News You Can Use: MD Budget may be bigger scramble than was hoped

NUCU_logo_new.pngIt appears that for the eight years of Larry Hogan, building more roads to create more access to more real estate development was seen as the key to prosperity in Maryland.

Meanwhile, neighbor states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania were taking different steps, and Gov. Wes Moore told this weekend's gathering of the Maryland Association of Counties that economic data shows Maryland residents are losing earning power compared to our neighbors, and that was hampering economic progress he hopes to see in our state. So, tough times ahead.

This and more news you can use in this week's roundup, including the return of People's Action's congressional watchdog with, well, the usual dismal news about our fearless leaders on the Hill. Read it all here.



 

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MACo hears new climate commitment after eight years of coddling carbon

After eight years of Larry Hogan's indifference to issues of climate peril and environmental justice, some longtime advocates have taken on fresh challenges in the critical sectors of Maryland government that had been idle or out of action in the decarbonization struggle. Former Sen. Paul Pinsky and former House leader Del. Kumar Barve told members of the Maryland Association of Counties meeting in O.C. that the Maryland Energy Administration and the Public Service Commission might be on everyone's mind more than expected.

The Public Service Commission has a majority of new Gov. Wes Moore's appointees, including Barve, and Pinsky's Maryland Energy Administration some significant federal money to help decarbonize Marylanders' everyday lives.

Read more here from Maryland Matters.

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Progressive Maryland Weekly Memo for Monday, August 14,2023

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Happy Monday! We're thrilled to kick off this week's memo by highlighting our latest endorsements for municipal races in the upcoming election. Our endorsed candidates are Iyamide House for Bowie City Council (District 3), Izola Shaw for Rockville City Council, and Martin Mitchell for Laurel Mayor These three remarkable community leaders embody the values we hold dear: progress, inclusivity, and a commitment to strengthening our communities. Read more about why we chose to support their campaigns in our official endorsement announcement.

 

Be sure to check out the latest events on our calendar, including the Vegan SoulFest we are participating in this weekend, and stay informed about our ongoing task force initiatives, ways to get involved, and news you can use!

 



 

 

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While Congress is at bay, the states will play -- in Indianapolis

News_You_Can_Use_graphic_(2).pngCongress is out this week, though individual members are no doubt committing significant mischief back in their districts. We'll have to see how that goes down. But while the feds are idle (except Joe Biden, having a Camp David summit with Japanese and South Korean leaders this week) the states are busy. The National Conference of State Legislatures is meeting for their annual talkfest in Indianapolis.

All that federal money is running out now, so suddenly states are typically more interested in regulating (low cost) than in appropriating (high price tag); therefore they will be happy to pay attention to Route Fifty's focus on what to do about Artificial Intelligence, which we have all learned to call AI for short. If, instead, they have a look at the Pew Center's report on what they might spend some money on, they'll see a big take on tax policy justice (watch Maryland legislators looking carefully at their shoes) and other good ideas.

We'll check out what's going on in Maryland first, but pay attention to what other states are doing and the problems they are solving (or not solving). Those are issues that will probably come home to roost in our own state eventually. That's why we call this News You Can Use.

First, though, about Maryland...



 

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Progressive Maryland Endorses Three Candidates for Municipal Races this 2023 Election

Progressive Maryland Endorses Three Candidates for Municipal Races this 2023 Election

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Progressive Maryland Weekly Memo for Monday, August 7, 2023

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As we dive into another week, it's crucial that we remain dialed in to everything unfolding in our communities. Despite the media's relentless coverage of Donald Trump's ongoing antics and court proceedings, there's a lot more happening that deserves our attention and action.

 

While headlines may grab our focus, let's not forget that a significant milestone has been reached right here in our state. With a full month of legal recreational cannabis use behind us, Maryland has witnessed not only impressive revenues but also, more importantly, a trend that we’re especially proud of. The number of people cited for driving under the influence of cannabis in July has been astonishingly low. This data underscores that responsible, informed policy changes can lead to safer communities.

