Newbie Maryland state lawmakers got plenty of advice at their freshmen orientation program Tuesday: Don?t be know-it-alls, develop an area of expertise, don?t introduce important bills in their first year, don?t take free tickets to sporting events and don?t expect to have traffic tickets fixed.
There are 11 new senators ? four of them former delegates ? and 34 newly elected delegates, and several dozen attended the session at the Statehouse, along with about 15 of their spouses. Most were wearing the temporary Statehouse stickers, which Tuesday were misspelled “VISTOR.”
“I know some of you think you know everything already,” Senate President Thomas Mike Miller said. But he advised the attendees to the study history of the state and General Assembly, because “people make the same mistakes over and over again.”
If they become experts in an area of lawmaking, when they stand up to speak on that topic, “a hush will come over the whole body,” Miller said.
House Speaker Michael Busch emphasized the importance of collaboration and cooperation. “We work in conjunction ? we work very closely in concert with each other.” Busch said. “This is a collegial group.”
Miller encouraged them to stake out their own positions. “We encourage independence ? to a certain extent,” he said to laughter.
Speaker Pro Tem Adrienne Jones of Baltimore County emphasized that their constituents and opponents are “going to be watching you from day one.” She reminded them that the “honorable” that will soon go in front of their names is “just a title.”
“Don?t forget the folks back home,” Jones said. “Make sure they know what you?re doing.”
House Majority Leader Kumar Barve said that now that the campaign is over, it?s the lawmakers? responsibility “to represent each and every one of the people in your district. The temptation is great not to listen to the people who disagree with you.”
Annapolis Mayor Ellen Moyer welcomed them, but said the city found it can?t fix the parking tickets of the legislators. “You have to pay them,” she said.
