In Maryland, the budget morphs with every twitch of Trump's Truth Social trigger finger (imagine announcing a war on social media...). More unemployed Marylanders, vanishing grants and federal funds, more irritating behavior from Himself's hired fan club. Meanwhile Gov. Moore has managed to put himself on a tightrope by vetoing a reparations (study) bill (Boo from the Black Caucus) and proposing grants for impacted communities (Boo, faint with echoes, from GOP legislators). The lawsuit seeking open primaries is a first peep but could have big consequences in the state' VERY closed-in politics. The Bay cleanup is in reverse, as feared, as Trump's EPA averts its gaze. And the state gas tax has "declined" but you have to squint. Other states continue to provide good and bad examples; the Ten Commandments are a popular new decoration for public schools but a judge in Louisiana has squashed it on constitution grounds, imagine that. Mississippi is tired enough of fighting off its own history to exempt high schoolers from getting tested on the past. Moves to say "no thanks" are on in Oregon, which has banned mobilization of the state's National Guard by the feds; in New Jersey concern about data centers that don't bring their own power source, and Montana mulls a ballot measure to forbid corporate money in state elections if the corp. does biz in the state.

National: in the midst of all the bomb-dropping in faraway places, a skill Trump has assimilated from the IDF, the Senate's parliamentarian has given a thumbs-down to significant parts of the GOP's Big Beautiful Ugly Bill that pretty plainly don't have anything to do with making a budget, such as revenge moves against the safety net. See Megan E's roundup, below, for details. The bad news is that it strips out money the GOP faithful were hoping to give to the rich; they'll be prowling for it somewhere else.

Each week brings new fights, which are very tiring when undertaken alone. Be sure to get your community involved, because solidarity is, well, just everything. 

HERE IN MARYLAND

Summaries from Maryland Reporter

Tennessee Judge Rules Abrego Garcia Eligible for Release: A federal judge on Sunday ruled that Kilmar Abrego García, a Maryland resident wrongly deported to El Salvador, is eligible for release from criminal custody, saying the government’s allegations that he is a flight risk or a danger to the community are based on problematic testimony and scenarios that “defy common sense.” WaPo

Moore Says He’ll Boost Funds to Impacted Communities, Pardon Many Cannabis Convictions: Gov. Wes Moore said he’ll pardon thousands more people with cannabis convictions and prioritize funding for communities harmed by racist government policies, part of his effort to close the state’s racial wealth gap. The Democrat made his announcement on Juneteenth, a federal holiday memorializing the end of slavery, while weathering criticism for his veto of a reparations bill. [see article below] WYPR/Baltimore Banner AND: >>Republican Lawmakers Denounce Portions Of Moore's Plan: Moore’s Juneteenth announcement of $400 million in state funds to historically underserved communities isn’t sitting well with some Republican lawmakers, who view the initiative as an unproductive government handout. Baltimore Sun. AND, AND Black Leaders Want Moore Held Accountable, Say Racial Wealth Gap Can’t End Without Reparations: Though Gov. Wes Moore announced actions toward ending the racial wealth gap last week, members of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus say that cannot truly happen without discussing reparations. Baltimore Sun.

Lawsuit Seeks Open Primaries: A lawsuit filed in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court challenges Maryland’s closed primary system, aiming to grant nearly 1 million unaffiliated voters the right to participate in primary elections. Filed on May 28, by five unaffiliated voters and backed by the Open Primaries Education Fund, the suit claims the taxpayer-funded primaries violate the state constitution by excluding independents.  Southern Maryland Chronicle.

Chesapeake Bay’s Latest Health Slump Tied to Climate Change, Scientists Say: The Chesapeake Bay’s ecological health declined in 2024 as extreme heat, rainfall and drought wreaked havoc across the estuary’s watershed, according to the latest annual report card from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. Experts worry it may be a sign of things to come. The grade for the Bay’s aquatic health slipped from a C+ in 2023 to a C last year, dropping 5 percentage points to an overall score of 50%, UMCES reported. “A changing climate is definitely affecting the Bay,” said UMCES vice president Bill Dennison. Bay Journal

Juneteenth Celebrations Endure In Face Of DEI Attacks: The organizer of Annapolis’ annual Juneteenth celebration said eight of the event’s main sponsors have dropped their support for the two-day event this year. In total, Coates said the festival and parade lost about $150,000 in sponsorships and federal grant money. Maryland Matters.

