence.
I urge members of the Planning Board and Transportation Secretary John Porcari to provide the upcounty with a world-class solution to our transportation problems. That means a light-rail line along the route of the CCT.
Saqib Ali, North Potomac
The writer, a Democrat, represents District 39 in the House of Delegates.

Take 2 Minutes to Defend Liberty.

2008-07-06T19:25:00.002-05:00

As a Maryland State Representative I have direct influence over state legislation. Usually I contact you to keep you abreast of and seek your input on state-level issues. However, today I'm taking the unusual step of writing to you about a federal issue. I'm doing this because the issue at stake is of crucial importance to every American who takes their Constitution seriously. I'm writing to appeal for your help to stop federal legislation to allow warrantless wiretapping of our telephone and email conversations. I believe that it is not an overstatement to say that the rule-of-law and liberty itself are at stake.

You see, on Tuesday July 8th, the US Senate is scheduled to debate legislation that would allow the President, with the help of big telecommunication companies like AT&T spy on the telephone and email conversations of all Americans. You may have heard that over the past few years, these telecom companies -- at the behest of President Bush -- have been spying on innocent US Citizens without any warrants. There is widespread agreement that this un-American practice is illegal. On Tuesday our US Senators will be voting on a bill that would grant retro-active immunity from civil liability to those telecom companies. This is a very bad idea. Our nation is built on the rule of law and freedom from unlawful search and seizure. You can read about the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 by clicking here.

But because George Bush wants to grant immunity, Republicans in Congress, joining with many Democrats are trying to push this bill through. Many leading Democrats including Senators Dodd, Feingold and even Senator Obama have voiced their displeasure with retro-active immunity. Below you can see Senator Feingold's (D-Wisconsin) passionate video statement against this bill.

Unfortunately, our US Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland) has previously voted to immunize the telecom companies for warrantless wiretapping. (Our other Senator Ben Cardin thankfully voted against this measure). It seems likely that on Tuesday Senator Mikulski will again vote for this measure.

I'm urgently appealing for your help in this matter. I'm asking you to take 2 minutes of your time to call Senator Mikulski's office to politely ask her to oppose any bill that provides retro-active immunity for warrantless wiretapping. Please be very polite but firm, and don't forget to tell whoever answer's the phone that you are a voter in Maryland. Since this matter is expected to come up for a vote on Tuesday, it is crucially important that you make this brief call today.

Who to call: Office of US Senator Barbara Mikulski
Telephone Number: (202) 224-4654
What to say: "Please defend the constitution by opposing any bill that provides retro-active immunity for warrantless wiretapping"

This is an issue of utmost importance for our nation. So I thank you for your support and for your time.

- Saqib

House Bill #80: The No Nooses Act

2008-03-22T00:44:00.001-05:00

I would like to tell you about an important legislative initiative that I believe is crucial to preventing racial intolerance and intimidation in Maryland.

Over the past few months there have been numerous media accounts of people using nooses as a symbol of hate. Most well-known amongst these was the case in Jenna, Louisiana where such a noose sparked school-yard fighting. There have been noose-sightings much closer to home as well. Last September, a noose was found hanging on a tree at the University of Maryland in College Park. This noose was just outside the Nyumburu Cultural Center, home to the Black Faculty and Staff Association. This incident sparked widespread outrage amongst the student body and faculty. You can read the Washington Post article describing this very unfortunate incident by clicking here.

It is becoming clear to me that the noose is fast-becoming the preferred symbol of intimidation by those who express racial intolerance today. Nooses seem to have replaced other equally odious icons such as burning crosses. Burning a cross is already illegal in Maryland. However, hanging a noose isn’t illegal. I believe it is time for Maryland’s law to catch-up.

For this reason I have teamed up with Delegate Herman Taylor to introduce House Bill #80: The No Nooses Act in the Maryland General Assembly which commenced on January 9th. This bill will make it a hate-crime for anyone to place a noose on any real-property based on the ethnic animosity. Such a hate-crime would be a misdemeanor if committed by itself (up to 3 years imprisonment and a $5,000 fine) or a felony if committed with another serious crime (up to 20 years imprisonment and a $20,000 fine).

