Tough times are upon us, as Maryland and other DMV areas lose federal civil service  jobs by the hundreds, daily. For (and from) those who spend some time on history, the rest of us have learned how Trump-style oligarchy is built – by dividing the ordinary working folks who are most affected. Solidarity among billionaires is welcomed and encouraged, including with invitations to the stately pleasure dome at Mar-a-Lago. But not solidarity for working folks, for whom the oligarchs’ goal is isolation and that alone, must-be-my-fault feeling. When we let that isolated feeling overtake us, Trump and his domestic terrorists win – the result, as has always been true of post-industrial capitalism, is blaming yourself for what is actually the greed-riddled economy’s failure to sustain community. Under these conditions it is harder than usual for folks to push themselves to solidarity and resistance. But we must. Here and there, as we see in this week’s News You Can Use, patches of solidarity are emerging and pushing back. We need many more.

Tough times are upon us, as Maryland and other DMV areas lose federal civil service  jobs by the hundreds, daily. For (and from) those who spend some time on history, the rest of us have learned how Trump-style oligarchy is built – by dividing the ordinary working folks who are most affected. Solidarity among billionaires is welcomed and encouraged, including with invitations to the stately pleasure dome at Mar-a-Lago. But not solidarity for working folks, for whom the oligarchs’ goal is isolation and that alone, must-be-my-fault feeling. When we let that isolated feeling overtake us, Trump and his domestic terrorists win – the result, as has always been true of post-industrial capitalism, is blaming yourself for what is actually the greed-riddled economy’s failure to sustain community. Under these conditions it is harder than usual for folks to push themselves to solidarity and resistance. But we must. Here and there, as we see in this week’s News You Can Use, patches of solidarity are emerging and pushing back. We need many more.

HERE IN MARYLAND

Spine Appears at PSC; Greedy BGE Plan Rejected: In an order last week, the Public Service Commission sided with the Office of People’s Counsel, which represents Maryland utility ratepayers and which had objected to BGE including electrification in its rate case. The commission found that BGE’s plan might conflict with a pending Maryland Department of the Environment plan to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions. That agency is expected to file a plan by the end of the year as part of the state’s Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022. Baltimore Sun

Moore Says Tax Cuts Give ‘Breathing Room’ For Middle Class: Gov. Wes Moore said the fiscal 2026 budget needs to give a tax break to middle-class taxpayers, but he sidestepped questions on whether the plan currently steaming through the Assembly provides meaningful relief. Maryland Matters. 

University Of Maryland Was Asked For Info On Chinese Students: A congressional committee asked the University of Maryland, College Park’s president for detailed information about Chinese students in a letter to the school’s president last week, prompting students and faculty to petition Darryll J. Pines not to comply with the letter.  Baltimore Sun. 

Lawmakers Consider Ending Immigration Enforcement Program: Maryland lawmakers are weighing whether to eliminate a decades-old immigration enforcement program amid rising concerns about the Trump administration’s efforts to escalate mass deportations nationwide. WaPo via MD Reporter.

Second Look Act Voted Out Of Committee: After an hour of robust debate, a Senate committee advanced a House bill Friday that would let some long-serving incarcerated individuals to ask a judge for a second chance at life. By an 8-3 vote, the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee approved the Second Look Act, which would let individuals who have served at least 20 years in prison petition for a reduced sentence. Maryland Matters.

Electric Vehicle Sales Lag, Companies Could Pick Up Costs: Two years ago, Maryland began a years-long effort to phase out sales of gas-powered vehicles, part of its fight against climate change. Now it might become the first state in a national coalition to ease the pressure on car companies to electrify. Baltimore Banner via MD Reporter

Md To Bear Brunt Of Fed Health Cuts: Of the 82,000 people who work at the federal health department known as HHS, about 32,000, or about 40%, of them are based in the state.  Baltimore Banner. 

Maryland, Virginia Join to Try to Stop Arbitrary Federal Agency Moves: Maryland and Virginia congressional Democrats are proposing legislation aimed at preventing costly federal agency moves pushed by the Trump administration. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, and Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Virginia, are sponsoring companion bills that would require federal agencies to conduct and share comprehensive cost-benefit analyses with Congress and the public before permanent relocations. Capital News Service/ Maryland Reporter.

