| Anne Kaiser | |
| Office: | Majority Leader of the Maryland House of Delegates |
| Term Start: | January 14, 2015 |
| Term End: | January 20, 2017 |
| Predecessor: | Kumar P. Barve |
| Successor: | William Frick |
| State Delegate1: | Maryland |
| District1: | 14th |
| Term Start1: | January 10, 2003 |
| Alongside1: | Bernice Mireku-North and Pamela E. Queen |
| Predecessor1: | Tod David Sher |
| Birth Date: | 10 February 1968 |
| Birth Place: | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Alma Mater: | University of Chicago (BA) University of Michigan (MPP, MA) |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Spouse: | Nancy Lineman |
Anne R. Kaiser (born February 10, 1968) is an American politician who has served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing District 14 since 2003.
Kaiser was born in Washington, D.C. on February 10, 1968, to father Jesse and mother Marian. She was raised in a Republican household, graduating from Rockville High School and later attending the University of Chicago, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1990, and the University of Michigan, where she earned a Master of Public Policy degree and a Master of Arts degree in educational studies in 1995.[1]
After graduating from the University of Chicago, Kaiser worked as a staff assistant to U.S. Representative Neal Smith and Maryland state delegate Henry B. Heller, and as an intern for the Congressional Budget Office. While attending the University of Michigan, she worked as a teaching assistant for the university and as a policy analyst for the Maryland Department of Education. After graduating from the University of Michigan, Kaiser worked as a policy analyst for the United States Department of the Treasury until 2002. As of 2022, Kaiser works as a teacher at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy.[2] [3]
Kaiser first became involved in politics during her sophomore year in college, when she encouraged her parents to vote in local elections despite being opposite political parties. From 1997 to 1998, she was the president of the Montgomery County Political Action Committee and the District 19 Democratic Central Club. Afterwards, Kaiser was elected to serve as a member of the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee until 2002.
Kaiser was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 8, 2003. She served as a member of the Ways and Means Committee from 2003 to 2021, and as its chair from 2017 to 2021,[4] [5] afterwards serving as a member of the Health and Government Operations Committee. From 2015 to 2017, Kaiser served as the majority leader of the Maryland House of Delegates.[6]
Kaiser served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2004 and 2020.
Kaiser came out as lesbian in March 2004, while testifying for a bill that would allow domestic partners to make medical decisions for each other.[7] [8] She is married to her wife, Nancy Lineman,[9] [10] and together they have one child, born in May 2019.[11]
Kaiser is Jewish[12] and is a member of the Tikvat Israel Congregation.
During the 2006 legislative session, Kaiser supported a bill that would weigh kids in schools.[13]
In April 2011, Kaiser spoke in support of Maryland's Dream Act, a bill that extended in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants.[14] [15]
During the 2012 legislative session, Kaiser introduced a bill that would allow the Comptroller of Maryland to "garnish" a county's tax revenues to fully fund its school systems. The bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Martin O'Malley.[16]
In December 2014, Kaiser said that she would not support proposals by Governor-elect Larry Hogan to remove school boards' ability to authorize charter schools, but expressed openness to removing regulations from private schools.[17] In November 2019, she criticized Hogan's objections to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future education reforms. During the 2020 legislative session, Kaiser opposed legislation that would mandate a post-Labor Day start day for school districts.[18]
In November 2023, Kaiser was one of 19 Jewish members of the Maryland General Assembly to sign onto a letter condemning a statement released by CASA de Maryland calling for an immediate ceasefire in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.[19]
In February 2006, Kaiser voted against a bill that would amend the Maryland Constitution to ban same-sex marriage in the state.[20] She supported the Civil Marriage Protection Act, which legalized same-sex marriage in Maryland,[21] [22] [23] and bills to ban discrimination against transgender people.[24] Kaiser has also criticized Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill and opposed attempts to pass similar legislation in Maryland.[25] [26] During the 2023 legislative session, she introduced the Trans Health Equity Act, which would require the state's Medicaid program to cover gender-affirming treatment.[27] [28]
During the 2006 legislative session, Kaiser voted for a bill to provide $25 million a year toward stem cell research.[29]
In 2012, Kaiser supported a bill that would allow the Montgomery County Council to ban panhandling.[30]
During the 2015 legislative session, Kaiser introduced legislation that would create a ballot referendum on holding special elections when there is a vacancy in a county executive's seat.[31]
During the 2004 legislative session, Kaiser voted for a bill to raise over $1 billion in taxes by increasing the state sales tax and creating higher income tax brackets for wealthier Marylanders.[32] In 2013, she supported legislation to index the state's gas tax to inflation to pay for transportation projects.[33]
During the 2018 legislative session, Kaiser voted for a bill that would provide $5.6 billion in tax incentives to Amazon to build their second headquarters in Montgomery County.[34] [35]
In January 2019, Kaiser rejected calls from Governor Larry Hogan during his State of the State Address to pass more than $500 million in tax cuts, including in retirees' income and small business, calling them "pure fantasy".[36]
In November 2019, Kaiser said that she supported the legalization and taxation of marijuana to fund the Blueprint for Maryland's Future education reforms.[37]
During the 2004 legislative session, Kaiser supported legislation to block construction of the Intercounty Connector.[38] In December 2018, she criticized Governor Larry Hogan for not consulting with Montgomery County officials in creating a plan to expand Interstate 270 and the Capital Beltway, and said that she favored a proposal by Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich on improving the American Legion Memorial Bridge.[39]