Bonds between lawmakers
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller railed against so-called “bond bills” this morning saying, “I’d prefer we don’t do them quite frankly” and “In past years when we had tough times we didn’t have the bond bills.”
The bond bills are essentially the state-level version of federal earmarks. The state legislature gets to dole out $15 million to favorite projects. Each chamber allocates $7.5 million.
Miller, a Democrat, blamed the House for initiating the bond bills this year, saying the members of that body are “newer” and “younger” and “they want to be able to deliver for their districts.”
“I think the [state] senators are more comfortable in their skins," Miller said. "They tend to look at the budget from a longer point of view.”
House Speaker Michael E. Busch, a Democrat, had a different take. He stopped by our office and explained that during the first two weeks of the session he considered not having any bond bills at all.
“We had a discussion,” he said. “It was split.” His staff found that roughly 60 bond bills had already been introduced – including requests from both parties.
Then he noticed there was one in from Miller.
“We saw that Miller put on in personally,” Busch said. “We took our lead from the Senate.”
A quick bill search reveals Miller wants $250,000 to renovate a field in Chesapeake Beach and $500,000 for a community center in Prince George’s County.
To be fair, Busch also has a bond bill. He wants $200,000 to repair the William Paca House in Annapolis.
The bond bills are essentially the state-level version of federal earmarks. The state legislature gets to dole out $15 million to favorite projects. Each chamber allocates $7.5 million.
Miller, a Democrat, blamed the House for initiating the bond bills this year, saying the members of that body are “newer” and “younger” and “they want to be able to deliver for their districts.”
“I think the [state] senators are more comfortable in their skins," Miller said. "They tend to look at the budget from a longer point of view.”
House Speaker Michael E. Busch, a Democrat, had a different take. He stopped by our office and explained that during the first two weeks of the session he considered not having any bond bills at all.
“We had a discussion,” he said. “It was split.” His staff found that roughly 60 bond bills had already been introduced – including requests from both parties.
Then he noticed there was one in from Miller.
“We saw that Miller put on in personally,” Busch said. “We took our lead from the Senate.”
A quick bill search reveals Miller wants $250,000 to renovate a field in Chesapeake Beach and $500,000 for a community center in Prince George’s County.
To be fair, Busch also has a bond bill. He wants $200,000 to repair the William Paca House in Annapolis.
