Legislative Updates By Delegate Mike McDermott

“Delegate McDermott Named as Consumer Committee Champion”

(Annapolis) --  On September 10th, the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition (MCRC) named Delegate Mike McDermott (R - Worcester and Wicomico Counties) as one of MCRC’s 2013 Consumer Committee Champions.  A statement released by MCRC explains how each Consumer Champion was chosen: “These...members... stood up for consumer rights by earning overall scores of 80% or better during the 2013 session even as they cast more difficult and strongly contested committee votes on consumer rights issues than members of other committees did.” The full statement can be read here.  While in the Judiciary Committee, Delegate McDermott made some key votes for consumers including House Bill 930, which prohibits disclosure of certain private records of other people, and House Bill 596, which gives more due process rights to people arrested in debt cases by allowing for expedited release.  He also made an important vote for consumers by voting against House Bill 130, which allows awards of attorney's fees in civil and constitutional cases.

Delegate McDermott received an 86% on MCRC’s Legislative Scorecard for his House Floor Votes. MCRC's Full Legislative Scorecard can be found here. While on the House Floor, Delegate McDermott voted against House Bill 89, which allows energy companies to add a surcharge of up to two dollars per month on energy bills.   He also voted in favor of pro-consumer bills such as House Bill 1297, which allows state officials to put a security freeze on credit reports of foster children, and House Bill 286, which limits foreclosures due to liens on homeowners in condominium communities.  For more information on Delegate McDermott's key votes, go here.