Progressive Maryland is backing HB1390 /SB880, a bill to phase out cash bail for many criminal charges because "We absolutely must not have different levels of justice for the poor and the rich." Those incarcerated because they can't raise cash bail lose jobs and the ability to support their families. PM backed the Senate bill last week and does the same for the House bill today, with the testimony below.

The Weekly Memo with a full week of action in Annapolis plus MoCo town halls on the school system. Plus the great news about the advance of earned, paid sick leave after a five-year struggle. Now you need to call your senator to pass it with a veto-proof majority on the Senate floor this week.

Following last year's landmark victories in Washington, DC and New York state, the Fight for $15 continues along the eastern seaboard. The fight picks up Tuesday (March 7) as the House hears a bill that puts Maryland's minimum on a path to $15/hr, because nowhere in Maryland can a family survive and thrive on less than that.

Progressive Maryland made news and made the news this week and last. A roundup from Larry Stafford, our executive director, of links to news coverage of our activities and causes.

Prince George’s County lead organizer Jennifer Dwyer delivered Progressive Maryland’s testimony Feb. 28 to the House Judiciary Committee on behalf of a bill protecting vulnerable immigrant populations in Maryland from “unethical, racist and legally questionable” practices of the Trump administration, insulating local governments from complying with federal demands.

Complementary interplay between the federal and Maryland elements of the Earned Income Tax Credit can help struggling low-income families. More could be helped by adjusting the Maryland EITC, but after failing to pass an expanded version last year, lawmakers hope to settle a disagreement between the Senate and House approaches that torpedoed the effort.

Welcome to the Weekly Memo for Feb. 27-March 4. Lots of hearings in Annapolis this week and more next week; the crunch time is approaching as the legislature hits the halfway point on the way to sine die. Plus local organizing opportunities and links to the past week's blog posts. One-stop shopping for progressives.

After a bold action at this Wednesday's Board of Public Works meeting, Marylanders continue to insist that Gov. Larry Hogan address the threats to the state from his GOP colleague Donald Trump -- an issue on which Hogan has been conspicuously silent so far. Here is Progressive Maryland's news release:

A House bill that would put the state’s annual corporate filing fee on a sliding scale would hit mega-businesses harder than small businesses.Gee, that sounds fair...

"Anxiety over the harm that Donald Trump and his public school scorning Education Secretary Betsy DeVos might do to Montgomery County’s vaunted education system was palpable" at a recent public meeting on MCPS's future, Hal Ginsberg reports.