Latest news with #KathySzeliga
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Some Eastern Baltimore County residents divided over councilmanic redistricting maps
Some Eastern Baltimore County residents are divided over multiple proposals for the county's councilmanic redistricting plan, with concerns about fair representation and splitting existing communities dominating a somewhat tense hearing Monday evening. Baltimore County's 2025 Councilmanic Redistricting Commission, a seven-member group tasked with drawing boundaries of nine new councilmanic districts, is considering two main maps ahead of the 2026 election. The first draft map, published by the commission in April, includes two majority Black districts and one majority-minority district made up of racial and ethnic minorities. Maryland state Del. Kathy Szeliga and Del. Ryan Nawrocki, both Republicans who represent portions of eastern Baltimore County, said they supported the first draft because it unified Middle River and Essex. Gustavus McLeod, executive director of the Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum, agreed. 'People who have things in common should have a common voice,' he said. 'Number 1 plan does that.' But to Shafiyq Hinton, who ran for council in 2022, the first map is a 'clear effort to crack, dilute and silence diverse voices on the east side,' he said. However, a second draft map proposed by Lisa Belcastro, a Pikesville resident who represents the existing councilmanic District 2 on the commission, would create two majority Black districts centered on Randallstown and Owings Mills, and two districts made up of people from various racial and ethnic backgrounds. Support for the second iteration of the map was limited. Some said it looked closer to a final product, while others alleged it was backed by developers. A third map was proposed by Keith Dorsey, Baltimore County's former budget chief. Known as the Woodlawn Approach C, his map would create two greater-majority Black districts around Woodlawn and Randallstown, as well as a simple majority-minority district on the eastern side of the county. 'It is the only plan that truly begins and ends with trying to recognize those historic communities,' he said. Still, others argued that an entirely different map would best represent the county demographics. A map that creates three majority Black districts on the west side, a majority BIPOC district on the east side and five majority white districts would most accurately represent Baltimore County's population, said Dana Vickers Shelley, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland. The county's population is nearly 50% people of color. 'Packing Black voters into two districts on the west side dilutes the power of Black voters by overconcentrating them in fewer districts,' she said. 'The Voting Rights Act requires that districts be drawn in a way that provides Black and BIPOC residents an equal opportunity — and I say residents, not voters, because this is what it is about: being represented.' Tension and controversy have marked discussions about the expanding council even before county voters approved the charter amendment in November to create a nine-member council. The council currently has seven districts. Some had argued that the redrawn council boundaries could violate federal civil rights law and others threw accusations about backroom deals. 'I see so much divide amongst my Black people in this room and my Democrats, and it's a problem because we should all be standing together, Democrats, Republicans, white or Black,' said county resident Tamara Gunter. The commission will hold its final public hearing at 6 p.m. May 19 at the Randallstown Community Center. Have a news tip? Contact Natalie Jones at najones@
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘They're hurting us': Marylanders rally against new taxes, increases
Members of the Maryland Freedom Caucus and top Republican lawmakers are maintaining their firm opposition to any new taxes or increases as the General Assembly comes into its final stretch of budget negotiations. 'How do you feel about paying more taxes? You want to pay more income taxes? You want to pay more sales taxes? You want to pay more property taxes?' Baltimore County Del. Kathy Szeliga asked a crowd on Lawyers Mall in Annapolis Wednesday evening. The several dozen people gathered shouted 'no' in response. 'Politicians are increasing the already-bloated budget, and they're looking for any and every tax to raise,' she said. Less than three weeks remain in Maryland's legislative session and the state's fiscal 2026 budget has not yet been approved. Democrats are working to ensure the budget that's passed is sustainable and protects the state from federal uncertainty. Republicans, meanwhile, view the state's budget as out of control, though they also maintain there's still time to avoid new taxes and increases. 'We want to encourage them, it's not too late … We haven't had a vote on a single tax increase yet,' said Del. Matt Morgan, a St. Mary's County Republican who chairs the conservative caucus. 'It's time for them to recognize there's a lot of people out here. We call Maryland our home, and I'll tell you, they could do the right thing.' Some Maryland residents said they are frustrated by the proposed taxes, too. Kathy Painter, a lifelong Marylander who now lives in Prince Frederick, thinks something needs to change. 