Lexington Park, MD — St. Mary’s County Delegate Deb Rey [R – District 29B] held her first Town Hall meeting of the 2015 Maryland General Assembly session Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Lexington Park Library. With threatening weather outside the library, about 50 people attended the meeting that included wide-ranging topics from the delegate and the audience.

The freshman legislator, who defeated long-time Democratic delegate John Bohanan in November, told the audience she has introduced two bills and con-sponsored 43 others.

House Bill (HB) 464 would provide reciprocity in Maryland for a handgun permit issued in another state. Rey said the bill would have to be amended because of problems with Utah’s law.

HB 842 would allow an honorably discharged member of the armed forces of the United States to get a handgun permit without a qualification license. She said they already have been trained while in service.

A member of the audience noted that the two bills both dealt with handguns and not such issues as education, jobs, college tuition, health and the environment. He wanted to know Rey’s “priorities or values.

She responded that she was committed to all of those. But she added, “I believe in the individual. I believe you can make better decisions with your money than government can.” She also said she was a strong supporter of all parts of the U.S. Constitution.

Rey talked about one of the hot button local issues of the session–the restoration of funding for engineering and design of the third building at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center for the University of Maryland unmanned systems programs. Rey said she supported the restoration of the monies while at the same time providing support for Gov. Hogan’s decision to strike the monies and move them to the FY ’18 budget.

Rey asserted, “Everything is driven by the budget.” At the same time, she said, “Education is funded at the highest level ever.” Future budgets are being impacted, she said, by debt service and Medicaid costs.

Rey repeated the criticism that the project proposal was submitted late by the University of Maryland, a contention that is denied by the building supporters.   
Rey told the audience that UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) testing is ongoing at the county airport even without the third building, although she conceded that the testing would be supported by the research and educational programs at the third building.

One member of the audience told Rey. “Building 3 is probably the most important thing you could do for the area,” He added, “It is something you have to fight for and find dollars for.” She responded, “I appreciate your concern, sir.”

Rey also raised the issue of potential privacy infringement with drones flying over private property. She said, for instance, pictures taken by drones over farms could be used against farmers in imposing violations. She said the Farm Bureau has raised concern about that.

Rey said she has been told that the Federal Aviation Administration isn’t concerned about privacy issues in deciding whether to allow drones. She said she was putting out the issue to create a dialogue.

Rey also talked about a bill for which she has received a lot of comment — HB 153 that provides prohibitions for leaving a dog outside for longer than 15 minutes during a Hazardous Weather Warning from the National Weather Service or when temperatures went below or above certain levels.

Rey, who is a member of the House Judiciary Committee, said she was convinced by a lawyer member of the committee that the law would be difficult to enforce because temperatures varied from place to place. She said that caused her concern.

But several people in the audience (the speakers were not asked to identify themselves) supported the bill and suggested some alternate language to address Rey’s concerns. She suggested they contact the bill’s sponsor, Del. Dana Stein [D- Baltimore County] with their ideas for changing the bill.

Rey said she had met with Gov. Hogan earlier in the week and expressed three concerns to him:
• A Farm Bureau suggestion that the governor have a “buy local” event in Southern Maryland and other parts of the state instead of just in Annapolis
• Request for the governor to attend the Envirothon at St. Mary’s College
• Restoration of monies cut for five soil conservation managers and staff ($690,000).

Rey also urged constituents to attend the hearing coming up Tuesday, Feb. 24 on HB 911 that would legalize the manufacturing and use of marijuana. The bill will be heard in Rey’s committee at 1 p.m.

Rey also provided attendees with information about the scholarships her office has available and how to apply. Information is available on her website.

Rey calls the program the “Maryland Taxpayers Scholarship Program.” She was asked by The Bay Net if, considering the current atmosphere in Annapolis, taxpayers should be paying for scholarships. She said, “Maryland taxpayers already pay a lot for education. There are other things we are trying to do.” She added, “”If they take away the scholarship programs that would be okay too.”

At the meeting Rey introduced her legislative aide, Stephanie Duncan Troxell (shown below).  The delegate’s office is in Room 319 of the House Office Building. Her phone number there is 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3227 or 301-856-3227.
Rey plans on having a second Town Hall meeting March 7 at 2 p.m. at the library and then will have a third meeting in April before the session concludes.

Contact Dick Myers at news@thebaynet.com