The Maryland Association of Counties (MaCo) conference in O.C. is an event that brings state and local officials together (at the beach!) to hash out difficult details -- usually about budgeting. This year the ambitious K-12 education goals in the Blueprint for Maryland's Future were chafing all concerned, and as usual any discussion of tax changes sent all those officials scurrying for cover. Taxing the well-off and corporations (who are after all the source of campaign funds) is never popular, even in an alleged blue state.

Maryland is, however, excited about the Democratic Convention this week, even though it's in Chicago -- because a major stage was set here. Many will recall that just last week President Joe Biden and candidate-designate (and Vice President) Kamala Harris were at Prince George's Community College to ballyhoo the results of Medicaid's power to negotiate drug prices. That's a power that every large corporation has -- quantitative scale procurement pricing -- but the country's largest health care provider was shut out until now because of Congressional resistance and (not incidentally) as a result of lobbying and handouts to Congress from Big Pharma. See more below in the roundup by People's Action. The first ten medications, announced last week, will be followed by many more in sequence, assuming the next administration follows the law of the land. You can guess which one would. Note also that many states, like ours, are doubling down on health care concerns at the state level to buttress what's going on at the federal level. That kind of solidarity can only be good. It's News You Can Use.

HERE IN MARYLAND

Biden, Harris In Prince George’s County: Touting their efforts to lower prescription drug prices for Medicare recipients, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, hosted their first joint appearance since Biden ended his reelection bid, a policy event that quickly took on the tone and feel of a campaign rally. WaPo 

Here’s C-Span’s full coverage of the event in Prince George’s County .

MaCo Speeches Outline Budget Constraints on Blueprint Ed Plan

Moore Talks Of Refining Blueprint Amid Budget Woes: Though committed to its implementation, Gov. Wes Moore said Saturday that adjustments may be needed to effectively enact the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education reform policy in light of the state’s fiscal woes. Baltimore Sun.

Even as he offered full-throated support for implementation of the Blueprint , Moore provided few details in his speech to the Maryland Association of Counties on the decisions ahead or how the sweeping education reform plan should be refined. “But if there’s one thing that legislative history has taught us, it’s this: Laws of enormous potential must always be refined after they are passed,” Moore said. Maryland Matters.

“I want to be clear: The next leg of this mission to address our fiscal challenges, it will be harder than the last one,” Moore said. “And, right now, everything is on the table.” Baltimore Banner. (May be paywalled)

No Broad Based Tax Increases Expected: Ongoing budget pressures — and how to address them — have been top of mind for leaders gathered in Ocean City this week for the annual Maryland Association of Counties summer conference. But the leader of the Maryland Senate said he is unlikely to consider broad-based tax increases to address looming budget deficits. Maryland Matters.

Maryland Newbies, Heavy-Hitters At Harris Convo In Chicago: One-hundred thirty-eight Maryland delegates and political officials have come to Chicago for the Democratic National Convention this week, looking to build on the surging energy in the party generated by the candidacies of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Gov. Wes Moore, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, U.S. Senate candidate Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen are among the group’s most prominent political figures. Other Marylanders are making their debuts as delegates to the DNC. Capital News Service/Maryland Matters.

Since Dali, At Least 7 Ships In Maryland Waters Have Had Power Problems: In the months since the 100,000-plus-ton Dali cargo ship took down the Francis Scott Key Bridge, killing six men, after losing power, there have been other instances of ships experiencing trouble in Maryland waters. No ship has had a complete loss of power, but in Maryland waters since March 26 there have been at least seven instances of ships experiencing a loss or reduction of power or steering, according to the Coast Guard. Baltimore Sun.

