They Said It during the 2019 legislative session

The governor’s comments were absolutely nonsense. Nonsense, nonsense, nonsense, nonsense personified.

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr.,

responding to comments by Gov. Larry Hogan that public education had been a top priority of his administration.

There’s nothing more contentious than the debate around the right to bear arms.

Del. Geraldine Valentino-Smith,

chief sponsor of the state’s red-flag law, in discussing how it seeks to balance protecting lives and observing gun rights.

If there’s no willingness to raise taxes I’ve wasted two-and-a-half years of my life.

Sen. Paul Pinsky, D-Prince George’s,

who chairs the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee and also sat on the Kirwan Commission charged with improving Maryland’s schools.

It used to be called jail.

Sen. Nancy King, D-Montgomery and chair of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee,

explaining the “Therapeutic Treatment Center” at the Baltimore City Correctional Complex.

One small step for man, one giant leap to the next panel.

Del Luke Clippinger, D-Baltimore and chair of the House Judiciary Committee,

calling up a group to testify on a bill that would prohibit polygraph examinations of job candidates at correctional facilities.

On that last vote, the dog ate my homework.

Sen. Justin Ready, R-Carroll,

asking to be recorded in support of a Senate resolution honoring Maryland teachers of the year.

I am sorry for the hurt I have caused and will do everything I can to help heal that pain and regain the trust of my colleagues and constituents. I pray for forgiveness.

Del. Mary Ann Lisanti, D-Harford,

who acknowledged having used a racial slur.

You have a mayor who’s looking for a police chief. You have a city council that’s fighting with her on it. They’re not getting along. They just need to get their heads out of their ass and get it done.

Sen. J. B. Jennings, R-Baltimore and Harford counties and minority leader,

lamenting what he described as Baltimore’s political dysfunction.

Leave it to Maryland lawmakers to come up with new gun control legislation that, if passed, would have zero impact on crime and not make anyone safer.

Amy Hunter, a spokeswoman for the National Rifle Association,

responding to proposals for new gun restrictions.

This seems to be like the most pro-criminal group of legislators I’ve ever seen.

Gov. Larry Hogan,

criticizing the legislature for what he says is a refusal to crack down on violent crime.

You can’t snap your fingers and have the industry all of a sudden be legal without there being checks and balances.

Sen. Robert Sen. Robert “Bobby” Zirkin, D-Baltimore County and chairman of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee,

on the complexity of legalizing recreational use of marijuana.

I’ve come to the conclusion, no matter what bill it is, if it has the word g-u-n, we always have this whole conversation. We went through it yesterday with the g-u-n. So, for those people who don’t like g-u-ns, I guess you’re going to vote against these guys and lady, but I just regret that you’re taking it out on the individual people that run the board.
Sen. Kathy Klausmeier, D-Baltimore County,

commenting on the vote against three nominees for the Handgun Permit Review Board.

How can I put this: I don’t owe the comptroller a damn thing.

Del. Dereck Davis, D-Prince George’s and chair of the House Economic Matters Committee,

when asked why he had not introduced Comptroller Peter Franchot’s bill easing restrictions on the craft brewing industry.

It affects every decision you make, so you look in the morning to see if your hair is still there.

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr.,

on dealing with his aggressive prostate cancer, for which he will undergo chemotherapy during the 90-day session.

I had my dad there for a secondary reason. I wanted to remind people that I am not term-limited and he’s 97.

Comptroller Peter Franchot,

speaking on having his father attend his swearing-in last week.

I would hazard a guess that 10 out of 10 Marylanders won’t even know that adultery is a crime. They certainly don’t want the court acting as the morality police.

James Milko, immediate past chair of the Maryland State Bar Association’s Family and Juvenile Law Section Council,

speaking on a bill to decriminalize adultery.

Mothers are great. I’d never have won my first election without mine.

Sen. Ron Young, D-Frederick.

We’re the Maryland state legislature. We can do whatever we want.

Del. Eric Luedtke, D-Montgomery.

Some of us can.

Del. Jason Buckel, R-Allegany.

This bill will include access to justice for victims who were not under their own free will and will help them escape from the perpetual cycle of servitude or sexual abuse and exploitation and be able to recover and rebuild their lives.

Sen. Susan C. Lee, D-Montgomery,

sponsor of a bill to expand the crimes that can be vacated for victims of sexual trafficking.

This is not socialism, though I’d like it to be.

Del. Gabriel Acevero, D-Montgomery,

on passage of the $15 minimum wage proposal in the House.

This is the largest budget for our children ever.

Del. Maggie McIntosh, the chair of the House Appropriations Committee,

discussing education funding in the state budget passed by the House.

This is sort of an unprecedented move for the minority party to be in this position, but I stand in sincere solidarity with the speaker.

House Minority Leader Del. Nicholaus Kipke, R-Anne Arundel,

who introduced a bill on behalf of House Speaker Michael Busch to reform UMMS board policies.

Delegate (Hasan ‘Jay’) Jalisi could have avoided this public shaming if he had simply accepted and tried to learn from the advice and guidance so many have offered him.

The legislature’s Joint Ethics Committee,

in recommending a reprimand of Jalisi for it said was a pattern of bullying.

I have had three people die in my district when 911 has failed. That has inspired my efforts on this issue.

Sen. Cheryl Kagan, D-Montgomery,

sponsor of legislation to provide technology upgrades to the state’s 911 system.

It’s like ‘Casablanca,’ where they walk into the gambling casino and say, ‘I’m shocked, there’s gambling going on.’

Comptroller Peter Franchot,

referring to legislators’ outrage over the disclosures of possible conflicts of interest among UMMS board members.

I am looking forward to just running the city of Baltimore until the mayor returns, or if the mayor decides not to come back I’m ready to take the helm and run the city.

Acting Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. ‘Jack’ Young after Mayor Catherine Pugh announced she was taking a leave, citing medical reasons.