WE ARE MAKING THE MOST OF 2018. On Saturday, Dec. 29, Progressive Maryland’s statewide meeting convenes at 11 a.m. at the Universalist Unitarian Church in Annapolis. This mass meeting will shape Progressive Maryland’s activism for 2019 and beyond. Register and find a ride below.

Commission chair Kirwan "was cautious about the overall price tag for the commission’s work," Danielle Gaines reports in Maryland Matters. "Recommendations could still change, he said, and it may be necessary to find cost-savings to present a more politically palatable set of recommendations." BUT now we know what to fight for if we are going to have a state that puts people and its future ahead of the greed of corporations and big business. And we might want to take a look at the state Board of Education, stacked with nine (out of 13 members) Hogan appointees like Chester Finn, mentioned below, who are out-front advocates of charters and private school vouchers that drain resources from public education. There are no board members with public school experience, as MSEA points out in a review of the dismal Hogan record on education.

"Outrageous rewards give top execs an incentive to behave outrageously," Pizzigati says, "to focus more on their share prices than the long-run health of their enterprises — and the workers and communities their enterprises impact so mightily." Though GM execs spent $100 million buying back stocks last year rather than on "the long-run health of the enterprise," Maryland lawmakers ticked off at the closure of the White Marsh plant are urging reconsideration -- or repayment by GM of over $100 million in federal, state and local grants to the facility.

We are inviting progressives from across the state to join together and discuss the next steps for our movement. On Saturday December 29th at 11 a.m. we'll meet in Annapolis for a statewide Progressive Maryland gathering to continue to build power; watch this space for more and RSVP here.

The end of 2018 is quickly approaching and it has been a tremendous year. Following the results of the 2018 elections we are inviting progressives from across the state to join together and discuss the next steps for our movement.On Saturday December 29th at 11am, we will be convening a Progressive Maryland statewide meeting to celebrate our victories, discuss our challenges, and to prepare our next steps.

Will the state's Democratic establishment take steps to democratize their party and loosen the grip of big money? PM electoral fellow Richard DeShay Elliott, in a guest commentary for Maryland Matters today (Nov. 29), describes how this might come to a head Saturday at the state Dem leadership elections -- if restive progressives let their central committee reps know how they feel.

Outgoing state Del. Jimmy Tarlau (D-Prince George’s) is planning to become a pro bono lobbyist for progressive organizations and causes focusing on tax issues, economic justice, labor and consumer rights as well as local Prince George’s County matters.

There’s a struggle, not a coronation, in store as the state’s Democratic Party chooses its leadership team this Saturday (Dec. 1) in the wake of a decidedly mixed election result. Here's the state of play and the statements by aspirants to the party's chair.

SAVE THE DATE – SATURDAY, DEC. 29 FOR PROGRESSIVE MARYLAND’S STATEWIDE MEETING because we build power locally but exercise it statewide. So we’ll have a statewide gathering before the New Year to consolidate what we’ve learned and build on the power we have built. Save that date, Saturday, December 29 for our statewide meeting in Annapolis.

A return of the “individual mandate” -- softened Maryland-style -- may be in synch with a public opinion swing in favor of the Affordable Care Act and the salience of health care as an issue in the midterms. Our goal is a form of Medicare for All (yes, still with for-profit providers in the mix) leading toward a single-payer system that can keep the providers honest, patient-oriented and without a profit motive.

A good start for the Assembly’s tilt against Hogan; we’ll see if he sees the light.

Maryland Matters senior reporter Bruce DePuyt has the story; it also appeared in the Maryland Reporter today (Nov. 20).