A similar law was recently passed in New York. In the coming weeks, I will work hard to ensure that this much-needed, common-sense legislation is passed into law in Maryland.

You can read the actual text of the bill by clicking here.

- Saqib

[UPDATE 3/22/2008]: I was successful in getting this issue passed through the House of Delegates. To see an article about this issue, click here.

Saqib Ali's Annapolis Report 2/26/2008

2008-02-25T03:01:00.003-05:00

Dear Friends,

Maryland's annual 90-day legislative session in Annapolis has reached its midway point. I have been working very hard on numerous initiatives. I believe the remaining 45 days will be decisive in making progress for our state on numerous fronts.

At the bottom of this email I have included an extensive list of legislation I am working on this session. Please browse through it and feel free to read the actual text of the bills by clicking on the bill number. Keep in mind that bills are simply proposed laws. Just because a bill is proposed doesn't mean that it will become law. In fact only about one third of all proposals become law.

As the second half of the 2008 session begins, I will have many challenging decisions to make as Delegate. To help me make wise decisions, I need to hear from you, my constituents, neighbors and friends. Please contact me about your stance on issues & legislation of concern to you, so that I can be the best representative possible.

It is a great honor to represent the people of District 39. Over the coming weeks, I will keep you up-to-date on my efforts here in Annapolis. Please read my blog which can be found at my website: www.SaqibAli.org. I'll try to update it as often as possible.

Sincerely,
- Saqib

(301) 685-3407
www.SaqibAli.org

Bill Number	Support Level	Description
HB 10	Lead Sponsor	The Unattended Child Protection Act: Creating Maryland's first ever child neglect statute, covering crimes against children which do not rise to the level of child abuse. Read more here.
HB 80	Lead Sponsor	The No Nooses Act: Prohibiting the placement of a noose on someone's property for the purpose of racial intimidation. Read more here.
HB 110	Lead Sponsor	The Wireless Telephone Billing Change Notification Act: Forcing cell phone companies to send a written receipt to customers within 10 days after any change in monthly billing fee. Read more here.
HB 111	Lead Sponsor	The Malfunctioning Traffic Light Act: Requiring drivers to treat a broken or malfunctioning traffic light as a four-way stop sign. Read more here.
HB 129	Lead Sponsor	The Plastic Card Security Act: Forcing retailers to expunge data collected on credit-card swipe machines within 48 hours of the sales transaction.
HB 284	Lead Sponsor	The Consumer Loyalty Card Privacy Act: Preventing supermarkets from selling customers' detailed purchasing history (as recorded by supermarket "Club Cards" or "Bonus Cards") to marketers. Read more here.
HB 328	Lead Sponsor	Preventing the use of the Program Open Space environmental fund to replace natural grass fields with Astroturf.
HB 347	Lead Sponsor	The Special Legislative Session Campaign Finance Reform Act: Prohibiting state-level elected officials from accepting campaign contributions during Special Sessions of the legislature. Read more here.
HB 513	Lead Sponsor	Allocating $150,000 in matching funds to buy advanced medical equipment for the MCC Medical Clinic in Silver Spring.
HB 614	Lead Sponsor	Expanding the 6% sales tax to "medically unnecessary" cosmetic procedures hopefully to offset the repeal of the 2007 Computer Services Tax.
HB 829	Lead Sponsor	Preventing drivers from getting double-ticketed in a very short time by speed-cameras.
HB 1119	Lead Sponsor	Creating new safety standards for vehicles using a trailer-hitch to pull another vehicle or a trailer.
HB 1401	Lead Sponsor	The Radio Frequency Identification Chip Insertion Prevention Act: Preventing employers from implanting radio frequency identification (RFID) chips into employees' bodies. Read more here.
HB 1410	Lead Sponsor	The Truth in Advertising Real-Estate Taxes Act: Requiring realtors to disclose the actual amount a buyer will pay in property taxes after purchasing a home. Read more here.
HB 1414	Lead Sponsor	Patient Referrals for Radiation Therapy Services: Expanding access to cancer radiation therapy by allowing a larger set of medical facilities to administer the treatment. Read more here.
HB 1462	Lead Sponsor	Preventing credit card companies from changing loan terms without having the borrowers signed consent.
HB 75	Co-Sponsor	Requiring that the public school system be notified when a nonpublic-school student is arrested.
HB 76	Co-Sponsor	Increasing the severity of punishment to providing a minor with alcohol from a fine to a misdemeanor crime (jail time).
HB 138	Co-Sponsor	Requiring the disclosure of large contributions to campaigns for state-wide ballot initiatives.
HB 139	Co-Sponsor	Requiring principals to report multiply suspended students to the county school superintendant for a remedial action plan.
HB 161	Co-Sponsor	Suspending minors' drivers licenses if convicted of graffiti.
HB 196	Co-Sponsor	Repealing the computer services tax which passed during the 2007 special legislative session as part of a larger compromise.
HB 247	Co-Sponsor	Establishing a fund in each county for a residential drug abuse treatment program.
HB 283	Co-Sponsor	Allowing the prosecution of drug traffickers for having drug-money up to $10,000.
HB 302	Co-Sponsor	Allocating $1,000,000 in matching funds for the Montgomery General Hospital Emergency Room.
HB 326	Co-Sponsor	Repealing the computer services tax which passed during the 2007 special legislative session as part of a larger compromise.
HB 332	Co-Sponsor	Allocating $1,000,000 in matching funds for an Up-county senior citizens center in Gaithersburg.
HB 334	Co-Sponsor	Allocating $1,000,000 in matching funds for the Bioscience Education Center in Germantown.
HB 336	Co-Sponsor	Allocating $250,000 in matching funds for the Plum Gar Neighborhood Recreation Center in Germantown.
HB 346	Co-Sponsor	Requiring that court orders circumscribing parental rights of a member of the US military deployed overseas apply only temporarily until that deployment is complete.
HB 357	Co-Sponsor	Prohibiting newspaper delivery to homes that have requested stoppage.
HB 358	Co-Sponsor	Creating a searchable website showing all state expenditures over $25,000.
HB 368	Co-Sponsor	Creating the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program to encourage the development of renewable energy sources.
HB 370	Co-Sponsor	Allowing for the collection of DNA from people who have been arrested for violent crime, burglary or auto-theft.
HB 372	Co-Sponsor	Providing mental health services for Maryland veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
HB 373	Co-Sponsor	Establishing a state goal of increasing development near transit centers (bus stations, train stations, etc).
HB 374	Co-Sponsor	Establishing the state goal of reducing per capita electricity by 15% by 2015.
HB 375	Co-Sponsor	Increasing the percentages of electricity that has to be produced by renewable energy sources over the next few years.
HB 376	Co-Sponsor	Mandating that newly constructed state government buildings meet federal standards for being highly energy efficient.
HB 377	Co-Sponsor	Increasing the tax-credit for homes powered by solar or geo-thermal energy.
HB 378	Co-Sponsor	Increasing the penalties for abuse or neglect of animals and aggravated cruelty to animals.
HB 419	Co-Sponsor	Creating a registry for pharmacy benefit managers.
HB 420	Co-Sponsor	Allocating $300,000 in matching funds for historic preservation and rehabilitation of Button Farm.
HB 447	Co-Sponsor	Banning phosphorous from fertilizers intended for personal usage.
HB 500	Co-Sponsor	Denying paternity, visitation and custody rights to rapists for offspring produced by that crime.
HB 506	Co-Sponsor	Reviewing weather Towson State University is unnecessarily duplicating academic programs at Morgan State University.
HB 509	Co-Sponsor	Establishing a task-force to study recyclable beverage bottle/can deposit programs.
HB 512	Co-Sponsor	Establishing the Maryland Affordable Housing Investment Fund and its corresponding Board.
HB 528	Co-Sponsor	Including the homeless as a protected class in Maryland's hate-crime statute.
