Good Policy Matters!
Hi, I am State Delegate Mary Ann Lisanti, and I am running to be Harford County’s next State Senator because I care deeply about you, your family, and Maryland’s future. I also care about making good public policy, not checking off boxes or pleasing interest groups.
Hi, I am State Delegate Mary Ann Lisanti, and I am running to be Harford County’s next State Senator because I care deeply about you, your family, and Maryland’s future. I also care about making good public policy, not checking off boxes or pleasing interest groups.
I read all the proposed legislation and don’t vote for bad bills even if I agree with the intent. Passing laws with unintended consequences helps no one and makes a few people feel good. I write and pass bills to solve problems, not get headlines or endorsements.
I am an innovative leader and a problem solver. I will never stop working for your and Maryland’s future.
Let’s face it; things are simply not working for anyone, so you need a Senator with a record of fixing complex problems and delivering results.
In these challenging times, I am engaged and authentic. I am ready, willing, and able to be your advocate and your voice.
So let’s talk about some issues and how I propose to address them;
Inflation and Taxes
Public Safety
Transportation
Education
School Safety
Voting Security
Environment
Federal COVID Relief
Abortion Access in Maryland
Development in Perryman
Inflation and Taxes
The people in my district and all over Maryland are overburdened with inflation. Their primary frustration is that the government is harming their lives and not helping resolve problems. Daily life is quickly becoming unaffordable for most families. The sudden impact of rising fuel and grocery costs is leading to anxiety, so I am focused on reducing taxes, and here is what I have done so far.
Tax relief is my priority, so as a Member of the House Ways and Means Committee, I was part of the team that delivered 1.86 Billion dollars in tax relief to Marylanders.
I’m proud to have co-sponsored legislation to help consumers cope with inflation while we wait for the Federal Government to take necessary action.
House Bill 1468 – Retirement and Income Tax Elimination Act of 2022 provides tax relief to all Marylanders 65 and older who earn $100,000 ($150,000 if married and filing jointly).
House Bill 288, House Bill 364, HB 1151, and House Bill 492 – All eliminate sales tax on personal care and safety products for babies, thermometers, blood pressure monitors, respirators, diabetic care, and oral hygiene products.
We passed the Motor Fuel Tax-Free 30-day tax holiday. I voted several times to extend this tax-free period, but all attempts failed, but I’m not done trying.
On July 9th, I hand-delivered a letter to Governor Hogan asking him to use his emergency powers to suspend the gas tax. The letter included a letter from the Attorney General providing the legal path for him to do so. Here is the letter and advisory:
Public Safety, Law Enforcement, and Community Equity
Everyone has a right to feel safe in their community, and society has an obligation to maintain peace and protect victims.
In my experience and Harford County, our local law enforcement officers are highly trained to treat everyone with respect and dignity. In the rare case where officers have acted inappropriately, they have been promptly disciplined, retrained, and relieved of duty if the action is warranted. I recognize that my Harford County experience may differ from those in urbanized areas where there are documented cases of bias and unequal treatment of minorities. This shall not be tolerated.
I have had the primary responsibility of managing a law enforcement agency. Insufficient training, policy deficiencies, leadership or supervision shortcomings often contribute to inappropriate acts. Each officer, commander, and funding authority must develop their personnel and deploy a no-tolerance policy. My experience with local, community-based law enforcement has shown that problems are difficult to hide, and successful departments actively engage the community in relationship building. Communication and accountability are essential.
Transportation
US Interstate 95 and US Route 40 traverse my district. The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) recently implemented an electronic collections system and outsourced the collection of overdue tolls and fines. This rollout has been a disaster for consumers as MDTA no longer controls the EZ pass system. The contractor cannot handle complaints or resolve accumulated fines without authority from the Maryland General Assembly.
In 2017, I passed HB 963 / SB973 to authorize the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) to recall a delinquent account from the Central Collection Unit (CCU) and waive civil penalties. The law has expired; therefore, I intend to file this legislation next session to reauthorize this act to relieve the impacted motorist. In the meantime, I have helped hundreds of people resolve their problems with EZ pass; if you still need help, fill out this form, and I’ll get right on it.
Education – Lessons Learned After the Pandemic
After any disaster, we should review what we did and determine what we should do differently. Here are my thoughts about our next steps.
The Maryland General Assembly should require the State Board of Education, in cooperation with each local Board of Education, to submit a written after-action report on the impact of COVID on education and student development. The information should identify needed resources and lessons learned. Afterward, an action plan to address the next pandemic should be issued as a tool kit for jurisdictional planning.
Engaging families, teachers, and students in the evaluation and planning process are essential. Some key areas of focus should include access to technology and support services. Consideration should be given to the creation of flexibility and alternative learning opportunities. Families need practical solutions to support their children’s healthy and functional learning environment.
