With Session Under Way, Local Lawmakers Wield Clout

As the General Assembly session opens in Annapolis, Montgomery County lawmakers have increased their clout.

Districts 15 and 39 — which include Germantown — are well represented in House and Senate leadership.

Senate Majority Leader Sen. Rob Garagiola (D-Dist. 15), a Germantown resident, is chairman of the Health Subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee.

House Majority Leader Del. Kumar Barve (D-Dist. 17) is from Gaithersburg.

Barve is also the House chairman for the Joint Committee on Transparency and Open Government, and the Joint Advisory Committee on Legislative Data Systems.

Del, Charles Barkley (D-Dist. 39), of Germantown, is chairman of the Alcoholic Beverages Subcommittee, part of the Economic Matters Committee.

Sen. Nancy J. King, (D-Dist.39), whose district includes parts of Germantown, Gaithersburg and Montgomery Village, is the Senate chairwoman of the Joint Committee on Children Youth and Families, and is vice-chairwoman of the Redistricting and Reapportionment Committee.

The Maryland General Assembly's 430th session began Wednesday in Annapolis. In general, Montgomery County’s influence extends throughout the 141-member legislature:

• Sen. Jamie Raskin, (D-Dist. 20, Takoma Park), has been appointed majority whip in the Senate, a position where he'll be asked to find vote counts on legislation important to the majority party. Sen. King is Assistant Deputy Majority Whip.
• Del. Kathleen M. Dumais (D-Dist. 15, Rockville), is vice-chairwoman of the Judiciary Committee.
• Del. Brian J. Feldman (D-Dist. 15, Potomac), is chairman of the Banking, Economic Development, Science and Technology Subcommittee (BEST) of the Economic Matters Committee. He also serves as the House Parliamentarian.
• Sen. Brian Frosh (D-Dist. 20, Bethesda), is chairman the Judicial Proceedings Committee. Del. Sheila E. Hixson of Silver Spring chairwoman of the Ways and Means Committee.
• Del. Luiz R.S. Simmons (D-Dist. 17, Rockville), is chairman of the Civil Law and Procedure Subcommittee, and Del. Susan Lee (D-Dist. 16, Bethesda), is chairwoman of the Family Law Subcommittee.
• Del. Heather Mizeur  (D-Dist. 20, Takoma Park) is vice chairwoman of the Education and Economic Development Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee. 
• Del. Anne Kaiser (D-Dist. 14, Burtonsville) serves as Chief Deputy Majority Whip in the House. She is also chairwoman of the Education Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee.
• Del. C. William Frick (D-Dist. 15, Bethesda) is the chairman of the Revenues Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee.
• Sen. Rich Madaleno (D-Dist. 18, Kensington) is chairman of the Education, Business and Administration Subcommittee of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, which manages appropriations and tax matters.
• Del. Jeff Waldstreicher (D-Dist. 18, Kensington) serves as the chairman of the Estates and Trusts Subcommittee, which falls under the House Judiciary Committee.
• Del. Ana Sol Gutiérrez (D-Dist. 18, Chevy Chase) is the House chairwoman of the Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds, which oversees the state treasurer's handling of public dollars.