March 30, 2012 - Barbara Marx Brocato, born and raised in Annapolis, has spent the majority of her professional life working in Annapolis both in the public and private sector.  Her work with Maryland political and governmental institutions began in 1982.  She served eight years as Director of Legislative and Policy Services for the Maryland Department of Budget and Planning.  She was the first person and first woman to serve in this capacity.  For the last 20 years Barbara has owned and operated a consulting firm based in Annapolis; a successful and highly regarded firm known for its expertise in procurement, budgetary and fiscal matters, health care policy, and the legislative and regulatory process.

Barbara’s blog will take you inside the pressure cooker that is Annapolis and give you the view from the inside.  For more information and to contact Barbara visit www.bmbassoc.com.

Staying Within the Lines

Corridor Exclusive

March 28, 2012 - It is April 3^rd, 2012 – do you know who is on your ballot? Or of equal importance, do you know who is voting with you? Those will be the questions in the Congressional primary this coming spring – thanks to a new redistricting plan approved in a Special Session of the General Assembly last October.

Lets get the basics out of the way. Redistricting is when our political leaders redraw those lines on the map that decide what groups get to vote for certain elected officials. This happens every ten years – after the latest census reports are released. And yes, population shifts are one factor when determining the size and breadth of each voting district. After all, periodical redistricting was endorsed almost 50 years ago when the Supreme Court wanted to uphold that “one person, one vote” doctrine and ensure that your vote was worth the same as any other vote. But we cannot be blind to the fact that population shifts are not the only factor.

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What should be the Issue De Jour?

By Barbara Brocato
February 19, 2012

2012 is the second year of the Governor’s four-year term and a lot is going with an ambitious agenda. It’s a year where more risk can be taken – and much of the focus will be on gas tax, a robust capital budget, fee increases and more headliner issues such as civil marriage.

So what should be the “issue de jour” in the legislature? There are numerous fundamental problems to solve within our state – from the economy and jobs to quality of life to the environment – and none should be overlooked. Yet one issue that I believe needs continuous attention is health care. At the end of the day it does not matter who we are or where we come from – health care matters to all of us.

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Can We Actually Regulate Ethical Behavior?

By Barbara Brocato
October 18, 2011

Over three decades later, and the legislative landscape is not much different, including the world of lobbying. What has changed is the level of scrutiny by the media and public at large. As “scandals” emerge surrounding elected officials or political operators, more scrutiny follows. Most of those officials’ eventual downfalls are the result of (un)ethical behavior. Resignations have become common place – but it’s usually right before they have to face the dreaded ethics committee.

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The Increasing Power of a Woman’s Voice

By Barbara Brocato
September 26, 2011

President Obama begins his proclamation by stating: “(t)he 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution tore down the last formal barrier to women's enfranchisement in our Nation and empowered America's women to have their voices heard in the halls of power.“

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