Loss of Mike Busch sent ripples through entire General Assembly
For freshmen legislators, speaker’s death will serve as catalyst
Sine Die was the day Sen. Sarah Elfreth cracked. The 30-year-old Annapolis Democrat loved every minute of the previous 89 days of the General Assembly.
But Monday was different.
It was the final day of session but was the first in decades without longtime House Speaker Mike Busch, who died last Sunday. His loss brought tearful starts to both the final House and Senate sessions.
Elfreth, who campaigned with Busch and worked closely with him to file legislation, called him her mentor and friend, “the best of us.”
More than three hours later, session recessed and Elfreth headed to the lounge.
She reflected more on Busch between bites of taco casserole and tortilla chips.
“It’s almost a good thing that we have work to do,” Elfreth said. “That’s the way Mike would have wanted it to be. You don’t have time to process this type of thing because the work of the people is more important than our emotions.”
Still, her eyes welled up as she ate.
“I kept thinking yesterday all day how I wish I had spent more time with him and had learned more from him,” Elfreth said.
“But what he gave me and gave so many people and this chamber was his confidence.
You work really hard because you want to live up to what potential he saw in you. That’s honestly what made me work so hard.”
Busch’s death sent ripples through the entire General Assembly, but for Elfreth, and fellow freshmen delegates Heather Bagnall and Sandy Bartlett his legacy will be the catalyst for the rest of their lawmaking careers.
The trio is part of the largest group ever of women lawmakers to serve the State House, with freshmen making up a third of the lawmakers in this year’s session.
Elfreth, Bagnall and Bartlett all had wins and losses, but in nine months they’ll be back to do it all over again.
Nobody puts “baby senator” in a corner At 30, Elfreth is the youngest woman to be a Maryland senator, commemorated with a “baby senator” trophy she received at her swearing-in.
She doesn’t feel like a baby anymore.
Elfreth said she’s accomplished more than a baby senator might and more than she ever expected this session.
“There have been some situations where maybe it was assumed I wouldn’t catch something or wouldn’t have the courage to speak up about something,”
Elfreth said. “But I caught it, spoke up and fought for the district.”
Of the nine bills she put in as a primary sponsor, eight passed.
“We thought we would have a 500 batting average, which is still great. At the end of the day we’re going to bat .888,”
Elfreth said. “I underestimated myself.”
She passed bills concerning agrotourism, getting backlogged rape kits tested, providing attorney’s fees to sexual assault victims on college campuses, bringing transparency to the University System of Maryland’s Board of Regents, putting more momentum in the oyster restoration process, and making June 28th “Freedom of the Press Day” in Maryland, honoring the victims of The Capital shooting.
Elfreth’s legislation also includes some of the last changes Busch would make in Maryland. He and Del. Alice Cain crossfiled a bill with Elfreth to increase the Payment in Lieu of Taxes the state pays to Annapolis for fire and police services at the State House. The policy has already been enacted.
Her only policy that didn’t pass was a mental health needs assessment study, which died in committee.
Even after10 sessions as a lobbyist, being a senator meant seeing how the sausage of legislation is really made, and learning to be less idealistic. Her oyster bill passed with bipartisan support, but the controversy made it feel less like a win.
“This isn’t butterflies and daisies, this is really hard stuff we’re doing here and not
But Monday was different.
It was the final day of session but was the first in decades without longtime House Speaker Mike Busch, who died last Sunday. His loss brought tearful starts to both the final House and Senate sessions.
Elfreth, who campaigned with Busch and worked closely with him to file legislation, called him her mentor and friend, “the best of us.”
More than three hours later, session recessed and Elfreth headed to the lounge.
She reflected more on Busch between bites of taco casserole and tortilla chips.
“It’s almost a good thing that we have work to do,” Elfreth said. “That’s the way Mike would have wanted it to be. You don’t have time to process this type of thing because the work of the people is more important than our emotions.”
Still, her eyes welled up as she ate.
“I kept thinking yesterday all day how I wish I had spent more time with him and had learned more from him,” Elfreth said.
“But what he gave me and gave so many people and this chamber was his confidence.
You work really hard because you want to live up to what potential he saw in you. That’s honestly what made me work so hard.”
Busch’s death sent ripples through the entire General Assembly, but for Elfreth, and fellow freshmen delegates Heather Bagnall and Sandy Bartlett his legacy will be the catalyst for the rest of their lawmaking careers.
The trio is part of the largest group ever of women lawmakers to serve the State House, with freshmen making up a third of the lawmakers in this year’s session.
Elfreth, Bagnall and Bartlett all had wins and losses, but in nine months they’ll be back to do it all over again.
Nobody puts “baby senator” in a corner At 30, Elfreth is the youngest woman to be a Maryland senator, commemorated with a “baby senator” trophy she received at her swearing-in.
She doesn’t feel like a baby anymore.
Elfreth said she’s accomplished more than a baby senator might and more than she ever expected this session.
“There have been some situations where maybe it was assumed I wouldn’t catch something or wouldn’t have the courage to speak up about something,”
Elfreth said. “But I caught it, spoke up and fought for the district.”
Of the nine bills she put in as a primary sponsor, eight passed.
“We thought we would have a 500 batting average, which is still great. At the end of the day we’re going to bat .888,”
Elfreth said. “I underestimated myself.”
She passed bills concerning agrotourism, getting backlogged rape kits tested, providing attorney’s fees to sexual assault victims on college campuses, bringing transparency to the University System of Maryland’s Board of Regents, putting more momentum in the oyster restoration process, and making June 28th “Freedom of the Press Day” in Maryland, honoring the victims of The Capital shooting.
Elfreth’s legislation also includes some of the last changes Busch would make in Maryland. He and Del. Alice Cain crossfiled a bill with Elfreth to increase the Payment in Lieu of Taxes the state pays to Annapolis for fire and police services at the State House. The policy has already been enacted.
Her only policy that didn’t pass was a mental health needs assessment study, which died in committee.
Even after10 sessions as a lobbyist, being a senator meant seeing how the sausage of legislation is really made, and learning to be less idealistic. Her oyster bill passed with bipartisan support, but the controversy made it feel less like a win.
“This isn’t butterflies and daisies, this is really hard stuff we’re doing here and not
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