'They seem to think that these are going to be helpful, but it's hurting the little guy. If they're supposed to be for the little guy, they're hurting us,' she said. 'We're at retirement age. I don't want to have to move out of Maryland because the taxes are killing us.' To help resolve the state's growing $3.3 billion budget deficit, Democratic Gov. Wes Moore proposed an overhaul of personal income taxes, which would give two-thirds of Marylanders a tax cut while increasing taxes on the wealthy, along with other fee increases. A new tax on services is also expected in the budget, though it won't be a 'broad' tax on business-to-business services as proposed by Democratic lawmakers after Moore said Monday that it would not happen. Legislation taxing sugar-sweetened beverages will not be in the final budget. The Republican lawmakers also criticized Moore, saying he wasted a surplus left by former Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, and that the state needs to cut its spending. 'One of the things we hate more than anything else is hypocrisy — hate it down here, and all we hear from the Democrats over and over again is why they can do something and why somebody else doesn't have to do something,' said Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey, an Eastern Shore Republican. 'Gov. Moore has been talking about growing the economy, and here's how he wants to grow the economy: IT, life sciences, quantum and artificial intelligence, AI. He wants to grow the economy in those industries. And guess what he wants to tax? Those very same industries that he's trying to grow.' The conservative lawmakers say they're not wavering in their fight against the taxes, though. 'They spend, they spend, they spend. They're addicted to other people's money, but it's time for us to say no more,' Baltimore County Del. Robin Grammer said of leaders in Annapolis. 'Stop lying. No more taxes. Cut the spending.' ________
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maryland bill defeated that would have allowed sale of condoms in public schools
BALTIMORE — A Maryland Senate committee stopped a bill that would have removed the prohibition of selling condoms in vending machines in public schools. The Maryland Freedom Caucus, comprised of a small group of conservative House Republicans, has declared the bill's defeat a 'victory.' 'This is a huge win for Maryland families,' said Delegate Kathy Szeliga, a Baltimore County Republican and vice chair of the Maryland Freedom Caucus. 'Maryland parents have spoken, and lawmakers were forced to listen.' Sponsored by Del. Nicole Williams, a Prince George's County Democrat, House Bill 380 would have allowed contraceptives to be sold in nursery school, preschool, elementary and high school vending machines. It also removes the misdemeanor criminal penalty of $1,000. The bill would not have mandated that schools sell condoms or other contraceptive devices in their vending machines. Individual school systems would be responsible for making those decisions. Williams' legislation passed out of the House chamber on Feb 21. It was heard in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee earlier this week and received a nearly unanimous unfavorable vote Friday, destroying its chances of moving to the Senate floor. Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee Chair Will Smith, a Montgomery County Democrat, declined to comment on why the bill did not advance. ----------
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maryland lawmaker shocked by blue state's push to allow condom vending machines in public schools
A Maryland bill aiming to repeal a ban on contraception sales in public school vending machines has sparked heated debate, with some lawmakers warning it could lead to condom dispensers in elementary and preschool settings. "It makes no sense whatsoever," said Maryland state Del. Kathy Szeliga Wednesday on "America Reports." "You're discriminating against traditional families that don't want their 14-year-old daughter going to a high school and walking down the hall in front of a sex vending machine." The Maryland House of Delegates voted to advance legislation that would eliminate criminal penalties for selling contraception, including condoms and birth control, through vending machines in public schools. Under the current law, violators face a $1,000 fine. Szeliga and other critics pushed for amendments to limit condom vending machines to high schools, but their efforts were unsuccessful. "We offered an amendment on the bill… to just say look, just high schools," Szeliga, a Republican, said. "But they rejected it." Maine Female Athlete 'Grateful' For Trump's Focus On Trans Competitors After Local Leaders 'Failed' Girls Read On The Fox News App Supporters of the bill insist that the legislation is not about requiring schools to install condom vending machines but instead removing outdated criminal penalties. Democratic Maryland state Del. Nicole Williams defended the bill during a recent state general assembly session. "It's not dictating what school systems should and shouldn't do," Williams said. "It's not mandating anybody to do anything or suggesting that they should do something. It's just removing a criminal penalty. The sky is not going to fall if we pass this bill." Following the bill's advancement, Szeliga