April 9th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

In a session marked by ailing leaders and an ambitious agenda propelled by a younger, more progressive class of Democratic lawmakers, the 439th General Assembly closed on a somber note Monday following the death a day earlier of House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel). But not before legislators pushed through hundreds of additional votes, including final approvals of Busch priorities. In the Senate, the first order of business Monday morning was overriding the veto of Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) on Busch’s bill to permanently protect five oyster sanctuaries in the Chesapeake Bay. The bill was enacted by a 29-16 override vote. Lawmakers also gave final approval on Monday to a bill reforming the University of Maryland Medical System board. The board has come under scrutiny after revelations of insider dealing, including a book-printing deal that enriched Baltimore City Mayor Catherine E. Pugh (D) during her tenure as mayor and as a state senator. The bill, if signed by Hogan, would replace the board with new members over a period of months and add new requirements for financial disclosure, prohibitions on no-bid contracts, a ban on board members having financial relationships with the institution and other safeguards.