Legislative Newsletter
“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” --Thomas Jefferson
Legislative Update
This past week things kicked off in
earnest in the General Assembly
with Governor Hogan delivering his
State of the State address. Overall,
as Governor Hogan said, the state
of our state is strong – but that
doesn’t mean that there isn’t plenty
to work on. For example, as quite a
few constituents pointed out in emails, we still need
more funding for better school facilities. This is an issue
that should have bipartisan support, and I hope we can
work across the aisle with Governor Hogan and
Republicans in the legislature to solve this and other
problems._______
Governor Larry Hogan delivering his State of the State address
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Committees and Subcommittees
This year, I have been assigned to the Health and
Government Operations (HGO) Committee. As part of
that committee, I have been assigned to the Insurance
and Pharmaceuticals Subcommittee and the Health
Operations and Long-Term Care Subcommittee. While
Governor Hogan has helped us hold the line on
Healthcare premiums, he has yet to put his support
February 5, 2019
behind prescription price gouging legislation. This is an
issue that Delegate Eric Bromwell has been fighting for
over the years in order to increase transparency and
lower costs. Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk, the Vice
Chair of the HGO committee, said she plans to
introduce legislation that would set up a Prescription
Drug Affordability Board that would be able to review
the cost of prescription drugs and set a cap for what
customers pay. While that legislation has not been
submitted yet, it likely will, and I will provide updates
as we move along.
Earlier this year the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange
sent out information on enrollment. In District 8,
residents in our very own 21234 zip code have the
highest rate of being uninsured. Of those uninsured,
1,058 qualify for Medicaid and 2,379 are eligible for
subsidies. We need to do more to ensure that those
who qualify for help get the help they need. One of the
issues our health system faces is the spiraling cost of
treatment if something is not caught early. I promise to
help combat that by raising awareness in order to get
those who qualify for Medicaid or subsidies enrolled. I
am looking into hosting a town hall meeting after the
session, where we can continue this discussion.
Speaking of spiraling costs, a group of doctors from
the University of Maryland stopped by on last Friday to
discuss HB127, which would create a special
enrollment period for pregnancy. Basically, if you are
uninsured and get pregnant during a down time in
enrollment, you might have to wait weeks or months
before you can get the prenatal care you and your child
need. While this bill is still being evaluated, it sounds
like a piece of common-sense legislation that directly
addresses a need in our underinsured community and
should garner support from both sides of the aisle. I will
continue to keep you updated on the legislation that
comes before this committee.

Meeting with Medical Professionals
In the Baltimore County House Delegation, I will be
working within the Education Subcommittee. As an
educator myself, I know the importance of both a
stable classroom environment and up-to-date physical
facilities. I will be fighting to make sure that whatever
funding we can come up with is spread equitably
around the county. For far too long residents of District
8 have dealt with overcrowding, especially at the high
school level. It’s about time we rectify the issue.
_______________________________________________
Legislative Bond Initiatives
I have submitted three separate legislative bond
initiatives (bond bills) this session with delegates
Bromwell and Boteler as cosponsors. Senator
Klausmeier has been kind enough to sponsor the
initiatives on the Senate side. The first is a $50,000
bond issue for the purpose of revitalizing Linover Park.
Introducing my first Legislative Bond Initiatives
Our parks are incredibly important, and maintaining a
pristine environment is of the utmost importance. The
second is a $250,000 bond issue for a turf field at
Parkville High School. Parkville is one of the few that
still plays on grass, and the fields are destroyed by the
end of each season. Besides being an issue of equity,
it’s also an issue of safety, with turf being the superior
alternative. Lastly, there will be a bond issue for
$200,000 for the Perry Hall High School stadium press
box. We are currently working with the County to seek
matching funds so that our requests have a better
chance of being selected for funding.
_____________________________________________
Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus
I have joined the Asian American and Pacific Islander
(AAPI) Caucus. State Senator Susan Lee (Montgomery
County) leads the caucus, and the purpose of the
caucus is to serve as a leader to improve the quality of
life, advocate on behalf of the Asian American and
Pacific Islander(AAPI) Community, and provide,
promote, and develop leadership. This year the caucus
is the largest it has ever been with 10 members. On
Friday I was voted in as the caucus’s Treasurer. I look
forward to working with the AAPI community and
showcasing individual heritage and diversity.
Meeting With Senator Susan Lee- Chair, Maryland Legislative AAPI Caucus
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 Scholarship Application

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. ~ Nelson Mandela

Those who would like to apply for the Maryland Legislative District 8 Scholarship should apply here. This year,
Delegates Bromwell, Joe Boteler and I will be awarding our scholarships as a team, which means you only need to
apply once. Applications must be submitted by Aril 8, 2019, and you must reside in Legislative District 8 to qualify.

“Maybe everyone can live beyond what they're capable of.” ― Markus Zusak

Best,

Harry Bhandari
6 Bladen Street, Room 303
Annapolis, MD 21401
E-mail: harry.bhandari@house.state.md.us
Phone at 410-841-3526 | 301-858-3526