posted on X, formerly Twitter, to express her outrage. "MD lawmakers have officially lost their minds. Condom vending machines in SCHOOLS—from preschools to high schools? Yes, you read that right. Thanks to Hb 380, the 'Condoms for Kiddies' bill, your child's elementary school could soon have a colorful condom machine in the hallway and middle schools will be a one-stop shop for birth control. What's next, hormone therapy at recess? This is ideology over common sense. Parents, wake up!" Department Of Education Cancels Another $350M In 'Woke' Spending For Contracts, Grants Szeliga warned that this legislation could open the door for broader contraceptive access in schools. "They're playing chess," she said. "First, we remove the penalties so we can get the vending machine in the high school and other schools as well, and then next year they're going to come back, and they're going to put birth control pills, Plan B, condoms." Sex education policies in schools have been a political issue nationwide. In Chicago, public schools faced backlash after it was reported they introduced lessons on sexual education and gender identity as early as kindergarten and first grade. Szeliga, a grandmother of two girls, said she fears this bill could expose children to mature topics too soon. "Putting this in a daycare or nursery school," she said. "I am a grandmother of two beautiful 10- and 7-year-old girls and I can't imagine them walking down the hall and seeing a colorful condom vending machine." She also questioned how parents would navigate such conversations at a young age. "With condoms and other things in it, and then having to have a conversation with a 7-year-old," she said. "You know, 'Mama, what's a condom? What's in that machine?'" The bill now moves to the state Senate for article source: Maryland lawmaker shocked by blue state's push to allow condom vending machines in public schools
Fox News
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Maryland lawmaker shocked by blue state's push to allow condom vending machines in public schools
A Maryland bill aiming to repeal a ban on contraception sales in public school vending machines has sparked heated debate, with some lawmakers warning it could lead to condom dispensers in elementary and preschool settings. "It makes no sense whatsoever," said Maryland state Del. Kathy Szeliga Wednesday on "America Reports." "You're discriminating against traditional families that don't want their 14-year-old daughter going to a high school and walking down the hall in front of a sex vending machine." The Maryland House of Delegates voted to advance legislation that would eliminate criminal penalties for selling contraception, including condoms and birth control, through vending machines in public schools. Under the current law, violators face a $1,000 fine. Szeliga and other critics pushed for amendments to limit condom vending machines to high schools, but their efforts were unsuccessful. "We offered an amendment on the bill… to just say look, just high schools," Szeliga, a Republican, said. "But they rejected it." Supporters of the bill insist that the legislation is not about requiring schools to install condom vending machines but instead removing outdated criminal penalties. Democratic Maryland state Del. Nicole Williams defended the bill during a recent state general assembly session. "It's not dictating what school systems should and shouldn't do," Williams said. "It's not mandating anybody to do anything or suggesting that they should do something. It's just removing a criminal penalty. The sky is not going to fall if we pass this bill." Following the bill's advancement, Szeliga posted on X, formerly Twitter, to express her outrage. "MD lawmakers have officially lost their minds. Condom vending machines in SCHOOLS—from preschools to high schools? Yes, you read that right. Thanks to HB 380, the 'Condoms for Kiddies' bill, your child's elementary school could soon have a colorful condom machine in the hallway and middle schools will be a one-stop shop for birth control. What's next, hormone therapy at recess? This is ideology over common sense. Parents, wake up!" Szeliga warned that this legislation could open the door for broader contraceptive access in schools. "They're playing chess," she said. "First, we remove the penalties so we can get the vending machine in the high school and other schools as well, and then next year they're going to come back, and they're going to put birth control pills, Plan B, condoms." Sex education policies in schools have been a political issue nationwide. In Chicago, public schools faced backlash after it was reported they introduced lessons on sexual education and gender identity as early as kindergarten and first grade. Szeliga, a grandmother of two girls, said she fears this bill could expose children to mature topics too soon. "Putting this in a daycare or nursery school," she said. "I am a grandmother of two beautiful 10- and 7-year-old girls and I can't imagine them walking down the hall and seeing a colorful condom vending machine." She also questioned how parents would navigate such conversations at a young age. "With condoms and other things in it, and then having to have a conversation with a 7-year-old," she said. "You know, 'Mama, what's a condom? What's in that machine?'" The bill now moves to the state Senate for consideration.
