With members of Congress locked in a debate over proxy voting, a rule change that would allow out-of-town lawmakers to participate remotely under limited circumstances, the COVID-19 crisis has also led leaders of the Maryland General Assembly to begin discussions about potential changes to their meeting and voting procedures, Maryland Matters has learned.
The discussions are early and no decisions have been made, an official said, but the conversations reflect a realization that the legislature must be in a position to function even if lawmakers are unable to get to or work in Annapolis safely.
On Monday, Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) and House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County) cancelled tentative plans to have the legislature convene in late May for a special session. They have not ruled out holding a special session later in the year, but nothing is scheduled.
In a statement to Maryland Matters on Tuesday, Ferguson and Jones said, “We have been assessing all of the legal and technical issues to ensure the General Assembly can meet its Constitutional obligations. Even in the face of a global pandemic, we have a responsibility to the people of Maryland who elect us.”
This year’s regular legislative session ended on March 18, 2 1/2 weeks earlier than scheduled, because of growing fears about COVID-19 and the wisdom of having 188 legislators, staff, security personnel and journalists bunched together in the State House.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Bruce DePuyt over at Maryland Matters