HB 555	Co-Sponsor	Forcing trailer-park owners pay relocation expenses of their residents when the trailer-park closes.
HB 585	Co-Sponsor	Creating a workgroup to establish a safe patient-lifting policy for nursing homes.
HB 598	Co-Sponsor	Establishing a commission on minority business enterprise.
HB 603	Co-Sponsor	Allowing college students to claim health insurance as an "educational cost" for the purposes of financial aid application.
HB 609	Co-Sponsor	Prohibiting the sale of cigars in packages of less than 5 (except in a cigar shop).
HB 610	Co-Sponsor	Establishing a task-force to study the preservation of heritage languages.
HB 613	Co-Sponsor	Establishing a fund to pay for higher education through excess remainder funds on gift cards.
HB 617	Co-Sponsor	Altering the definition of cigarettes to include cigars for taxation purposes.
HB 618	Co-Sponsor	Mandating that apartment buildings make reasonable religious accommodations for residents.
HB 619	Co-Sponsor	Preventing sex-offenders from having their imprisonment duration reduced due to good behavior.
HB 620	Co-Sponsor	Preventing witness intimidators from having their imprisonment duration reduced due to good behavior.
HB 625	Co-Sponsor	Making the use of state parks free of charge by eliminating the annual fee paid by the Park Reserve Fund to the counties.
HB 654	Co-Sponsor	Mandating that employees be given at least 15-minute breaks every six hours of work.
HB 660	Co-Sponsor	Allocating $250,000 in matching funds for capital improvements for the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes.
HB 711	Co-Sponsor	Preventing school bus drivers from using cell phones.
HB 712	Co-Sponsor	Reducing 25% of green-house gas emissions by 2020 and 90% by 2050.
HB 719	Co-Sponsor	Making it a felony to knowingly watch a dog-fight.
HB 724	Co-Sponsor	Establishing a 12-member joint Senate/House committee on information technology and Biotechnology.
HB 729	Co-Sponsor	Requiring the DNA collection from people arrested for kidnapping and sexual offenses.
HB 730	Co-Sponsor	Allowing the legal practice of Ayurvedic & Homeopathic medicine.
HB 777	Co-Sponsor	Giving gas-station owners right-of-first-refusal when big oil companies sell the business to regional gasoline wholesalers or "jobbers".
HB 785	Co-Sponsor	Converting the troubled Rosewood Center to a state a recreational facility if/when it is closed.
HB 790	Co-Sponsor	Establishing a program to provide medical services specifically to children who have been abused.
HB 795	Co-Sponsor	Allowing State Athletic Commission to issue licenses for mixed martial arts competitions.
HB 834	Co-Sponsor	Mandating that the labels of all fur clothing identify the country of origin and the animal used.
HB 835	Co-Sponsor	Mandating that mercury switches be removed from older automobiles to the Chesapeake Bay from contamination.
HB 857	Co-Sponsor	Giving municipalities the right to annex lots that straddle their municipal borders.
HB 904	Co-Sponsor	Raising the alcoholic beverage tax rate.
HB 905	Co-Sponsor	Requiring private universities to issue annual reports regarding their cultural diversity programs.
HB 971	Co-Sponsor	Creating a publicly financed state legislative election campaign program.
HB 984	Co-Sponsor	Establishing a mental health pilot program for Maryland veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars at Montgomery County General Hospital.
HB 987	Co-Sponsor	Forcing internet broadband providers report to the Public Service Commission maps of where service has and hasn't been deployed.
HB 1067	Co-Sponsor	Forcing universities professors and book stores reduce the cost text-books required for courses by and prevent unneccessary "bundling".
HB 1079	Co-Sponsor	Ensuring that foods sold as "Halal" aren't fraudulently labeled.
HB 1105	Co-Sponsor	Requiring a law enforcement officer to take specified actions if an arrest is made.
HB 1106	Co-Sponsor	Allowing the issuance of protective orders in response to a police arrest even if the court is closed (on the weekends).
HB 1108	Co-Sponsor	Forcing retailers to expunge data collected on credit-card swipe machines within 48 hours of the sales transaction.
HB 1118	Co-Sponsor	Allocating $1,000,000 in matching funds for Mansfield Kaseman Health Center (Community Ministries of Rockville).
HB 1125	Co-Sponsor	Establishing the Maryland Universal Health Care Plan.
HB 1137	Co-Sponsor	Prohibiting the production or sale of "foie gras" (duck liver induced with disease by force-feeding).
HB 1157	Co-Sponsor	Establishing a $2,000 fine for behavior designated as "road-rage".
HB 1160	Co-Sponsor	Establishing a task-force on quiet vehicles and pedestrian safety for the benefit of blind pedestrians.
HB 1176	Co-Sponsor	Establishing a task-force on childhood obesity.
HB 1195	Co-Sponsor	Requiring off-road vehicles to be titled by the MVA.
HB 1206	Co-Sponsor	Prohibiting the bundling of state procurement to limit participation from certain bidders.
HB 1235	Co-Sponsor	Exempting specified employers from the requirement to pay a specified wage for overtime.
HB 1236	Co-Sponsor	Allowing all graduates of Maryland public schools to be eligible for in-state tuition.
HB 1253	Co-Sponsor	Forcing home improvement contractor to comply with environmental rules to protect the Chesapeake Bay.
HB 1260	Co-Sponsor	Allowing wine to be directly shipped to Maryland to a consumers.
HB 1261	Co-Sponsor	Preventing housing discrimination based on the source of one's income.
HB 1277	Co-Sponsor	Increasing the use of minority-owned brokerage and investment services for state funds.
HB 1287	Co-Sponsor	Establishing the Parren J. Mitchell Public Service Summer Internship Scholarship Program at Morgan State University.
HB 1301	Co-Sponsor	Establishing the Jane E. Lawton Conservation Loan Program to promote and invest in energy efficiency and other forms of conservation.
HB 1310	Co-Sponsor	Raising the alcohol tax to fund addiction treatment and prevention.
HB 1312	Co-Sponsor	Raising the age from 5 to 7 for children required to use a booster seat in automobiles.
HB 1323	Co-Sponsor	Reducing the amount awarded by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board if the victim was involved or complicit in their own injuries.
HB 1328	Co-Sponsor	Abolishing the death penalty.
HB 1378	Co-Sponsor	Prohibiting convicted felons from possessing ammunition.
HB 1409	Co-Sponsor	Establishing a grant program for nano-biotechnology research projects.
HB 1420	Co-Sponsor	Prohibiting the placement of a lien on a condominium while a dispute over the lien amount is pending.
HB 1447	Co-Sponsor	Creating the a state board to license and oversee tax-preparers.