$4 Million Awarded To Boost Workforce Development In Construction: Workforce development programs across Maryland got a boost last week as Gov. Wes Moore and the state’s Department of Labor and Department of Transportation announced $4 million in grants.  Baltimore Banner. 

Md Equity Office Sluggish In Cannabis Community Fund Rollout: Maryland’s plan to use cannabis tax revenue for local community programs faces a series of setbacks from its equity office. Fox 45 News.

 MD State Gas Tax Declines – Slightly – For Second Consecutive Year -- Increase linked to lower inflation offset by cheaper pre-tax gasoline prices. Maryland Matters

THE OTHER 49

Off-year Elections Doings Next Door, Money Edition: VIRGINIA: Former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) has $14.3 million in the bank for her run for governor, while Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) has under $3 million on hand, according to public filings. Democratic legislative candidates have raised almost twice as much, $16.9 million, as Republican candidates for seats in the House of Delegates, $8.8 million. (Associated Press) via Pluribus

DEPORTATIONS: Texas lawmakers slashed funding for Texas’ incomplete border wall in their final budget draft, a further display of the state ceding border traffic control to the feds and focusing its own resources on interior enforcement, according to The Texas Tribune. Via Stateline Daily

MONTANA: Former Gov. Marc Racicot (R) and former U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D) are backing a proposed ballot measure to ban corporate spending on elections. Ballot language has not been finalized, but the measure would bar spending by any corporation that does business in the state. (Daily Montanan) via Pluribus

Don’t Know Much About History--  Mississippi education board axes US history test for high schoolers | Mississippi Today via Stateline Daily

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa has rescued a loose chicken that showed up on the doorstep of a Buffalo Wild Wings in Des Moines. The chicken was unhurt, but we might suggest it try a different restaurant next time. (UPI) via Pluribus

New Jersey lawmakers target energy-hungry AI data centers | NJ Spotlight News via Stateline Daily

EDUCATION: A panel of three federal judges has ruled that a Louisiana law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools is unconstitutional. Attorney General Liz Murrill (R) said she would appeal the decision. (Associated Press) via Pluribus

NATIONAL GUARD: Oregon House Democrats voted to prevent the Oregon National Guard from being used as law enforcement or deployed by the federal government without consent of the governor, the Oregon Capital Chronicle reports. The bill would prohibit Oregon’s adjutant general from working with the U.S. Defense Department or any military branches except on congressionally authorized missions or training.  Stateline Daily

GLOBAL, NATIONAL AND THE FEDS

PUBLIC HEALTH: The U.S. Senate parliamentarian has ruled that a Republican proposal to shift the costs of food stamps from the federal government to the states would violate Senate rules. The provision in the omnibus budget bill was expected to save tens of billions of dollars to offset part of the bill’s tax cuts. (Associated Press)

TRUMPWORLD   G.O.P. megabill: A Senate official on Sunday rejected a measure in Republicans’ sweeping domestic policy bill that could limit lawsuits seeking to block President Trump’s executive actions. The measure would target the preliminary injunctions and temporary restraining orders issued by federal judges that have halted or delayed Mr. Trump’s orders on a host of policies, including efforts to carry out mass firings of federal workers and to withhold funds from states that do not comply with demands on immigration enforcement. Read more › from the NY Times

Being At War,  Maybe The American bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities early Sunday pushed the U.S. conflict with Iran across a dangerous new threshold. U.S. and Western security officials said that they expect Iran to seek to retaliate in ways that eclipse its attempts to avenge the death of Quds Force leader Qasem Soleimani, and that the U.S. and its allies in Europe and the Middle East face an escalated threat from Iran that could last years. “It is unthinkable that Iran will not at some point attempt to carry out retaliatory, asymmetric strikes,” said Matthew Levitt, director of the counterterrorism program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Another former Pentagon counterterrorism expert said “Iran has a peculiar sense of symmetry and typically a longer time horizon [for planning and pursuing operations] than the United States. The question is when could the asymmetric elements come into play.”  WaPo

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Here's the Monday update from Megan E, federal affairs director at People’s Action, the national affiliate of Progressive Maryland.

Hi People's Action,

Over the weekend, Trump decided to join Israel’s war against Iran and bombed three locations where Iran is developing nuclear capabilities. Iran in response has the capacity to hit U.S. troops in the surrounding region as well as incite terrorist violence in the U.S. Trump, who takes pride in saying he never supported the second Iraq war and has criticized U.S. interventionism, is also now talking about regime change. Many in the MAGA world are isolationist. There had already been concerns within MAGA world among some about the administration’s calls to increase the Pentagon’s budget. 

