April Fool’s fever strikes Annapolis

Lawmakers in Annapolis took a break from serious issues last week to have a little April Fool’s Day fun.

On April 1, members of the state’s House of Delegates pulled into their parking garage to find their name plates above their parking spaces had been swapped with a fellow delegate.

The State House was not immune to the April Fool’s fun.

A sign was placed on the women’s restroom stating that in an effort to conserve money in a sour economic climate, the Department of Legislative Services would be requiring everyone to bring in their own toilet paper.

Myers sole no vote on respiratory bill

Del. LeRoy E. Myers, R-Washington/Allegany, was the sole no vote last week on a bill that would require the Department of the Environment to receive funds to install diesel emissions control equipment.

The bill passed in the House 133-1.

Myers said he voted against the bill because the facts had been distorted regarding the cost per vehicle to install the equipment. He also said no evidence was presented that an actual problem exists.

Myers said lawmakers were told it would cost about $700 per vehicle, but the actual cost might be as much as $3,000.

Shank appointed to ALEC committee

Del. Christopher B. Shank, R-Washington, has been appointed to the executive committee of the American Legislative Exchange Council’s Civil Justice Task Force.

ALEC represents about 2,000 Democrat and Republic state legislators, making it the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization of state legislators.

ALEC is divided into eight task forces by issue area. The Civil Justice Task Force promotes the restoration of fairness, predictability and consistency to the civil justice system.

— Erin Cunningham