Howard County delegates reflect on the tone of the year as they pack up at the end of the session.
One major point of partisan contention was Del. Gail H. Bates, R-District 9A, property tax credit of 30 percent to 50 percent for seniors in Howard County.
“It did show a great divide. Republicans believe the money belongs to the people, and Democrats tend to think it belongs to the government,” Bates said.
Bates said she believes the Howard County Democratic delegates failed seniors.
However, the Democratic delegates say it was inappropriate to regulate county tax in a state bill.
“That?s so ridiculous to do it at the state level,” said Frank Turner, D?District 13. “It?s politics, purely to make people look bad.”
However, the delegation mainly worked together, with both parties supporting a leghold trap bill, sponsored by Del. Neil Quinter.
Sen. Sandy Scraeder, R-District 13, was the sole Republican who voted for the legislation.
“[Scraeder?s] vote was very important in getting out of delegation,” Quinter said.
The entire delegation came together to support a bill to annex two Columbia developments into the Town Center village, so they could vote and run in upcoming elections.
“Everyone was cooperative: members of the Senate and delegates from both parties. People saw it as a glaring injustice,” said Del. Elizabeth Bobo, D-District 12B.
Compared to the partisan war over the electricity cap, Howard delegates got along, Bobo said.
“If the state was as good as it was in Howard County delegation, it would have been a lot better,” Bobo said.
The wars over electricity caps were brutal, Bates said.
“We have a Republican governor in the state that is heavily democratic. They wanted to make sure that it?s an anomaly. They have done everything in their power to make it very difficult for this governor to get re-elected,” Bates said.
“I would call it raw majority power run amok.”