House Bill 1401: Radio Frequency Identification Chip Insertion Prevention Act

2008-02-23T02:54:00.002-05:00

Did you know that certain companies actually implant computer chips under the skin of their employees? It sounds like the creepy plot of a science-fiction movie, but its true.

I have seen reports that some companies are embedding tiny computer chips known as RFIDs under the skin of their employees wrists so that they can control access to sensitive rooms. Instead of waving their badges in front of a reader, these employees, just wave their wrists. Its like the ultimate SpeedPass technology! You can read Time Magazine articles about this subject by clicking here and here.

But it is a very very bad idea for numerous reasons. Firstly, there are very serious questions about the safety of having a radio-wave emitting device inside your body. There are some unconfirmed reports that they might cause cancer. More importantly though, there are a whole host of privacy and civil-liberty issues that this activity raises. Will the employer track employees movement throughout the day? Who will that tracking information be shared with? Is there a chance the employer will track their employees outside the workplace without their consent? What happens when the employee leaves the company? The privacy implications of such a system are profound and frankly dangerous. It reminds me of George Orwell's 1984.

For this reason, I have introduced House Bill 1401: The Radio Frequency Identification Chip Insertion Prevention Act. This bill would prevent employers from inserting any RFID chip into the body of any employee. Doctors who need to implant it into patients for medical purposes can still do that. And people can continue to implant them into their pets. But employers can't implant them into their employees. Period.

You can read the actual text of the bill by clicking here.

