Dems push ‘appropriately sized’ tampons in Maryland men’s rooms while deficit looms
Call it the latest episode of “You Can’t Make This Up” from deep-blue Annapolis.
Maryland Republicans are blasting Democrats over a head-turning proposal that would require tampons to be stocked not just in women’s restrooms — but in men’s bathrooms across state-owned buildings. And one GOP lawmaker isn’t mincing words.
Del. Kathy Szeliga (R-Baltimore County) is torching the bill — HB 941 — as a shining example of what she says are wildly misplaced priorities in a state already wrestling with serious financial headaches.
The fireworks kicked off when Szeliga took to the House floor to figure out just how far this bathroom mandate would go. Would it hit major venues like the stadiums where Baltimore’s beloved Ravens and Orioles play? Turns out, that’s very much on the table.
But first, she zeroed in on one eyebrow-raising line buried in the bill — a requirement for “appropriately sized tampons” in public restrooms.
“What are appropriately sized tampons?” Szeliga asked, drawing chuckles from colleagues. “I’ve never heard of such a thing. What do you consider appropriate?”
Democratic Del. Ken Kerr (D-Frederick County) tried to wave it off, saying the phrase simply means tampons would be available — no Goldilocks sizing chart required.
That didn’t fly with Szeliga.
If there’s no sizing standard, she argued, then why is the bill written that way at all? From there, things got even more surreal.
Szeliga pressed Democrats on whether the rule would extend to major state-owned properties — including M&T Bank Stadium and Camden Yards. Both are operated by the Maryland Stadium Authority, which means, under the bill’s logic, they could fall squarely under the mandate.
Kerr didn’t exactly slam the door on that idea.
“If it is a state-owned building, then yes, it would go in – it’s a public building,” he said, adding, “If Raven stadium is a state building, then yes, it would apply … If it applies to the Raven Stadium it would also apply to Oriole Park.”
And it doesn’t stop at stadiums. Szeliga warned the reach could stretch to places like Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and beyond, sweeping up a vast network of state facilities.
The price tag? That’s anyone’s guess.
“The fiscal note on the bill said ‘undetermined’ because there are so many state-owned public buildings,” Szeliga said. “And they wanted it to be paid for by taxpayers.”
In other words, lawmakers are pushing forward without even knowing how much it’ll cost — a detail that tends to matter when you’re already staring down a “massive” budget deficit.
Maryland Republicans are blasting Democrats over a head-turning proposal that would require tampons to be stocked not just in women’s restrooms — but in men’s bathrooms across state-owned buildings. And one GOP lawmaker isn’t mincing words.
Del. Kathy Szeliga (R-Baltimore County) is torching the bill — HB 941 — as a shining example of what she says are wildly misplaced priorities in a state already wrestling with serious financial headaches.
The fireworks kicked off when Szeliga took to the House floor to figure out just how far this bathroom mandate would go. Would it hit major venues like the stadiums where Baltimore’s beloved Ravens and Orioles play? Turns out, that’s very much on the table.
But first, she zeroed in on one eyebrow-raising line buried in the bill — a requirement for “appropriately sized tampons” in public restrooms.
“What are appropriately sized tampons?” Szeliga asked, drawing chuckles from colleagues. “I’ve never heard of such a thing. What do you consider appropriate?”
Democratic Del. Ken Kerr (D-Frederick County) tried to wave it off, saying the phrase simply means tampons would be available — no Goldilocks sizing chart required.
That didn’t fly with Szeliga.
If there’s no sizing standard, she argued, then why is the bill written that way at all? From there, things got even more surreal.
Szeliga pressed Democrats on whether the rule would extend to major state-owned properties — including M&T Bank Stadium and Camden Yards. Both are operated by the Maryland Stadium Authority, which means, under the bill’s logic, they could fall squarely under the mandate.
Kerr didn’t exactly slam the door on that idea.
“If it is a state-owned building, then yes, it would go in – it’s a public building,” he said, adding, “If Raven stadium is a state building, then yes, it would apply … If it applies to the Raven Stadium it would also apply to Oriole Park.”
And it doesn’t stop at stadiums. Szeliga warned the reach could stretch to places like Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and beyond, sweeping up a vast network of state facilities.
The price tag? That’s anyone’s guess.
“The fiscal note on the bill said ‘undetermined’ because there are so many state-owned public buildings,” Szeliga said. “And they wanted it to be paid for by taxpayers.”
In other words, lawmakers are pushing forward without even knowing how much it’ll cost — a detail that tends to matter when you’re already staring down a “massive” budget deficit.
70-79, M