Watered-Down Housing Bill Now Calls For Studies: Lawmakers are scrambling to push through a heavily amended version of Gov. Wes Moore’s (D) priority “Housing for Jobs Act,” which may be the governor’s bill in name only at this point. The bill that originally would have tied increased housing development to job growth in the state now calls for studies, the setting of housing goals and limited guarantees for developers. Maryland Matters via MD Reporter.

Trump Admin Nixes Fighter Jet Deal Between Maryland, D.C.: Maryland will not be getting a squadron of fighter jets from the D.C. Air National Guard after all, a White House official said Friday — marking the apparent end of the road for the state’s pursuit of the elite flying mission that was part of a pact last year involving D.C. and RFK Stadium. WaPo

Energy Package a Mixed Bag for Enviro Groups: Environmental groups are in a sticky situation when it comes to the sizable energy reform package making its way through the General Assembly. Many are encouraged by the bill’s provisions reining in natural gas pipeline replacements, boosting the state’s use of energy storage and limiting multiyear rate hikes. Maryland Matters.

IN THE OTHER 49

Easing the Vote Next Door: Delaware lawmakers have reintroduced legislation to add early voting, mail-in voting and permanent absentee voting to the state constitution. A similar bill failed last year. (Delaware Public Media) via Pluribus

ENVIRONMENT: Lawmakers in New York and New Jersey are considering bills mandating a reduction in the use of plastic packaging to cut down on pollution. The so-called extended producer responsibility bills would require manufacturers to pay for recycling plastic packaging. (Pluribus News)

Plastics make up about 12% of the 300 million tons of municipal solid waste produced in the U.S. every year, according to the EPA.

The cost in lives and damage from climate disasters has lawmakers in nearly a dozen states aiming to force the world’s largest fossil fuel companies to help pay for the recovery costs of climate-related disasters. Last year, Vermont became the first state to pass a “climate Superfund” law, followed soon after by New York. This session, 10 states have seen similar proposals, several of which have advanced in key committees. Advocates point to legislation in Maryland that has drawn support in both chambers, as well as to strong grassroots support in California after the Los Angeles wildfires. States Newsroom

Utah: After more than four decades in the state, the Sundance Film Festival will move to Colorado. The decision comes in the wake of anti-LGBTQ laws passed by the Utah Legislature. States Newsroom

Tennessee: Republican senators are targeting the state's school board and superintendent associations, by pursuing a bill to prohibit school districts from joining such groups. States Newsroom

Nobody here, including us chickens? The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has canceled a celebration of the greater prairie chicken at Kellerton Grasslands Bird Conservation Area, because there are so few birds left. The state Natural Heritage Foundation estimates that less than 0.01% of Iowa’s habitable landscape for prairie chickens remains. (Cedar Rapids Gazette) via Pluribus

GLOBAL, NATIONAL AND THE FEDS

Tribal communities in the U.S. have long pushed to own and maintain control over their data, including health statistics. The issue is especially relevant now, as the Trump administration scrubs federal health websites of data that recognizes and tracks metrics among the country’s various racial and ethnic groups, including what little data there is on tribal members, Stateline Daily reports.  The concept, known as data sovereignty, is important amid the harrowing health disparities seen in tribal people.

A severe shortage of specialist M.D.’s showed up big time during COVID, when there were many deaths attributable to not only the disease but to delayed care. Former CDC director Rochelle Walensky and an academic colleague explain in The Conversation how the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade could make it even harder to find physicians in states with abortion restrictions in the coming years, at the same time that the population of older adults who will need care is on the rise. [And that’s not counting the RFK Jr. regime’s leveling of medical care and research overall.]

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Here is the Monday morning bulletin from People’s Action on Congress and the feds, assembled by Megan E, director of federal affairs at our national affiliate.

Hello People's Action!

In order for the Senate to begin working on the text of a budget reconciliation bill, the Senate & House need to get aligned on the same budget resolution. On Wednesday, the Senate plans to pass a more vague budget resolution with vague language in terms of numbers (so they can pretend that they are not making massive cuts to Medicaid until they do) and then it will go to the House floor before April recess. Some members of House leadership are skeptical that they will meet this deadline. 

After April recess Republican leadership & committees will write and vote on the pieces of the legislation in committee. Then the House of Representatives will vote on a detailed budget called a budget reconciliation. This will be a very close vote and it can be defeated if we convince two more (Republican) Members of Congress to vote NO. The House aims to pass the bill by Memorial Day but the Senate has a stated goal of finishing by the August recess. 