More Than 8,000 Cats, Dogs Killed at MD Animal Shelters Last Year: Data: Shelters across Maryland reported that 8,194 cats and dogs were euthanized in 2023. Bowie Patch

New Real Estate Rules Expected to Hit Buyers Hard: For more than a century, when someone wanted to buy a home all they had to do was walk into a real estate office and ask the agent to start showing them properties. That agent was paid by the seller if a deal went through. All that changed Saturday. As part the settlement of a lawsuit brought by home sellers, the National Association of Realtors agreed that sellers’ agents will no longer share the commission with buyers’ agents for a successful sale. Now, buyers have to agree upfront to pay their agents independent of the seller. It’s a change that agents said they have spent months preparing for. But that doesn’t mean they’re crazy about it. Maryland Matters. See also: USA Today

Seven-Route Ferry System Could Bolster Tourism: A ferry system connecting communities along the Chesapeake Bay is feasible, according to a new study released by a consortium championing the idea. The release of the study Thursday is the next step in an effort that began in 2022.. Maryland Matters.

Local Governments Consider AI For Cyber Security: As state and local governments grapple with a shifting digital and computer landscape in the form of artificial intelligence, counties have an “obligation” to learn how to incorporate artificial intelligence into cybersecurity efforts, officials said. Maryland Matters.

$250 Annual Increase For BGE Customers Projected: Electric customers in Baltimore Gas and Electric’s area can expect average increases of $21 per month, or about $250 a year, on their bills starting next June, on top of previously announced rate hikes and transmission line costs, a state agency that represents ratepayers is warning. Baltimore Sun. 

New Offshore Wind Area East of O.C. Will Be Leased To Norwegian Co: Another company is set to lease an offshore wind area off Maryland’s coast after winning a federal auction Wednesday. Equinor, a Norwegian energy firm, was provisionally awarded the lease Wednesday to an area in the Atlantic Ocean, alongside northern Ocean City and the Delaware beaches, according to the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, which ran the auction. Baltimore Sun. 

Thanks as always to Maryland Reporter, which culls Maryland news daily.

THE OTHER 49

A lot about health and medicine this week

To Lower Prescription Drug Costs, States Head To The Courthouse

Legislative change has been slow, so some states are enlisting their chief lawyers to take on corporations instead. States Newsroom

States Recognize 'Something's Got To Give' In Providing Services To Older Adults: As the population of adults 65 years and over continues to overtake the share of younger adults in the U.S., a recent survey shows that just 15% of Americans are confident that the government is prepared to handle the incoming ‘silver tsunami.’ 

Policymakers are increasingly concerned about older adults’ ability to afford housing, manage their increasing health needs and age in place.

But among the federal government, states, cities and the private sector, “there’s not necessarily a whole lot of consensus on who is supposed to take the lead” to address those challenges, one expert said. Route Fifty

80: The number of consecutive days in which the Phoenix (AZ) area has reached triple-digit temperatures, beating the previous streak set in 1993. The mercury has topped 100 degrees every day since May 27. (Arizona Republic) via Pluribus

Amid Medicaid ‘unwinding,’ many states wind up expanding

 More than a dozen states have moved to expand health coverage for lower-income people, including children, pregnant women and the incarcerated. Route Fifty

ENVIRONMENT: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) is considering legislation requiring companies that do business with the state do not contribute to tropical forest degradation or deforestation. The bill targets companies that use tropical hardwoods. (State of Politics) via Pluribus

NATIONAL and the FEDS

What The White House Wants You To Read: This piece by Axios’ Hans Nichols, who reports that the United Steelworkers Union now has a foothold within the domestic solar industry, thanks in part to the support of the Biden administration. It’s a significant step for organized labor, as it looks to unionize an industry expected to soon explode with new positions and products, bolstered by billions of dollars in tax incentives from Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. The union reached a so-called neutrality agreement with Convalt Energy, a solar company with plans to build two domestic factories. The neutrality pact will give Convalt's employees more freedom to form a union. West Wing Playbook

There Goes the Neighborhood – Radio News

For more than a century, Americans have been turning to a trusted and reliable source for local news: the radio. Now, the terrestrial broadcasts are facing an existential threat as listeners and advertising dollars rapidly shift, forcing stations to slash staff and even sign off the air for good.

This week, one of the nation’s biggest local news radio outlets, New York City’s WCBS 880 AM, announced it would sign off by the end of the month, ending a nearly six-decade run as a local news source for the five boroughs and beyond. CNN via Adweek

AND HERE'S AN EARLY-BIRD UPDATE from People's Action's director of Federal Affairs Megan E, send just before the weekend: