March 18, 2024
Annapolis, US 38 F

Maryland’s Speaker of the House of Delegates, Mike Busch dies at 72

House of Delegates Speaker, Michael Busch passed away this afternoon at the age of 72.  Busch was the longest serving speaker in history.

Busch’s health had been deteriorating over the past few years having had a liver transplant in 2017, a heart bypass in 2018, and most recently a bout of pneumonia that took him away from his beloved House of Delegates for the past week as he was being treated in the hospital.

Condolences from across the state poured in…

Busch was first elected to the House of Delegates in 1987 and a (very) few of the highlights of his 32-year career include

  • 2018 – Maryland’s Red Flag Law
  • 2012 – Maryland recognizing and allowing same sex marriage
  • 2019 – The reform of the University of Maryland Medical System
  • 2019 – Increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour
  • 2013 – Eliminating the death penalty in Maryland

Busch was a giant advocate for Annapolis and Anne Arundel County and was the driving force behind moving Maryland Hall from an old high-school to a world-class performing arts center. Professionally, Busch was an Assistant Director for the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks having just recently retired!

[bctt tweet=”Someone is not re-elected for 32 years without doing something right for his constituents! And for that, Speaker Busch is to be remembered and lauded!” username=”eyeonannapolis”]

The Speaker was always available to anyone and frequently could be seen walking around town and attending events small and large. He was spotted critiquing the new bike lane in Annapolis one day and another attending a Q&A session at Maryland Hall with a friend, Ralph Crosby about his Ralph’s recent book.

When we approached the Speaker to come on The Maryland Crabs Podcast back in 2016 prior to his liver transplant, he immediately said yes!

In politics, people take sides, and the Speaker was not immune from the barbs of policy. However, as sharp as those barbs may have been, those throwing them had a genuine respect for the Speaker and all he stood for. Someone is not re-elected for 32 years without doing something right for his constituents! And for that, Speaker Busch is to be remembered and lauded!

Funeral arrangements are pending and Governor Hogan has ordered all Maryland flags to be flown at half-staff until interment.

 

Busch is survived by his wife, Cindy;  two daughters, Erin and Megan, and three sisters.

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