Between Two Chambers

Here we are kicking off Season 3, Episode 1, and in today's episode we're unpacking the Maryland Chamber of Commerce's legislative priorities for the upcoming 2024 session.This session, the Chamber has identified a robust set of issues addressing core concerns of the business community. From navigating the fiscal challenges the state faces, to long-term transportation funding solutions and comprehensive data privacy legislation, our state is at a crossroads. We will explore military retiree relief, aiming to retain our veterans' valuable expertise, as well as the importance of increasing affordable childcare options to tackle Maryland's workforce shortage. So here is it, the Maryland Chamber's 2024 legislative priorities.

Here we are in Season 2, Episode 2 – and we are taking it on the road at MACo. The week of August 14, 2023 was the annual Maryland Association of Counties conference in Ocean City. Our colleagues from the Maryland Chamber joined the thousands of local, state and federal government officials, legislators and many of our families for a week of meetings, educational sessions and of course, crabs and cocktails. We were part of “Podcast Row” on Thursday and Friday at MACo, along with other Maryland podcasters, and we were able to grab various experts to discuss a variety of important issues being tackled at the local and state level. Throughout the conference we spoke with Walter Simmons with Employ Prince George's to discuss workforce development, Grason Wiggins with Harris Jones & Malone to discuss rent control, Scott Waitlevertch with Columbia Gas to discuss the newly released Climate Pathway Report, as well as Heather Cascone to discuss the Save our Benefits Coalition and health benefits costs.So here is it, Between Two Chambers, live from MACo.

Hello and welcome to Season 2 of our podcast series, Between Two Chambers. I'm Andrew Griffin, your host and Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at the Maryland Chamber of Commerce. I am so excited to continue this podcast.One of the hot topics in Annapolis right now is the legalization of adult-use cannabis, coming to our state July 1 following last November's referendum. Legislators are currently reviewing the lengthy bill to introduce this budding industry – and so are we!In this episode, I sit down with Warren Lemley, president, co-founder and owner of Peake ReLeaf, a Rockville-based cannabis dispensary advocating for a safe and regulated Maryland cannabis industry.

The week of August 15th was the annual MACo convention in Ocean City.  Myself and my colleagues from the Maryland Chamber joined the thousands of local, state and federal government officials and legislators for a week of meetings, educational sessions and of course, crabs and cocktails. We were part of “Podcasters Row” on Friday at MACo, and were able to grab various legislators as they were walking through the convention center. Throughout the morning I spoke with Delegates Mike Griffith and Carl Anderton, Senator Johnny Ray Salling and Delegate Lily Qi about priorities for the upcoming legislative session and the buzz from their districts.Great conversations were had as we discussed the big changes headed to Maryland in 2023. 

In part 1, we talked to the House Majority Leader and here in part 2 we'll talk to the House Minority Leader, Republican Jason Buckel, representing District 1B in Allegany County. Del. Buckel has been in the House for 8 years now, he grew up in Cumberland, he's an Attorney with lots of insight to share.If you tuned into part 1, you know we are talking all things election. It is the topic de jour around Annapolis and around Maryland with the primary coming up on July 19th.  So here is part 2 of that conversation from a fresh perspective. Enjoy.  

The hot topic in Annapolis and in Maryland right now is of course, the upcoming election. The top statewide offices in Maryland are up for grabs, as are almost half of the seats in the General Assembly. It is set to be one of the most consequential elections Maryland has seen in a very long time, and I want to talk about it.In part 1 of episode 1, I sat down with House Majority Leader Eric Luedtke, a Democrat from District 14 representing Montgomery County. He's a Marylander through and through, a former teacher, father of 4, and always fun to talk to.

Tensions between Democrats and Republicans may seem high, but those of us on the ground in Maryland's capital of Annapolis know that compromise is the name of the game. More often than not, lawmakers on opposite sides of the aisle have close working relationships and are even good friends. That's the stuff you don't always see in the headlines. I'm Andrew Griffin, Vice President of Government Affairs at the Maryland Chamber of Commerce. In this podcast, I'll have conversations with legislators and government pros on both sides of the aisle to discuss real solutions in the spirit of compromise. Maryland businesses, workers and families are facing some big issues, and we want to address them.Because the only way to get things done in Annapolis is to be, Between Two Chambers.