Jim Brochin - Proven Independence

Redistricting Process Legislation

admin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 19:54:24 +0000

Brochin proposals would alter future redistricting process in Maryland

State senator wants ‘people who are a little more apolitical’

By Jon Meoli, jmeoli@tribune.com, The Baltimore Sun
January 19, 2012 | 6:37 p.m.

State Sen. Jim Brochin introduced legislation in Annapolis on Thursday that he says would reform Maryland’s legislative and Congressional redistricting processes by making them less partisan and more objective.

“Politicians shouldn’t be making legislative redistricting maps,” said Brochin, a Democrat from Towson who represents the 42nd District. “They just shouldn’t.”

Brochin said the state’s redistricting process, conducted every 10 years to reflect changes in the U.S. Census, has, “become such a grotesquely partisan exercise that it just would make more sense if people who make maps for a living, and people who are a little more apolitical, did this.”

Senate Bill 160, one of three bills in the package introduced Jan. 19, calls for creation of a new eight-member redistricting commission, which would be directed by the executive director of the non-partisan Department of Legislative Services.

Four of the appointees would come from the governor, while the Senate president and speaker of the House of Delegates would each appoint two. Brochin said he’s planning an amendment that would provide for minority party representation.

“It has different appointees from each branch of government, ideally,” Brochin said. “Maybe you get a little more diversity.”

The committee under Brochin’s proposal would vary from the current redistricting process, for which a five-member commission was appointed by the governor to make recommendations for his redistricting plan.

Brochin’s second bill — Senate Bill 161 — deals with the criteria that can be used for drawing new district lines.

It would prohibit districts being “drawn for the purpose of favoring a political party, incumbent legislator or member of Congress … or for the purpose of augmenting or diluting the voting strength of a language or racial minority group,” according to the bill’s text.

Brochin said the bill stipulates that an elected official’s address, party demographic data, and previous election results cannot be used to draw district lines.

In the current redistricting process, the map proposed by Gov. Martin O’Malleywould change the 42nd District — where Brochin currently serves — from one that consists mainly of Towson to one that stretches up to the Pennsylvania border and includes northern Baltimore County, which is heavily Republican.

Additionally, the new map also puts four sitting Republican delegates — Susan Aumann and Bill Frank of District 42, Wade Kach of District 5B and Joe Boteler of District 8 — into a northern sub-district, District 42B, where they will have to run against one another for two seats if they chose to run in 2014.

Brochin said that part of his goal in the legislation would be to curb some of the types of moves seen in this year’s process.

“There are things in place in this law that make the process much different,” he said.

Among other provisions are stipulations that a person may not be appointed to the commission if they hold an elected or appointed office in the executive or legislative branch, or if they hold a political party office; and a provision that public meetings on the maps would have to be publicized seven to 10 days before the hearing date.

In December 2011, the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Committee submitted its recommended legislative redistricting map on Dec. 16, and the public hearing was held Dec. 22 in Annapolis.

A third bill — Senate Bill 162 — would provide similar provisions for Congressional redistricting, which Brochin described as being “worse than the legislative one.”

“Tell me what western Maryland has in common with Montgomery County?” Brochin said, specifically in reference to the proposal for the 6th Congressional District, which would stretch from Montgomery County to Garrett County. “It takes away from the representation of western Maryland.”

All three of Brochin’s bills are being co-sponsored by 37th District Republican Richard Colburn, who represents Caroline, Dorchester and Talbot counties, and Allan Kittleman, a Republican from the 9th District in Howard and Carroll counties. Democrat Jamie Raskin of the 20th District, Montgomery County, is co-sponsoring SB 160, which deals primarily with the commission.

Brochin introduced the same package in 2006, but said he couldn’t even get it to a vote. This time around, he’s hopeful that it will gain more support.

“If you want to put this in a nutshell, we have a system right now where politicians are choosing their voters,” Brochin said. “We need a system where voters are choosing their politicians.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/baltimorecounty/news/ph-tt-redistrict-bill-0125-20120119,0,890840.story

Mark Farley Grant

admin — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:33:26 +0000

Senator Brochin wrote a letter to the Governor asking him to commute the life sentence of Mark Farley Grant, who has been in jail since the age of 14. “As you know, last year the Maryland Parole Commission made a recommendation to you that Mr. Grant be granted parole. I know that they did not reach this decision without considerable deliberation. Most importantly, this decision was made not based on whether Mr. Grant may, in fact, be innocent (which is debatable), but rather whether he has paid his debt to society and has been rehabilitated. I write you because I am absolutely convinced of both.”

