William Tell
Member
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2014
- Messages
- 12,146
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/19/michael-smigiel-maryland-andy-harris-congress-2016Andy Harris, the Republican congressman who tried to block Washington DC’s legalization of marijuana, may face a tough election challenge as a result. Ironically, it’ll be a primary challenge from his right.
Former Maryland delegate Michael Smigiel told the Guardian that he is planning to run in the Republican primary for Maryland’s first congressional district in April 2016. Smigiel, a former three-term state legislator who narrowly lost a 2014 bid for re-election following redistricting, believes there has to be “a libertarian representing the views of the Eastern Shore [of Maryland]” and that the district needs a congressman who will “stand up to the president and stand up for the constitution” on issues like immigration reform.
But Smigiel saves some of his fiercest criticism for Harris over the capital’s marijuana law, where Harris inserted language in a government funding bill to invalidate a ballot initiative legalizing cannabis in the District. (There is still ongoing debate over whether the language actually has any legal effect.)
To Smigiel, Harris’s criticism of marijuana laws in Washington and Colorado is entirely wrong. He argues that “the 10th amendment says state laws trump federal laws” on things like marijuana. (This is a statement that runs counter to the constitution’s supremacy clause, and supreme court precedent in cases like Cooper v Aaron.) Although Smigiel takes pains to note that Washington DC isn’t technically a state, he thinks the same principle applies. “People should be allowed to spend their money how they wish at the local level,” said the Maryland Republican.
Smigiel also touted his opposition to Obama’s executive orders allowing illegal immigrants to stay in the United States, labeling Obama “a potentate president”, and condemned Harris for voting for a budget that didn’t defund the executive order in the so-called Cromnibus of 2014.
Smigiel also touted his legislative record in Maryland, noting that he helped write the marijuana decriminalization bill that the state actually passed. However, he said he lost credit for it because his partner in writing the bill, former delegate Heather Mizeur, was running for the Democratic nomination for governor against then Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown. (Smigiel said “I was in the backroom” and described legislative leaders saying: “We can’t let Heather have a bill, she’s running against Anthony.”)
He also noted his efforts on a variety of other issues, ranging from protecting pit bull owners from litigation to working to reduce infant mortality.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_D._Smigiel,_Sr.#CareerAfter high school, Smigiel served in the United States Marine Corps from 1975 until 1979. After college, Smigiel was Admitted to Maryland Bar in 1989 and worked thereafter as an attorney. He is also a member of the Cecil County Bar Association, where he served as chair of the ethics committee, and was a member of the board of directors. He also belongs to the Maryland Association of Justice.
Smigiel is also the founder of Mediation, Inc., and alternative dispute resolution center. He served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Bainbridge Naval Training Center Historical Association, Inc.
In the legislature
In the Maryland General Assembly, Smigiel holds the position of Minority Parliamentarian and is on the Judiciary Committee where he is a member of the criminal justice subcommittee and has been active on several work-groups. He was previously a Deputy Minority Whip from 2003–2006 and a member of the Health and Government Operations Committee.[SUP][5][/SUP] Smigiel is currently serving as Vice Chair of the Juvenile subcommittee, and is the Vice Chair of the Eastern Shore Delegation representing the nine counties of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. In addition, Smigiel is the founder and chairperson of the Maryland House of Delegates TEA Party Caucus.
Legislative notes
- in 2013 Co-Sponsored legislation to require a 2/3rdsvote in the General Assembly to raise taxes [SUP][6][/SUP]
- in 2013 Sponsored a bill to repeal the use of speed cameras[SUP][7][/SUP]
- in 2013 Co-Sponsored legislation to impose larger penalties on local governments found to have violated Maryland's open meeting law [SUP][8][/SUP]
- in 2012 Co-sponsored bill to require health insurance carriers to provide coverage of Telemedicine services[SUP][9][/SUP]
- in 2011 Proposed an amendment to the state constitution to make appropriations subject to petition for a referendum, which are currently exempt under Maryland law[SUP][10][/SUP]
- in 2010 Co Sponsored a 'Taxpayers Bill of Rights' constitutional amendment which would have required certain new taxes be placed to a popular vote, limited increases in the state budget to the amount of inflation plus annual population increase
- voted against in-state tuition for illegal immigrants in 2007 (HB6)[2]
- voted against the Clean Indoor Air Act of 2007 (HB359)[3]
- voted for slots in 2005 (HB1361)[4]
http://libertyworksradionetwork.com/jml/index.php/hosts/mike-smigielMichael served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2002 through 2014, and received the following awards, among others too numerous to mention here:
- 2014 “Defender of Freedom Award”
- An “A++” rating from Oath Keepers (The only A + + given and highest rating in the Legislature) for upholding his oath to the Constitution in 2014
- A 100% rating from the National Federation of Independent Businesses in 2014
- An “A+” rating from the NRA in 2014
This is my last day…my last day of 12 years serving the people of Maryland in the Maryland House of Delegates. I cannot begin to express how much being entrusted with such responsibility has meant to me. I leave knowing I gave 100% every single day for those 12 years. I enjoyed every minute of every day working to correct wrongs done to constituents and fighting to preserve their liberty and freedoms. It has been one of the greatest pleasures of my life to be so entrusted.
The public knew of my libertarian views and adherence to the Constitution as my guide in advocating for legislation and for public policy. While I had a reputation for “fiery rhetoric”, I directed my passionate defense of conservative positions at other elected officials and agency bureaucrats, never constituents. The public has only known me as a Marine first, who became a lawyer, and who then became a public servant.
What the public did not know was that I came from a background of substantial poverty, in a home with domestic violence. My mother, who was disabled, raised four children on her own, and eventually died of a heroin overdose. One of my worst fears was that these facts, my humble and troubled beginnings, would be used against me as a justification for rejection as a public servant because I did not fit the traditional mold. Quite the contrary, the citizens of the 36th District trusted me with a gift I cannot repay. Thank you so very much. I was able to successfully work across party lines to pass significant bipartisan legislation because my background included a variety of real life experiences similar to those I represented. I hope that sharing my background encourages others who have faced challenges to consider public service– there is simply no higher calling in my view.
With the help of excellent and dedicated staff, volunteers, friends and my family we were able to achieve many significant achievements, including but not limited to, elected school boards across the 36th District, a free standing emergency medical facility on Kent Island, Broadband Access on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, some of the strongest protections for children in the Country against sexual assault, the strongest 4th Amendment protections in the Country for the citizens of Maryland, decriminalization and legalization of medical marijuana, laws protecting Senior Citizens and handicapped children, laws which regulated abortion clinics (the same as any other freestanding emergency room), laws which reduced the infant mortality rate in Maryland by 23% in just three years and which prevented approximately 2000 abortions per year, eliminating the breed-specific Pit Bull discrimination laws, protecting consumers of mental health services from sexual assaults by therapist, stopping hundreds of bills in violation of the 2nd Amendment, passing bills strengthening the 2nd Amendment, passing the State’s first Correctional Officer’s Bill of Rights, and amending the State Constitution to allow an Appeal to the Court of Special Appeals from the poor man’s In Banc Appeal, Speaking at TEA Party events across the State, standing an all night vigil to protest the closing of the Upper Shore Community Mental Health Center, holding community rallies to protest Bridge Tolls, and to protect Unicorn Lake, holding town hall meetings to teach the citizens how to challenge their property tax assessments, and …
However, what I will miss most are the cherished friendships I have made with so many good men and women who diligently work every day to make Maryland a better place to live, work and raise a family.
A sincere thank you to each and every single one of you, whether public official, member of the press, citizen, or advocate for a cause.
As my last day begins, I remember how my first day began, with my ten-year-old son asking me as I was packing to leave for three months in Annapolis, “but Daddy who will tuck me in at night?”. My son is now 22 and just graduated Magna Cum Laude from college and is heading for graduate school. His sister in her first year at her university is reveling in dance and doing equally as well.
I hope the accomplishments of the last 12 years have made all of our children’s lives a bit more enjoyable. That is what public service is about, making the lives of those you represent better.
Thank you all for allowing me the opportunity to serve you. The phrase has become a cliché, but it has truly been an honor and privilege, which I will never forget nor ever regret a single moment along the way.
http://delegatemike.com/
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https://twitter.com/MikeSmigiel
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