Trump continues to test the limits of our judicial system by attacking judges and calling for their impeachment. From PBS news: “Trump-related cases involving federal workers, migrants, transgender troops and efforts from the Department of Government Efficiency were slowed in the courts… A federal appeals court has refused to lift the order barring the deportations, though several hundred Venezuelans, who were already in custody and on their way to a prison in El Salvador when the judge ruled, are still being held… Republican allies have raised ways — hearings, bills — to curtail judges’ ability to issue nationwide injunctions.” Senior Republican Senators have said they will not support efforts to impeach or defund judges for ruling against the president. 

It’s tariff week! Again! On Wednesday, U.S. tariffs on foreign-made autos and parts will also go into effect. Trump will also announce long-planned reciprocal tariffs this week, which are expected to include all nations, not just those with whom the United States has a trade imbalance. Over the weekend, Trump said he doesn’t care if American auto companies are forced to raise prices due to his tariffs because people will be buying American-made cars. The stock market has been volatile and going down, largely due to Trump’s erratic tariff policy, and economists are increasingly worried about a recession -- and worse, stagflation. That’s  when we have the triple whammy of low growth, high unemployment, and inflation. That is a problem because the federal reserve won’t want to lower interest rates to stimulate economic growth if we’re experiencing inflation. 

Tariffs operate like an additional sales tax, which is a regressive tax. So, as Congress plans to give tax cuts to billionaires and their businesses, Trump is effectively raising taxes on the rest of us. 

In his first term, Trump was sensitive to turns in the stock and bonds markets. He appears to care more about implementing tariffs this time around. The whole administration’s approach to be a slash and burn approach with complete disregard for the human impacts of the changes. 

Over the weekend, Trump also threatened to bomb Iran and said that he’s seriously considering a third term as President and there are “ways” around the Constitution’s 22^nd Amendment. Experts says rounding up protesters and taking control from universities goes beyond McCarthy’s witch-hunts.

Republicans are trying to get the Senate parliamentarian (interpreter of the rules) to sign-off on a fake math scam for budget reconciliation called “the current policy baseline.” The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) gives bills a cost score before they are passed. The score is an estimate of the cost or savings of the impact of a bill once it is signed into law. A cost is an estimate of what will be added to the U.S.’s debt. Budget reconciliation is scored over a maximum of 10 years. Because Trump’s tax cuts passed in 2017 expire this year and when they passed in 2017 the score/estimate of their addition to the U.S. debt was only for 10 years, CBO has estimated that extending them for 10 more years would cost us $4.6 trillion dollars. Because they are current law this year, Republicans want to erase that number and say the score of extending current policy is zero. It makes no sense if you care about the budget deficit or U.S. debt, but it is very helpful for writing their press releases to only count their budget cuts in the score and not the extension of their tax cuts. If I’ve bored you to death reading this, the main point is we should ignore their fake numbers and  continue to use CBO’s real numbers. 

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

APRIL CONGRESSIONAL RECESS: Start planning your April recess events now! Congress members will be at home again in their districts for April Recess between April 15th and April 24th. Here is our resource toolkit (still being updated): APRIL RECESS RESOURCES

ENDORSE MEDICARE FOR ALL: Please consider endorsing the House Medicare for All bill by filling out this form. There are no changes to the bill since the last Congress. This is a good opportunity for Democrats to show what they are for.  Reintroduction will be on April 29th. We’ll send along new resources soon; for now you can pull from NNU’s 2023 toolkit. 

ACTIONS TO TAKE: DATES to NOTE: What's on the Horizon to be Planning For

Housing Not Handcuffs National Day of Action A subset of groups are focusing their actions on housing/ homelessness on April 22nd in the Housing Not Handcuffs national day of action on the anniversary of the SCOTUS Grants Pass decision, criminalizing homelessness.

NEW RESOURCES From the Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights on Defending Ed -- Fact Sheets and Explainers

How to Use the So-Called “End DEI Portal”

Immigrant Students’ Rights Resources

Prohibitions on Federal Interference with Curriculum

Understanding OCR Anti-Opportunity “Dear Colleague Letter”

What Dismantling ED Means for Students with Disabilities

Libraries

Resource Library Promoting Inclusive Teaching and Learning

Timeline of Implementing Actions for Executive Orders

OCR Policy Documents Pre-Trump

ISSUE UPDATE: ELECTIONS

This Tuesday! There is a critical WI Supreme Court election, which will determine which party has a majority on the state’s Supreme court and there are two special Congressional elections in Florida. 

In solidarity, Megan