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Malcolm Augustine

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Malcolm L. Augustine (born March 10, 1969) is an American politician who has served as a member of the Maryland Senate from the 47th district since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, Augustine has served as the president pro tempore of the Maryland Senate since 2023.

Malcolm Augustine
President pro tempore of the Maryland Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 11, 2023
Preceded byMelony G. Griffith
Member of the Maryland Senate
from the 47th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 9, 2019
Preceded byVictor R. Ramirez
Personal details
Born (1969-03-10) March 10, 1969 (age 55)
Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children2
EducationHarvard University (AB)

Early life and career

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Augustine was born in Lafayette, Louisiana on March 10, 1969. He graduated from Pittsford Mendon High School in Pittsford, New York and later attended Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he earned an A.B. degree in government in 1991.[1] He is a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.[2]

Augustine entered politics in 2012 by becoming the co-chair of Progressive Cheverly. At the same time, he became the chair of the Cable Television Commission in Prince George's County, Maryland.[1] In 2014, Augustine unsuccessfully ran for state delegate in District 47A, coming in fourth place and losing to Jimmy Tarlau and Diana Fennell.[3][4]

In 2015, Prince George's County executive Rushern Baker appointed Augustine to represent Prince George's County on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Board of Directors.[3]

In August 2017, Augustine declared his candidacy for Maryland Senate, seeking to replace state senator Victor Ramirez, who sought to become the next Prince George's County State's Attorney.[3] He won the Democratic primary with 84.1 percent of the vote[5] and the general election with 93.0 percent of the vote.[6]

In the legislature

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Augustine in the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee, 2024

Augustine was sworn into the Maryland Senate on January 9, 2019.[1] Since 2023, he has served as the president pro tempore of the Maryland Senate.[7]

Committee assignments

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  • Finance Committee, 2019–present (energy & public utilities subcommittee, 2019–present)
  • Senate Chair, Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds, 2019–present
  • Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review, 2019–present
  • Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee, 2019–present
  • Joint Committee on Federal Relations, 2019–present
  • Joint Electric Universal Service Program Work Group, 2020–present
  • Joint Committee on Behavioral Health and Opioid Use Disorders, 2019, 2020–present
  • Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families, 2021–present

Other memberships

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Political positions

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Environment

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Augustine introduced legislation in the 2020 session that would ban plastic carryout bags from all stores and require stores to charge a minimum of 10 cents for paper bags.[8] The bill's counterpart in the Maryland House of Delegates passed by a vote of 95-37 and received a favorable report from the Senate Finance Committee, but never received a vote in the Senate.[9] The bill was reintroduced in the 2021 session and passed the House of Delegates by a vote of 97–37.[10][11]

In 2021, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters gave Augustine a score of 89 percent in their annual environmental scorecard.[12]

Healthcare

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Augustine introduced legislation in the 2020 session that would allow minors over 12 years of age to seek mental health treatment without their parent's consent.[13] The bill passed the State Senate by a vote of 30–15.[14] The bill was reintroduced in the 2021 session and passed and became law without the governor's signature.[15]

Augustine introduced legislation in the 2021 session would require employers to provide workers with safe and hygienic workspaces, personal protective equipment, emergency pandemic action plans that include sanitation protocol and changes in shift hours, paid health and bereavement leave, free COVID-19 testing, an additional $3 an hour in hazard pay and the ability to refuse dangerous work without fear of retaliation.[16] A narrowed version, which removed the initial $3 an hour in hazard pay and made paid sick leave contingent upon funding from the state or federal government, passed the House of Delegates by a vote of 93–39.[17]

In the 2022 session, Augustine introduced legislation that would include dental care in patients' Medicaid coverage.[18]

Transportation

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While on the WMATA Board of Directors, Augustine argued against fare hikes and service cuts, expressing worry that they would hasten ridership decline.[19][20] He was the only board member to vote against a 2017 fare hike that increased the price by 10 cents for rush hour and 25 cents for off-peak travel times.[21]