- Saqib

House Bill 110: Wireless Telephone Service Billing Change Notification Act

2008-01-29T12:27:00.000-05:00

Do you own a cell phone? Most adults I know do. Cell phones seem to have become a necessity of modern-day American life. My daily activities would be significantly different if I didn't have my cell phone with me. Not only do I use it to communicate with my family and friends, but I use it to take photos, set alarms, record to-do lists, send text messages, browse the internet, tell time, etc.

As ubiquitous as cell phones have become, it seems that nearly everyone I know has some nightmare story of being overcharged by their cell phone providers. Very often the cause of the overcharge is a misunderstanding or miscommunication between the customer and the wireless provider. Often notification of increased charges are buried deep within huge monthly billing statements that are extremely dense and don't lend themselves to easy analysis. The problem is that often such charges go unnoticed for months before any corrective action is taken leading to many wasted dollars.

Here is a simple example of what I'm talking about: My own monthly cell phone bill is usually between $120 and $140 per month depending on how much I use it. My cell-phone company offers a service called "picture-mail" which allows me to email photos taken on my cell phone to any email address. The cost for this great service is $5 per month. The Picture-mail service can be activated by calling the phone company and requesting it... or it can be activated simply by accessing a menu on my phone and pressing some buttons.

I have a lovely 21-month old daughter. She is a doll. She also loves to play with Daddy's cell phone and press buttons. She (or even I!) might mistakenly order the Picture-mail service. The extra $5 monthly charge on my bill would very likely go unnoticed by me for a very long time... Even if I didn't mean to order it.

There are numerous other examples (which don't involve a baby pressing phone buttons) where I have seen changes in monthly billing rates go unnoticed for a long time. Some of them have been caused be errors by cell phone company staff. So I have introduced House Bill 110: The Wireless Telephone Billing Change Notification Act.

This bill mandates that that "a wireless telephone service provider shall send written notice to a residential customer within 10 days of any change in the rates, terms or conditions of the customer's wireless telephone service." The legislation also stipulates that such a notice must be sent by US Mail "separately from a bill or other correspondence".

This legislation would ensure that if your monthly cell phone bill changes (increase or decrease) for any reason, you will be notified and there won't be any surprises.

You can read the actual text of the legislation by clicking here.

- Saqib

House Bill #10: The Unattended Child Protection Act

2007-12-20T12:40:00.000-05:00

Over the past few months it has come to my attention that Maryland is woefully lacking a substantial law to punish parents and care-takers who leave young children unattended.

Click here to read the Washington Post editorial that describes the harrowing case of a Prince George’s County mother who left her 5 young children and a dog unattended – in filthy surroundings, without food – for an extended period of time. Amazingly, the criminal punishment she faced for leaving the dog was three times as severe as for leaving each of her children. The Prince George’s County State’s Attorney pointed out that the laws currently on the books need to change. Clearly, the disparity here just doesn't make sense.

For this reason I have teamed up with Delegate Kathleen Dumais to introduce House Bill #10: The Unattended Child Protection Act of 2008 in the Maryland General Assembly which will commence on January 9th. This bill will increase the criminal penalties for anyone who is convicted of leaving a child under the age of 8 years-old without adult supervision in a building. It would increase the maximum jail time from 1 month to 3 years and would increase the maximum fine from $500 to $2,000. I believe this change in our law will send a strong signal to those who would abandon or neglect helpless young children.

In the coming weeks and months, I will work hard to ensure that this much-needed, common-sense legislation is passed into law.

You can read the actual text of the bill here.

- Saqib

Saqib Ali's Annapolis Report 11/28/2007

2007-11-28T01:04:00.000-05:00

As you may know, on Monday October 29th, the Maryland General Assembly convened in a "Special Session" ordered by Governor Martin O'Malley. At 2:10 am on Monday November 19th, after a marathon 9-hour session of the House of Delegates, the Special Session finally came to a conclusion. I'm writing to you today to give you a report of the activity that transpired in those 21 very hectic days.

The Special Session was called to address Maryland's structural budget deficit, projected to be $1.5 billion for fiscal year 2009 and in future years. Maryland's deficit has loomed for over a decade as a result of several economic factors, including: a massive tax cut enacted in 1997 which eliminated $1 billion a year in state revenue; a necessary $1.3 billion increase in K-12 education spending ("Thornton"); declining state revenues attributable to readjustments in the real estate market; and escalating Medicaid costs at a rate of about 10% a year, of which the state must contribute 50%.

