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To: Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson
Request for a Floor Vote of HB 488 in the Maryland Senate
Request for a Floor Vote of HB 488 in the Maryland Senate
We call on Senate President Bill Ferguson and the Rules Committee to stop the obstruction and allow the democratic process to function:
- End the One-Man Veto: The Maryland Senate belongs to the people, not a single legislator. Senate President Ferguson using his position to pocket-veto legislation behind closed doors, preventing it from even reaching the floor for debate, is an abuse of power that silences the voices of Marylanders.
- Restore Democratic Norms: Regardless of where one stands on mid-cycle redistricting and Maryland’s proposed Congressional map, HB 488 deserves a public hearing and a recorded vote on the Senate floor. Hiding behind procedural delays undermines the transparency that Maryland voters deserve.
Sign below to tell Senate President Ferguson: Stop the stalling. Bring HB 488 to a floor vote and let the Senate decide.
Why is this important?
Democracy Dies Behind Closed Doors: In a representative democracy, legislation is supposed to be debated, amended, and voted on in the light of day. Currently, HB 488 is being stalled by Senate President Bill Ferguson to prevent it from ever reaching the Senate floor. This tactic allows a single individual to decide the fate of a bill before the public, or other elected Senators, have a chance to weigh in. This is not how a legislature is designed to function.
The Senate President is Not a King: The role of the Senate President is to facilitate the legislative process, not to unilaterally act as the sole gatekeeper of Maryland law. By refusing to bring HB 488 to a vote, leadership is effectively silencing the constituents of every other Senator in the chamber.
Representation Matters: Voters elected 47 Senators to represent them in Annapolis. When a bill is killed quietly in the Rules Committee, those Senators are denied the opportunity to do their jobs: to debate the issue and cast a vote on behalf of their districts. We cannot accept a system where procedural maneuvers are used to avoid accountability.