Each year, the League of Women Voters selects Legislative Priorities then monitors activities in Annapolis while the General Assembly is in session. As part of our Action and Advocacy efforts, League Members give testimony on bills, distribute information, hold educational forums, publish "Report from State Circle", write letters to officials, and issue Action Alerts to ask citizens to contact their representatives.
Use the links below and at right to find out what's going on in Annapolis this year!Subscribeto our newsletters and alerts!
On the weekly show "State Circle" on Maryland Public TV, host Jeff Salkin and reporters Lou Davis, Mindy Mintz, and Charles Robinson provide analysis of major issues and pending bills and legislative news during the General Assembly session. The show often features interviews with experts and elected representatives. Visit http://www.mpt.org/statecircle to learn more.
Maryland Public Television also shows proceedings of the General Assembly at midnights Tuesday through Friday while the General Assembly is in session. Tune in or record it to see your elected legislators in action. You might even see a League Member giving testimony.
We support full public disclosure of House and Senate committee votes published on the Maryland General Assembly website: mlis.state.md.us including dates and legislator votes.
We support the elimination of fees for Up-To-The-Minute and the availability of this information to all Marylanders.
We support the podcasting or broadcasting of the Board of Public Works meetings and work sessions.
Adequate State Revenue
We support a revenue structure for Maryland which is equitable, reliable, adequate and progressive over all. We must protect the most vulnerable residents through a safetynet of basic social services.
Health Care
Universal Access To Quality Care
We support legislaion that will make a basic level of quality health care accessible to all residents that is available at an affordable cost.
We support reproducive choice.
Environment
Land Use
We support managed land use and growth management through the principles of smart growth, which promote public transportation, protect the natural environment and provide for better water and air quality.
Climate Change
We support managed land use and growth management which promotes resource conservaion, public transportaion, the protecion of the natural environment, sustainable energy policies and protection of water and air quality.
We support initiatives such as sustainable energy policies to reduce emissions of heat-trapping gases . These actions will reduce the threat of global warming, combat air pollution, increase energy security and create new jobs.
Transportation
We support public education to promote goals that provide alternative travel modes, encourage technological improvements to abate emissions from mobile sources, reduce energy consumption and protect natural resources.
League of
Action taken by the League of Women Voters to affect legislation is based on positions reached by the membership throughresearch, study, discussion and consensus.
LWVMD Will also Support:
Voter Education
Civil Liberties
Campaign Finance Reform, including Public funding
Work Force and Affordable Housing
Fair Campaigns and Elections.
Redistricting
Maryland Government: How it Works and How To Work It
We've updated and combined two of our most popular publications ("Handbook on State Government" and "Lobbying the Maryland General Assembly") into a beautiful, informative, and highly readable introduction to Maryland state government and how citizens can impact its decisions. Learn how to advocate for the issues you care about!
Ordering Information
Cost $5 plus tax, shipping and handling. We offer discounts for bulk orders (more than 10). Great for students; buy some for your school!
Please use our Contact form (upper right hand corner) to let us know how many you want.
"Report from State Circle" is published about every two weeks while the Maryland General Assembly is in session from January to April. It covers a broad spectrum of social, economic, environmental and governmental proposals before the Maryland General Assembly that the League will be monitoring, including the Governor’s Budget and important legislative events.
Email subscriptions are free; hardcopy subscriptions cost $15 for LWV members and $25 for non-members. Print and fill the attached form out ONLY if you want to get the Hardcopy version. If you want the free EMAIL subscription, please use the subscription area on the right-hand side of the screen or go to the Subscription Page. You may also sign up for free Action Alerts.
Publication starts 27 January 2010, and the Wrap-Up issue will be on Monday, 19 April 2010. Sixteen different reporters will cover these issues from the League perspective, including our long-considered positions and our 2010 Legislative Priorities:
Administration of Justice
Affordable Housing
Budget & Revenue
Campaign Finance
Children & Families
Death Penalty
Domestic Violence
Education
Elections
Gun Control
Health
Marriage Equality
Reproductive Choice
Transportation/Air Quality
The publication can be mailed first class but is available on our website for everyone Free of Charge. Subscribe at http://lwvmd.org/n/newsletter/subscriptions and we’ll send you a notice as soon as the newest edition is available.
This handy reference gives the names and contact information for Delegates and Senators in the Maryland General Assembly. It tells the make-up of standing committees and who serves on them. It also gives contact information for state officials in the Executive Branch.
The document can be printed on two sheets (front and back) or four sheets of standard 81/2 by 11 inch paper. It is designed to be a tri-fold pamphlet to carry with you as you navigate your way around Annapolis.
We've updated and combined two of our most popular publications ("Handbook on State Government" and "Lobbying the Maryland General Assembly") into a beautiful, informative, and highly readable introduction to Maryland state government and how citizens can impact its decisions. Learn how to advocate for the issues you care about!
