Delegate Justin Ready Frustrated at End of Legislative Session

Maryland's 2013 legislative session ended Monday, April 8, and one of Carroll County's representatives said he is frustrated with the direction the state is going. 

Patch asked Del. Justin Ready, R-Carroll County, what the highs and lows were of this session. 

Patch: What are you most proud of from this session, what were good outcomes?

Ready: Continued work to spotlight wasteful spending in government and working on reforming/streamlining government processes to be sure that the money we do spend is spent wisely. I was able to get a bill passed that will require that some government agencies finally go paperless in many of their licensing and procurement practices and also got a bill through to make business regulations (COMAR) come out on a quarterly basis rather than randomly throughout the year.

Patch: What are you most disappointed about, what are some bad outcomes? 

Ready: There are so many bad outcomes it is hard to count. From raising gas taxes by an astronomical amount (88 percent over 5 years) and making increases automatic every year without a vote from the General Assembly, to passing the most restrictive gun law in the country - punishing law-abiding citizens but doing nothing to punish criminals who use guns. It's been a real doozy for taxpayers, families, and businesses.

Patch: What do you think will impact Carroll County the most from this session?

Ready: Certainly the new gun law, which I expect will face a court challenge, will impact many who enjoy hunting, target-shooting, and collecting.  However, perhaps the most impactful will be the "eternal" gas tax increase.  People in rural and even more densely populated areas of our county have to drive furthest, not just to work, but even to run errands. The price of everything rises with this tax.

Patch: Overall, how do you feel this session went? 

Ready: It was disappointing that on the big issues, things were done with little input from the minority party.  On some issues, like the things I mentioned that were positive developments, there was cooperation. I've been able to work across the aisle on a number of issues like government transparency, eliminating unneeded regulations on small businesses, and improving our health care system. We did, for example, get some new protection against raiding the Transportation Trust Fund (although it's much weaker than what it should be in my opinion).

But the overall bent of the Democratic leadership in Annapolis is moving further and further left politically. There just can't be much common ground when they always believe the government should spend more, tax more, and usually do more. 

Ready said that the next regular legislative session will begin in January 2014. 

To read more of Delegate Ready's opinions on the 2013 session and state government, visit http://justinready.com.

Related Articles:

• Delegate Ready: Saying No Versus Compromise
• Maryland Business Organization Honors Delegate Ready
• Delegate Ready Sponsors Bill to Fight Mileage Tracking by State Government

Patch reached out to Carroll County's other representatives but as of Wednesday had not received any responses.