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2019 Maryland General Assembly Update Opening Week – New Beginnings
The 439th Maryland General Assembly convened on January 9, 2019 with the swearing in of 17 new State Senators and a welcome from Governor Larry Hogan with an emphasis to work together in a bipartisan manner during the 90-day legislative session which ends Sine Die—on April 8, 2019. During the first week, Senator Mary Beth Carozza (District 38 – Worcester, Wicomico, and Somerset) was sworn into the State Senate, attended her first Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee hearing, and the organizational Eastern Shore Delegation meeting.
CAROZZA SWORN INTO STATE SENATE
Senator Mary Beth Carozza began her first term as a State Senator at noon on January 9, 2019. She was accompanied on the Senate Floor by her parents, Mary Pat and Tony Carozza, and former Congressman and President Pro Tempore of the Ohio Senate Dave Hobson and his wife, Carolyn. Attending in the Senate gallery were Senator Carozza’s District Representative Pat Schrawder and Allan Beres of Ocean City. During the first Session, Governor Larry Hogan addressed the Senate and encouraged the members to work together for the people of Maryland.
CAROZZA ATTENDS FIRST EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING
Senator Carozza attended the organizational Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee meeting on Thursday, January 10 led by new Chairman, Senator Paul Pinsky of Prince George’s County. Afterwards, the full Committee was given an overview briefing on the Maryland Department of Planning. During this briefing, Carozza inquired about specialized assistance, training, and resources available to smaller localities in her District. She also commended Regional Planning Coordinator Tracey Gordy, who is providing invaluable assistance to Crisfield and other Shore municipalities as they continue to grow and expand job and economic development opportunities.
CAROZZA ATTENDS EASTERN SHORE DELEGATION MEETING
Senator Carozza also attended the organizational Eastern Shore Delegation meeting on Friday, January 11. University of Maryland Eastern Shore President Dr. Heidi Anderson was in attendance and spoke about the university and its partnerships with other area schools and the private sector like Peninsula Regional Medical Center (PRMC).
LOCALS IN ANNAPOLIS
During opening week, Carozza had the opportunity to visit with numerous community and business leaders, and other locals from the Shore. These include her parents, Mary Pat and Tony Carozza of Ocean Pines; Pat Schrawder of Ocean City; Allan Beres of Ocean City; Bunky Luffman of Delmar; John Watson IV of Berlin; Michael and Marya Finegan of Wicomico County; Ocean City Firefighter’s Association President Ryan Whittington; University of Maryland Eastern Shore President Dr. Heidi Anderson; and Eastern Correctional Institution family support advocate Kerry Carr of Somerset County.
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(l to r): Former Congressman and President Pro Tempore of the Ohio Senate Dave Hobson, Carolyn Hobson; Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller; Senator Mary Beth Carozza; her parents Mary Pat and Tony Carozza on Opening Day of the 439th Maryland General Assembly. |
| It’s official— Senator Carozza takes her place on the Senate floor after being sworn in on January 9. |
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Senator Mary Beth Carozza and Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary George Owings III in her Senate office. |
Carozza Endorsed by Law Enforcement in State Senate Race
Mary Beth Carozza has been endorsed in her State Senate Race by the Maryland Fraternal Order of Police, an organization composed of approximately 22,000 law enforcement professionals dedicated to keeping our communities safe.
“I am humbled and honored to have the support of the law enforcement community in my campaign to be the next State Senator for District 38,” Carozza said. “In Annapolis and on the Shore, I will always advocate for public safety and stand with those who put their lives on the line to keep us safe.”
Setting the Record Straight
Setting the Record Straight
I have been asked by constituents and supporters about a misleading mailer that was paid for by the Maryland Democratic Senate Caucus that distorts my voting record on education. The incumbent is getting desperate, so here are the facts.
Unlike Jim Mathias, who voted for every wasteful budget that Martin O’Malley put forward with no questions asked, I’m willing to vote “NO” on a budget when wasteful spending is added late in the game, and that’s why I ran for office in the first place, to hold the line on excessive spending. This was the case in 2015 when I joined with Governor Hogan in opposing the final version of the state's budget - that’s the vote that Jim Mathias and his friends in Annapolis are now using to attack me. I will always stand up against these types of last-minute partisan maneuvers.
I am also proud to have stood against legislation that eliminated Governor Hogan's oversight of school construction funding and gave that power to unelected bureaucrats and placed it at the mercy of backroom deals. Jim Mathias voted for this irresponsible and disastrous bill, and then voted to override Governor Hogan's veto. We can't take four more years of Jim Mathias siding with Baltimore and Annapolis power brokers over our values.