WASHINGTON 鈥斅燚emocratic Maryland lawmakers in Annapolis are presenting a package of legislation they say could blunt the effects of President Donald Trump鈥檚 administration.
Maryland Senate President Thomas 鈥淢ike鈥� Miller suggested Trump鈥檚 agenda was out of step with that of the people of Maryland at a news conference Tuesday.
Making a reference to the state鈥檚 history and geography, Miller said, 鈥淲e鈥檙e not southern, we鈥檙e not northern, we鈥檙e not eastern, we鈥檙e not western 鈥斅爓e鈥檙e a little state right in the middle.鈥�
Miller said of the bills being proposed: 鈥淲e鈥檙e playing defense.鈥�
Maryland House Speaker Michael Busch echoed the sentiment that the early actions of the Trump administration run counter to the interests of the state’s residents. He told reporters, 鈥淚t鈥檚 been 11 days since the new president, Donald Trump, took office. And since that time, there鈥檚 been an assault 鈥斅燼n assault! 鈥斅爋n civil rights and equal rights throughout this country, particularly in the state of Maryland.鈥�
鈥淲e are going to stand up to Donald Trump. I can promise you that,” Busch said.
Among the measures proposed by the Democratic lawmakers: legislation that gives Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh added resources in case the state wanted to sue over actions the Trump administration takes.
Another piece of legislation, the Maryland Financial Consumer Protection Task Force would create a panel to monitor the effects of a possible repeal of the Dodd-Frank Act, the bill that created a federal consumer protection agency and was intended to curb the explosion of exotic mortgage and loan packages that were blamed for contributing to the nation鈥檚 2008 financial crisis.
Maryland House Majority Leader Del. Bill Frick talked up a bill that would withdraw a call to have Maryland take part in a constitutional convention. 鈥淲e cannot afford to have Donald Trump rewrite the Bill of Rights. We are not going to let that happen,” he said to applause from the lawmakers taking part in the announcement.
Busch referenced the fact that Maryland鈥檚 Republican Gov. Larry Hogan would be offering his State of the State address Wednesday, and said he鈥檇 be hoping to hear how the governor would respond to Trump鈥檚 agenda.
Hogan has objected in the past to attempts to tie his policies to Trump. At one news conference, Hogan called questions about his response to Trump administration actions as 鈥渟tupid.鈥�
