As Democrats this week vote to override or attempt to override Gov. Larry Hogan’s vetoes previous year of several pieces of legislation, one measure stands out as deserving of such a reversal. The measures to be considered this (Thursday) morning include a bill that would decriminalize the possession of marijuana paraphernalia and a measure that creates a $300 threshold before money can be seized in criminal procedures.
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A third bill would require online travel agents to remit sales tax revenue on hotel room bookings, based on the retail rate of the room, and not the discounted rate the travel agents pay hotels to help book the rooms.
That was the minimum number of votes needed to override the veto in the House.
Under the Maryland constitution, once both chambers override a governor’s veto, the laws go into effect either 30 days later or on a date specified in the bill, whichever is later.
The Senate will take up four overrides Thursday, including a statewide hotel tax bill.
Del. Anne Kaiser, a Montgomery County Democrat, put it in terms Marylanders can understand.
“For whatever reason, the governor chose to veto these bills and the legislature reaffirmed its commitment to their passage”, Miller said.
The veto overrides disappointed Republican lawmakers. “People can come up with any rationale they want, but the fact of the matter is it’s a project that’s important to the community”.
The Senate delayed action until February 5 on an override of a veto of its bill that would restore voting rights to convicted felons while they are on probation. But he did refer to the closeness of the vote on the marijuana bill.
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Alexandra Hughes, House Speaker Michael Busch’s spokeswoman, said Tuesday the House plans to vote Wednesday. The House Appropriations Committee raised the amount to $2 million, and Hogan used that to justify the rarely used line item veto.