In the Senate, Augustine expressed major concerns against a proposal to build a Superconducting Maglev (SCMAGLEV) train that would connect Washington, D.C. to Baltimore, instead calling on the legislature to invest in the Red Line project cancelled by Governor Larry Hogan.[22]

Electoral history

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  • 2014 Race for Maryland House of Delegates – 47A District (Democratic Primary)[4]
Voters to choose two:
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Jimmy Tarlau, Democratic 2,728   26.7%    Won
Diana Fennell, Democratic 2,416   23.7%    Won
Michael Summers (Incumbent), Democratic 1,740   17.1%    
Malcolm Augustine, Democratic 1,688   16.6%    
Joseph Solomon, Democratic 1,627   16%    
  • 2018 Race for Maryland Senate – 47th District (Democratic Primary)[5]
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Malcolm Augustine, Democratic 7,841   84.1% Won
Adrian Petrus, Democratic 1,478   15.9%    
  • 2018 Race for Maryland Senate – 47th District (General Election)[6]
Name Votes Percent Outcome
Malcolm Augustine, Democratic 23,983   93.0% Won
Fred Price, Jr., Republican 1,777   6.9%    
Other write-ins 33   0.1%    

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Malcolm L. Augustine, Maryland State Senator". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. February 7, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  2. ^ Marriott, Michel (October 3, 1990). "EDUCATION; Black Fraternities and Sororities End a Tradition". The New York Times. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "Augustine Seeks District 47 Senate Seat". Baltimore Afro-American. August 26, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. July 16, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for State Senator". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. July 31, 2018. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for State Senator". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. December 11, 2018. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  7. ^ Kurtz, Josh (December 21, 2022). "Ferguson picks Griffith and Feldman to head two newly-reconstituted Senate panels; reshuffles committee rosters". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  8. ^ Ford, William J. (February 20, 2020). "Md. Lawmaker Floats Statewide Ban on Plastic Bags". The Washington Informer. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  9. ^ "Legislation - HB0209". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  10. ^ Shwe, Elizabeth (March 2, 2021). "Statewide Plastic Bag Ban Bill Advances". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  11. ^ "Legislation - HB0314". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  12. ^ Shwe, Elizabeth (November 18, 2021). "Md. LCV Finds Hogan an Inconsistent Leader, Praises Lawmakers on Environmental Justice, Transportation". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  13. ^ Pringle, Megan (March 11, 2020). "Lawmakers push to change way minors get help for mental, emotional disorders". WBAL-TV. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  14. ^ "Legislation - SB0611". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  15. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (June 14, 2021). "New Maryland Law Will Expand Adolescents' Access to Mental Health Care". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  16. ^ Gaskill, Hannah (December 8, 2020). "Legislation Proposed to Protect Essential Workers as the Pandemic Worsens". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  17. ^ Shwe, Elizabeth (April 6, 2021). "House Lawmakers Advance Narrower Essential Worker Protection Legislation". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  18. ^ Parker, Deja (January 25, 2022). "Senate closing the gap by adding adult dental coverage to Maryland Medicaid". WMDT. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  19. ^ Siddiqui, Faiz; Powers, Martine (March 9, 2017). "Metro board advances fare hikes and service cuts as officials, advocates warn ridership decline will worsen". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  20. ^ Ford, William J. (November 2, 2018). "Metro Board Split on Budget Proposal". The Washington Informer. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  21. ^ Di Caro, Martin (March 9, 2017). "Metro Board Approves Fare Hikes, Service Cuts Effective July 1". WAMU. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  22. ^ DePuyt, Bruce (January 24, 2019). "Proposal for Maglev Meets Resistance From Black Caucus". Maryland Matters. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
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Maryland Senate
Preceded by President pro tempore of the Maryland Senate
2023–present 		Incumbent
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