Last week, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced similar bills that would require Trump to receive congressional permission before striking Iran. 

Democrats are, unsurprisingly, ununified in their response. Minority Leader Schumer and several senators declared “by law, the president must consult Congress and seek authorization if he is considering taking the country to war.” While Congress is, according to the U.S. Constitution, supposed to vote to declare war, Congress gave the president vast authority to strike other countries after 9/11 that it has never taken back. Congressman Ro Khanna criticized Democratic leadership for not taking a position for peace. 

Medicaid Cuts Kill  

The Senate is in the middle of the Byrd bath on the Big, Ugly Bill -- a process by which senators challenge provisions in the bill as being policy-oriented and not budgetary. The unelected Senate parliamentarian decides which items are more policy and less budgetary and therefore must be taken out of the bill. The Senate can formally overrule the parliamentarian by voting to do so. Senate Republicans have already ignored the parliamentarian’s ruling once this year. 

So far, the parliamentarian has ruled out: 

• Provisions from the House bill that limit judges from issuing nationwide injunctions;
• Language barring undocumented immigrants from receiving food stamps and forcing states to take on a larger share of SNAP costs;
• Senator Scott’s (R-FL) proposals to zero out funding for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, slash some Federal Reserve employees' pay, cut Treasury’s Office of Financial Research and dissolve the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board are all ineligible to be included in a simple-majority budget reconciliation bill; and,
• Senator Lee’s (R-UT) REIN’s Act to give Congress new authority to claw back federal regulations was also ruled out. 

This slashes tens of billions in savings that Republicans may look for elsewhere. The provision banning states from regulating AI was allowed to stay in, which is controversial among some Republicans. 

Senators will argue in front of the parliamentarian today on the Medicaid cuts and tax provisions of the bill. Senators will see new bill text tonight at a Republican conference meeting where there may be a proposal to include a stabilization fund for rural hospitals, which could buy support from Republican Senators on the fence. There are also efforts to negotiate the State and Local Income Tax deduction (SALT) in the bill between the two houses. The Senate could move the bill to the Senate floor as early as Thursday and work towards final passage over the weekend. 

NYC Mayor’s Race 

In more hopeful news, we’re all watching the NYC mayoral primary tomorrow where the corporate wing of the Democratic party is spending tens of millions of dollars on Andrew Cuomo, who is in the lead. A new poll shows progressive Zohran Mamdani, who is polling second, squeaking out a win through the ranked choice voting system. 

Another progressive candidate in the race, Brad Lander, who serves as the NYC Comptroller, was latest in a series of Democrats to be arrested by ICE agents for bearing witness or protesting ICE arrests. Lander was asking agents to see a warrant for the asylum seeker they arrested. He was held in custody for four hours. 

Here's what's in this email today....

ACTIONS TO TAKE: ASKS: What You Can Do This Week

Support Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Homes for All Act. Here is a one pager of the bill and here is a section by section of the bill. We’re hoping to work with her office on reintroducing the Homes for All Act this summer. Alert your members of Congress about it.

WHAT'S HAPPENING: NEW RESOURCES

Check out our campaign to stop the cuts to Medicaid:  “Medicaid Cuts Kill: What You Can Do to Defend Health Care for Working Families.” You can watch that video here.  

ISSUE UPDATE: HEALTHCARE

From Politico: 

“Major health insurers are committing to simplifying the prior authorization process amid heavy scrutiny from providers and bipartisan lawmakers. More than 50 health plans today pledged to reduce the number of services subject to prior authorization — a cost-cutting measure insurers use, requiring doctors to seek approval before providing certain medical services. Health insurer trade group AHIP and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association announced the changes in a news release signed by a number of major payers, including Aetna, Cigna, Elevance Health and UnitedHealthcare. The groups have promised to simplify the prior authorization process for 257 million Americans enrolled in commercial coverage, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care.”

But there’s also the new Obamacare Rule finalized by the Trump administration: “Reducing the enrollment period for plans by two weeks, adding paperwork requirements for some enrollees, ending the use of federal subsidies to help cover the cost of transgender people’s transition-related medical care and barring Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, recipients from purchasing insurance on the exchanges. The final rule also repeals a special enrollment period for individuals in households with incomes below 150 percent of the federal poverty level.”

In solidarity, Megan