School Safety
Safety in our schools must be a national and state priority. A society that cannot protect its children will most certainly perish.
Combating widespread and random acts of violence is a complex social dilemma with no straightforward answer. We have widespread mental health problems that need to be addressed, but we must also address safety and security first.
The first priority must be keeping children safe in their learning environment, which I believe is a universal goal. The communication among lawmakers seems to stop at the issue of guns, so I say let’s talk about security instead.
Federal and state laws prohibit firearms and other deadly weapons from entering school grounds with the exclusion of law enforcement. Are these laws enforced? The answer is no. Here in my district at Aberdeen Proving Ground, we have the best detection capabilities in the world. We should engage these experts to design school security perimeters to prevent any deadly weapon from entering the school zone undetected. With our technology, we can attain this outcome unobstructedly to maintain our open campus feeling.
Voting Security
Maryland’s voting system is secure and accurate. I am a Member of the House Elections Law subcommittee with direct oversight of the Maryland Board of Elections. We regularly perform audit-type evaluations of the systems and security of the Board of Elections.
To ensure voter confidence, Maryland has established an administrative complaint process whereby anyone who believes there is a violation of any Voting Act or system provision may file a complaint. The administrative complaint procedure is set out in Chapter 33.01.05 of the Code of Maryland Regulations. Details about the process and how to file a complaint are available at https://elections.maryland.gov/vote_act_2002/overview_admin_complaint_process.html
The Maryland State Board of Elections will investigate all complaints and conduct a public hearing if requested. The Board will make a determination of findings and make a resolution to the complaint.
Environment
Living at the confluence of the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay, I am committed to protecting our natural resources. I am proud to have been the primary sponsor of HB 1158/SB0516 – Energy job act in 2019 to establish specific criteria for qualified offshore wind projects and expand the State’s renewable energy portfolio.
This year the Maryland Legislature passed landmark legislation that strengthens Maryland’s commitment to mitigating the effects of climate change by setting achievable goals to reduce greenhouse gases by 60% by 2031 and meet the goal of net-zero statewide emissions by 2045. These standards are obtainable and will create a new green economy sector for innovation and employment opportunities.
Best Use of Federal COVID Relief Money
The State of Maryland should thoughtfully use the federal COVID relief money to produce meaningful outcomes. This once-in-a-century federal investment should be used for bold, forward-thinking initiatives, not subsidizing government activities or pet projects. We must think big and plan for the next generation of problems we can solve. I suggest we design and deploy a
Cyber-security critical infrastructure network and defense system to protect and sustain Maryland’s robust public and private assets. We could also work with our institutes of higher education and the private sector to develop a homegrown technology workforce with enhanced skills and capabilities.
This broad-based investment in technology and workforce development would provide a new lucrative economic sector for Maryland’s economy and support other industrial development. The added benefit is the creation of family-supporting and job-creating outcomes, both with positive social impact.
Abortion Access in Maryland
The United States Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Rove v Wade has caused many of us to question the protection of Rights in our Nation. Rest assured that reproductive Rights for everyone in Maryland are safe. You live in a State that has legislatively protected you, and the voters of Maryland reaffirmed those rights as a ballot question in 1992. Even then, the measure was passed with more than a ⅔ majority of voter approval. Abortion rights are now and will always be protected in Maryland. Courts can be overturned, but the will of the people cannot.
I support a women’s right to choose. I have voted numerous times to expand reproductive care and benefits and, most recently, to codify a women’s choice in the Maryland State Constitution this year – HB 1171. I have led the fight to protect your rights and access to quality health care, especially here in Harford County.
There was a second bill this past Session, HB 937, titled “abortion access.” The bill title is misleading in name and intent. The bill’s purpose is to expand the list of people who can perform a surgical abortion. Most legal abortions in MD do not fall in this category and require no surgical procedure. Md law requires a licensed physician with appropriate medical malpractice insurance for women who require a surgical procedure. HB 937 expands the definition of “qualified provider,” who can perform a surgical abortion, to include a “nurse practitioner, nurse- midwife, licensed certified midwife, physician assistant or any other individual.” This bill provided no additional insurance requirements for these newly qualified providers. It gives the additional providers qualified immunity, thus not liable for civil damages or subject to a criminal penalty for mistakes.
In the rush of the legislative session with the impending ruling on Rowe, I believe HB 937 will lead to having two levels of abortion access – one for poor, uninsured women and one for those who can afford licensed doctors’ care. This bill kept me up at night because I care about those women and believe everyone deserves quality healthcare access.
I have and will continue to protect your rights, regardless of age, sex, religion, or who you choose to love.
Development in Perryman
Local issues also matter.