Marylanders, just recovering from a mixed-results election, will soon be presented with the potential price tag for the excellent schools program that the Kirwan Commission has developed over its two-year investigation. As Jeff Bryant notes in this survey of the pro-education surge nationally, the state has approved the “lock box” on school revenues that will make sure that casino money will add to – rather than replace – the total spent on education. That’s a start, but more will probably be needed – and progressive activists must be ready to push the General Assembly to in turn push Larry Hogan to fully fund schools – which, despite his claims, he has never done. Bryant’s account puts our need for struggle in context.

A pre-election poll about issues -- imagine that, actual issues -- at play in the MoCo executive race shows "Marc Elrich not only won the election but also a mandate for his development agenda," David Lublin writes in Seventh State. Respondents favored "making developers pay more towards the county infrastructure needed to support the expanded population that development brings."

With the return of Congress featuring a flip to Democratic control in the House come January, Progressive Breakfast asks if the risk-averse Democrats can make real change. "That all depends — on their eagerness to think big and bold," says Sam Pizzigatti, "on their willingness to challenge the concentrated wealth and power that’s keeping things from changing. ... Just pushing for such legislation ... would send all of America the empowering message that meaningful change can conceivably happen."

The next stop is the General Assembly session in January 2019. 2019!!

Memo readers: keep your eyes open for local meetings that are designed to brief folks on the legislative session and create activism around it. Send them to us for wider announcement.

 We will keep both Larry Hogan and the corporate Democrats (yes, there are still some) on the back foot and keep the lobbyists honest.

"One possible path for Maryland, D.C., and neighboring states to pursue clean transportation goals is to adopt an initiative similar to the very successful Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)," write two Sierra Club researcher/activists.

"The cap-and-invest model would provide funding and incentives to: accelerate adoption of electric cars, trucks and buses; expand public transit and ride sharing; and build walkable, bike-friendly and transit-oriented communities accessible to all residents.

"Maryland and Delaware have years of experience with RGGI. In the eight years since it arrived on the scene, carbon pollution from power plants has fallen by 40%."

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

Our movement for justice and freedom has endured through many moments of defeat and marched forward to victory after victory. Now is the time to do the same, Progressive Maryland's executive director counsels. Our movement’s strength is not dictated by the electoral success of any single candidate -- it is determined by all of us as we work every day to make our state and our country a closer reflection of the values we share. In going forward a powerful lesson from this cycle must be: Never again to trust the Maryland corporate-Democrat machine -- instead we must build our own independent political structure outside of the Democratic Party.

THERE ARE THOSE WHO THINK YOU WILL LET RAINY WEATHER SENTENCE YOU TO FOUR MORE YEARS OF LARRY HOGAN. THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE COUNTING ON IT.

Rain is forecast tomorrow-- on Tuesday, Election Day.

Are Republicans counting on Maryland’s rainy Election Day weather to benefit their candidates? Or is that just a rumor?

Check out what a 2007 study found, after surveying the election outcomes and local weather at the level of county by county for presidential elections from 1948 to 2000.

And how much do you need to know about Larry Hogan before you move from “Not so bad” to “get OUT of here”? Here are a few reminders about why "not so bad" is wrong. He's bad -- for everyone except his rich corporate friends.

No matter the phase in the election cycle, says Prince George's activist John Mitchell, canvassing can seem like drudgery. "Most doors you knock on will not be opened. Many people who answer will be unimpressed with your presence. But in my experience, the wonderful opportunity to connect with like-minded citizens is very rewarding."

TODAY is the next-to-biggest enchilada – the last day of Early Voting.  Cast your ballot tomorrow or cast your fate to the winds next Tuesday. Sure, you can vote on Election Day – and more people still do it that day. If that’s your plan, be extra good at planning.