tobacco sales to minors – Sandy Rosenberg

Two favorable committee votes today send different messages.

The Senate bill to require the Governor to fund the state’s $11.1 million match for a $30M federal grant to expand pre-kindergarten opportunities got a favorable committee report. The vote was on party lines.

That was also the case when my identical bill passed the House on Saturday, 93-41.

Governor Hogan opposes legislation mandating that he spend money for certain purposes.

It will soon be up to the Governor whether to sign the bill or seek a compromise.

My legislation dealing with the sale of tobacco to minors also received a favorable committee report.

The vote was 12-10, despite my amendments, which prompted tobacco lobbyists to take no position on the bill, instead of opposing it.

With that close call, I will take nothing for granted the rest of the way.

Don’t read your testimony.

Know it.

That’s the advice I give the law students in my Legislation class, and I follow it myself.

You’re far more effective if you know your issue and speak directly to the committee members, instead of constantly glancing down at a piece of paper and losing eye contact.

I didn’t read my testimony today. Instead I read a letter of information from the state health department.

We risk the loss of $3.8 million in federal substance abuse grants because nearly 1/3 of Maryland retailers sold tobacco products to minors when inspected, wrote Secretary Van T. Mitchell.

Under one of the provisions in House Bill 1015, retailers would be required to complete a training program, which would educate them about the laws governing the sale of tobacco products and the proper procedures for verifying the age of a customer.

I don’t know if my bill will pass. I now know that Secretary Mitchell recognizes the need to act.

My Key Issues:

Tag: tobacco sales to minors

March 21 – Too close to assume

Don’t read it. Know it.

My Key Issues: