4/4/2007

  Locals take stand on two MD bills
By Dolores E. Pike

Somewhere along the way someone once said, "Never underestimate the power of the people." 

A bill very important to people on the Eastern Shore is one that seeks to prevent hydraulic clam dredging in the coastal waters. A large delegation from the Ocean City area traveled to Annapolis recently to present their support of the bill.

Cross-bills were introduced into the House of Delegates and the Maryland Senate. The bill, sponsored in the House by delegates Norm Conway and Jim Mathias, passed the House in March by a large majority.  Unfortunately Senator J. Lowell Stoltzfus aligned with those members of the Senate who voted against the bill, causing it to fail on a narrow margin of 26 to 20.

Even though the Senate's bill did not pass because the companion House bill did, it allowed the issue be given a second chance and the Senate gets to vote on the House bill.  On Friday a second reading of the bill before the Senate resulted in a preliminary voice vote of 29 to 18 in favor of the ban on hydraulic clam dredging.  The final vote on the ban will not take place until the Senate meets again which is expected to be as late as Monday evening, April 2.

The health of the coastal bays was especially important to the late Delegate Bennett Bozman who was instrumental in introducing legislation in 2006 in the House where the bill banning hydraulic clam dredging passed.  Unfortunately the bill languished in the Senate. This bill has had the complete support of the Worcester County Commissioners, the Ocean City Mayor and Town Council, the Maryland Saltwater Sport Fishermen Association, Maryland Coastal Conservation Association, Assateague Coastal Trust and the Ocean Pines Anglers and boat clubs.

On Tuesday March 26 the Maryland House of Delegates unanimously passed Jessica's Law and the Maryland Senate also passed it on a final vote of 43 to three.  The bill now waits for the signature of Governor Martin O'Malley to make it official. 

"At one point on Monday, as the bills were being considered in the General Assembly, the switchboard at the state legislature was completely jammed.  No one could call in or out," said Roseann Bridgman, Second Vice President for the Maryland Federation of Republican Women.

This bill augments current Maryland legislation, according to Mrs. Bridgman, in that it states anyone convicted of first or second degree sexual abuse against a child under 13 years of age will no longer have any hope of parole.  The offender will have to serve the full sentence. 

"We will be back again in the next session to further strengthen this legislation by asking for mandatory sentencing for anyone convicted of third degree sexual abuse.  Sexual predators can now plea bargain their convictions down to third degree abuse and, because of some very liberal judges, receive nothing more than a slap on the hands.

"Further, electronic monitoring and supervision beyond three years is optional for the Maryland Parole Commission.  We would like to see lifetime supervision with electronic monitoring," said Mrs. Bridgman, who in February, along with over 100 women from all over the state, brought 3,000 letters supporting Jessica's Law to the Senate and House committees.


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