To read the entire letter to the Governor, please click:

http://jimbrochin.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Brochin-to-OMalley-Mark-Farley-Grant-October-2011.pdf

Senator Brochin to Baltimore City: Environmental Best Practices

admin — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:15:43 +0000

Sen. Jim Brochin, of the 42nd District, which includes Towson, wrote a letter to the Director of Baltimore City’s Board of Public Works asking them to apply environmental best practices to the Loch Raven Reservoir. In his letter, Brochin states, “your ownership in no way gives you immunity from adhering to the environmental laws of the State of Maryland.”

To read the entire letter, please click:

Mountain biker David Wassel points to a bridge on a DPW fire road that bikers said has caused erosion. (Photo by Brendan Cavanaugh / October 14, 2011)

http://jimbrochin.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Foxx-LR-Reservoir-October-21-2011.pdf

2011 End of Session Letter

admin — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:27:38 +0000

Dear Constituent:

The Maryland General Assembly’s 2011 legislative session was marked by incremental progress toward reforming our pension system, tax and fee increases to balance the budget instead of through fiscal discipline, the passage of in-state tuition for people who are not in this country legally, and the debate over same-sex marriage. Below is a summary of how I viewed each of these issues, and just as importantly, how I voted on them.

To read the entire end of session letter, please click: 2011 End of Session Letter

State legislators seek dialogue with Baltimore County Superintendent Hairston

admin — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:43:58 +0000

Sen. Jim Brochin, of the 42nd District, which includes Towson, said issues of transparency represent, “another reason why we need a hybrid school board and why we need more accountability.”

Currently, school board members in Baltimore County are appointed by the governor. Last month, the delegation backed a measure to form a task force to study how potential changes to school board makeup. Possibilities include a hybrid board — composed of elected and appointed members — an all-elected board or some other form.

“We need people on the front lines asking more questions,” Brochin said. “These people need to be more accountable to the voters.”

To read the entire Towson Times story by Steve Schuster, please click:

http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/news/112410/state-legislators-seek-dialogue-with-hairston

Same-Sex Marriage, SB 116

admin — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:58:13 +0000

For years I have held the belief that marriage is between a man and a woman. I have also felt just as strongly that all of our citizens, gay and straight, deserve the same legal rights, benefits, and responsibilities. With these thoughts, last Tuesday I walked into our hearing on Same-Sex Marriage promising to keep an open mind, but fairly certain of how I would vote on the issue.

What I witnessed from the opponents of the bill was appalling. Witness after witness demonized homosexuals, vilified the gay community, and described gays and lesbians as pedophiles. I believe that sexual orientation is not a choice, but rather people are born one way or another. The proponents of the bill were straightforward in wanting to be simply treated as everyone else, and wanted to stop being treated as second-class citizens.

While, in my mind, civil unions with all the same rights as marriage is the best option, this is no longer the choice. The votes in committee are not there for this approach. I will still offer an amendment doing just that, but if it fails, I simply cannot turn my back on decent hard-working families who just want the same rights and dignity as everyone else in our great state.

For me, the transition to supporting marriage has not been an easy one, but the uncertainty, fear, and second-class status that gays and lesbians have to put up with is far worse and clearly must come to an end.

Sincerely,

Senator James Brochin
42nd Legislative District

Loch Raven Town Hall Meeting

admin — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 15:59:26 +0000

Senator Jim Brochin to hold Town Hall Meeting

State Senator Jim Brochin will hold a Town Hall Meeting on January 12, 2011 at 7 p.m. at Pleasant Plains Elementary School. The meeting will focus on the rising crime concerns in Loch Raven Village. Along with Senator Jim Brochin and Police Chief James Johnson, representatives for Baltimore County Code Enforcement will also be present to answer concerns and receive feedback from the community. Any individuals with questions about crime or code enforcement are encouraged to attend.

When: 7 p.m., Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Where: Pleasant Plains Elementary School, cafeteria

Click the below image to view the flyer.

Hampton Elementary School Addition

admin — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 11:41:05 +0000

Elected Officials Sign Letter Regarding Hampton Elementary School

County and state elected officials have come together in a bipartisan effort to write a letter urging the Baltimore County School System to “alleviate the severe overcrowding” at Hampton Elementary by prioritizing the school’s expansion plan.

Click the below image to read the letter.

This letter has been covered by the media, including The Baltimore Sun, Towson Times, and Patch.

Wrote the Law

admin — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 23:48:29 +0000

Senator Jim Brochin Wrote the Law Ending Early Release for Sexual Predators

Click the below image to read more.

Towson Times Endorses Jim Brochin

admin — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 09:35:36 +0000

It’s an honor to receive the endorsement of the Towson Times (Patuxent Publishing). Jim Brochin “has been visible and accessible to constituents and has shown that he’s able to work across the aisle on issues…His efforts to toughen sex offender penalties and monitoring requirements, and his positions on environmental issues also are in step with his constituents.”

Click the Towson Times logo below to read the entire endorsement.