 

Find more in the Memo -- Progressive Maryland events (including the Gala!), News You Can Use and our blog posts, events from our allies and all the info you expect from our unique top-50-rated BlogSpace.



 

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News You Can Use -- Maryland among the states, in green jobs, cannabis consumption, maternal mental health and more

NUCU_logo_new.pngGreen jobs and the Inflation Reduction Act -- has anybody heard that times are less bad, maybe a lot less bad? How is Maryland doing on green jobs anyway? (be prepared to be disappointed). All the states hoping to reap taxes on cannabis are struggling with US banking regs. But Marylanders are lighting up (or chowing down) anyway. Lots more is filling the news gap while Congress has gone home to do nothing rather than hanging around in DC doing nothing, and some of that news is even good -- for Maryland and the US. Best of all, we have no news about the former president. Read on; and don't forget our Friday Night Drive Time PM Radio Show on WPFW-FM (more below)



 

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Announcing Our New Radio Show "The Progress Report"

We're excited to announce the launch of our radio show, "The Progress Report"! Hosted by our Executive Director, Larry Stafford, the show will be airing every Friday from 5 to 6 pm on WPFW 89.3 FM.

At "The Progress Report," we're your hub for all things progressive. From addressing urgent societal issues to championing social justice causes, celebrating victories, and inspiring positive change, we're here to keep you informed, inspired, and connected. Our mission is to create a platform where you can gain insights, join the conversation, and make a difference.

What to Expect: Get ready for engaging discussions that span a wide spectrum of topics. Whether it's politics, environment, education, community engagement, or anything in between, we'll tackle it. "The Progress Report" also hosts interviews with activists, community leaders, and experts who are shaping the world for the better. Through these conversations, we aim to spark ideas, drive conversations, and encourage collaborative efforts.

How to Tune In:

You can catch our show in three ways

On Air: Turn to station 89.3 FM on your radio and join us live.

Online: You can also stream "The Progress Report" live on the WPFW 89.3 FM website. Just visit the station’s website and click on the "Listen Live" button.

As a podcast: All shows are stored in the website's archive. From the homepage, click "archived shows" to find previous episodes of The Progress Report

 

Be Part of the Conversation: We're all about community engagement. If you're interested in being a guest on our show or have a topic you'd love us to cover, reach out to us at [email protected]. Let's work together to create meaningful conversations.

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Progressive Maryland Weekly Memo for Monday, July 31, 2023

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As we round out the month of July, we can't help but marvel at the whirlwind of activities and accomplishments we've had thanks to supporters like you.

 

We are thrilled to announce that this past week, we were named one of the Top 50 Liberal Political Blogs by Feedspot, a testament to the power of our collective voice and the impact we are making in the digital sphere.

 

Also, we had a successful launch of our new radio show, The Progress Report on WPFW, hosted by our Executive Director, Larry Stafford. Every Friday, from 5-6 pm, tune in to WPFW 89.3 FM for an hour of entertaining insights, political discussions, and live interviews with Marylanders in the progressive movement. If you can't catch it on air, you can listen live online at the station's website. There's more below in the Memo, including our Gala in September, our organizing focused on Medicare's birthday and Returning Citizens, News You Can Use and access to our past blogs. Read on.

 



 

 

 

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News You Can Use from Maryland to other states in similar boats to feds, with Congress exiting the Titanic

NUCU_logo_new.pngHot weather is pounding us, our households and our local and national emergency budgets, as we move from record-hot July toward who-knows-how-hot August. So a lot of climate news in the News You Can Use, as well as scams, lobbyists (not the same thing, quite), how to run the state's schools improvement (better check the AC before opening day), what other states are doing we might think about or stay away from, and Congress takes a break with essentially nothing accomplished. It's all here in News You Can Use.



 

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