I'm delighted to report that by working under the leadership of Governor O'Malley, we were able to put Maryland back on a solid financial footing by closing this historic budget deficit. We did so by cutting $550 million dollars of spending and raising about $1 billion in taxes. Of course I don't like to raise taxes. Nobody does. However, I believe the citizens of Maryland cherish their government services (Roads, School Construction, Mass Transit, Prisons, etc) and are willing to pay for them if they see a commensurate benefit to their daily lives. In addition to closing the massive deficit we were able to achieve several victories for Maryland families. I have detailed these victories below.

Although we made great progress in this Special Session, I believe we also took a step backwards regarding the legalization of slot machine gambling ("Slots") in Maryland. I have always been a staunch opponent of legalizing Slots because I believe Slots are essentially a tax on the most vulnerable members of our society. The gambling lobby seized this opportunity to amend the State's Constitution to legalize Slots. I fought as hard as I could against this powerful and well-funded lobby. However, in the end, they were able to win the votes of 86 other Delegates to pass this Constitutional Amendment through the Legislature. The final hurdle of this Constitutional Amendment is a referendum by the voters in November of 2008. When the citizens of Maryland go to vote for their next President, they will also be asked if they want to legalize Slots. I hope at least 50% will join me in saying no.

Here is a laundry list of what we achieved this Special Session:

Eliminating the Deficit: We raised about $1 billion towards the General Fund by overhauling our tax structure. We increased the sales tax from 5% to 6% (prescription drugs and groceries remain exempt). This increase was offset by providing a modest income tax cut for middle class families. Income taxes were increased on high earners ($200K+ per year). 46% of Marylanders will actually by paying less combined income + sales taxes. We closed some corporate tax loopholes and raised the corporate income tax from 7% to 8.25%.

Spending Cuts: We made fiscally responsible cuts in state spending, saving $550 million for taxpayers, not including nearly $300 million in additional cuts that we made earlier this year.

Education: We protected investments in education and helped keep college tuition affordable.

Healthcare Reform: By increasing the tax on a pack of cigarettes from $1 to $2, we raised $600 million to implement major healthcare reforms, including measures to expand Medicaid eligibility, making healthcare more affordable for small businesses and to providing coverage for 100,000 currently uninsured Marylanders.

Chesapeake Bay Cleanup: I was proud to cosponsor the "Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund", which earmarks $50 million for Bay restoration.

Transportation Solutions: $400 million were allocated towards the Transportation Trust Fund, investing in critical transportation infrastructure, METRO, traffic reduction, and other improvements to protect our quality of life.

You can read the Washington Post's assessment of the accomplishments in the Special Session by clicking here.

- Saqib

You Scored a Victory for Transparency and Accountability!

2007-11-14T23:20:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I wrote about an important issue having to do with the way legislative vacancies are filled in Montgomery County. In that post I described the lack of transparency and accountability that the use of a secret ballot causes. You can review the contents of that email by reading this blog post.

I'm writing today to give you the great news that last night the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee (MCDCC) voluntarily changed their rules to abandon the secret ballot! You can read about this change in the Washington Post's blog by clicking here. (I have included the text of that article below for your convenience).

Because of this rule change by the MCDCC, the legislation I introduced "Transparency in Accountability Act" is now redundant. So I have decided to withdraw it. If you had signed up to testify in favor of this bill, please be aware that bill-hearing is now canceled.

There is only 1 reason why the MCDCC changed their rules: You.
You made calls to the MCDCC office. You sent emails demanding this change. You made your voice heard in the corridors of power. When our citizens speak as loudly as you did, they cannot easily be ignored. Thank You.

I applaud and thank the members of the MCDCC for giving the hundreds of thousands of Montgomery County voters the transparency and accountability they so richly deserve.

Together our voices were heard. I'm gratified to be a part of this people-powered effort. I think you should be too!

- Saqib