Benjamin F. Kramer
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Benjamin F. Kramer | |
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| Member of the Maryland Senate from the 19th district | |
| Assumed office January 9, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Roger Manno |
| Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 19th district | |
| In office January 10, 2007 – January 9, 2019 | |
| Succeeded by | Charlotte Crutchfield Vaughn Stewart |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 5, 1957 Wheaton, Maryland |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Parent |
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| Relatives | Rona E. Kramer (sister) |
| Residence(s) | Wheaton, Maryland |
| Signature |  |
Benjamin F. Kramer (born March 5, 1957) is an American politician who has represented the 19th legislative district in the Maryland Senate since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, Kramer previously served Maryland House of Delegates from 2007 to 2019, representing Montgomery County.
Early life and education
Kramer is the son of former State Senator and former Montgomery County Executive Sidney Kramer, and brother of former State Senator Rona E. Kramer.
Political career
In 2012, Kramer was appointed by Maryland legislative leaders to a task force to study the impact of a Maryland Court of Appeals ruling regarding the liability of owners of pit bulls and landlords that rent to them.[1]
Defunding letter on CASA
In November 2023, Senator Kramer and eight other State Senators signed a joint letter that threatened to defund immigrants rights group CASA Maryland because it had called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and condemned the "utilization of US tax dollars to promote the ongoing violence."[2] In response, the ACLU issued a statement noting that the letter by Kramer and others "amounts to unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination."[25]
Nazi Reference and Rebuke by Archbishop Desmond Tutu
In the 2014 Maryland legislative session, Delegate Kramer introduced legislation to prevent the use of public college and university funds to support scholarly involvement in academic organizations that have voted to boycott Israel.[3]
The legislation failed to get out of committee so Delegate Kramer added language as an amendment to the State's budget bill. On April 2, 2014, Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa issued a statement expressing "grave concern" over the effort and also over Delegate Kramer's remarks comparing the boycott movement against Israel to the actions of the Nazis in Germany.[4]
Nazi Reference Towards Mayor of Takoma Park
In 2019, Kramer made a Nazi reference towards Mayor Kate Stewart because the City showed the filming "Occupation of an American Mind" about the Israeli Lobby. In a letter to Stewart, he wrote "Perhaps soon you will require your Jewish business owners to place Stars of David on their storefronts so that later it will be easier to identify them and smash their windows, or perhaps just a government promoted synagogue burning or two."
Legislative Notes
- Awarded the MADD Visionary Award for his service and efforts to pass the Drunk Driving Elimination Act during the 2010 Maryland legislative session.
- Voted in favor of in-state tuition for Maryland nonresidents who can demonstrate payment of Maryland withholding tax in 2007 (HB6)[5]
- Was a sponsor of, and strongly pursued enactment of, 2010 HB 756, the "Maryland Gang Prosecution Act of 2010."[6]
References
- ^ Dresser, Michael (June 19, 2012). "Pitbull Panel Looks to One Standard for All Breeds". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
- ^ Thakker, Prem (November 9, 2023). "Maryland Democrats Threaten Funding of Immigrant Rights Group That Called for Gaza Ceasefire". The Intercept. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ McAlister, Melani (February 12, 2014). "Maryland bills would stifle academic freedom [Commentary]". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on December 25, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
- ^ Tutu, Desmond (April 2, 2014). "US Efforts to Curb Freedom of Speech on Israel and Palestine are of Grave Concern" (PDF) (Press release). Oryx Media. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
- ^ "Higher Education - Tuition Charges - Maryland High School Students". Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
- ^ "Maryland Gang Prosecution Act of 2010". Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
External links
- "Benjamin F. Kramer, Maryland State Senator". Maryland Manual Online. Maryland State Archives. January 24, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- "Members - Senator Benjamin F. Kramer". Maryland General Assembly. April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
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