Lawmakers, just like the rest of us, were greeted on the opening of the first real week of 2025 by a rather impressive snowstorm, which we shared with many other parts of the country. It might give the lawmakers, like the rest of us, breathing space to consider just what we are up to as the year that ends the first quarter of the 21st century begins to complete itself.
In Maryland and elsewhere, a little thought before action is always recommended.
The calendar of busyness around the country is full: "The first three months of an odd year is the busiest quarter of a legislative cycle. By the end of January, 44 states will have kicked off their sessions," we were reminded by our friends at the Pluribus news outlet in our Weekender just this past Saturday. Check that out, as well as our Boxing Day catchup post to make sure you didn't miss an important newsbreak affecting you and your community.
States and their lawmakers are getting ready for the scuffle, and Congress is trying to figure out how not to trip over their own majorities as the always-gyrating MAGA forces assemble their crew. We'll keep you aware of the serious side of the circus right here in News You Can Use.
HERE IN MARYLAND
Our Maryland Freshmen – Three Of Them Women – Join 119th Congress: The 119th Congress that was sworn in Friday included four freshmen in Maryland’s 10-member delegation, three in the House and one in the Senate. The newcomers boosted the number of Maryland women in Congress from zero to three — there hasn’t been a woman in the delegation in eight years, and there haven’t been three in more than 30 — and included the state’s first Black senator. Maryland Matters via MD Reporter.
Alsobrooks Helps Congressional Black Caucus Make History: One of two newly minted senators, Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), drew some of the biggest applause when she walked on stage to join the other 61 Congressional Black Caucus members – the largest in history – at a ceremonial swearing-in at the Anthem theater on the Washington waterfront. Hours later, Alsobrooks was still marveling at the historic nature of the election. Maryland Matters via MD Reporter
Ben Cardin On 58 Years Of Public Service: Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) retired Friday after 58 years in public office, a tenure that began with him working as a Baltimore City delegate to Annapolis and culminated with him serving as chair of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. WaPo via MD Reporter
As 2024 Assembly Session Kicks Off Wednesday, Speaker Jones Asserts More Than Budget Issues Are On Table: As she begins her sixth legislative session leading the House on Wednesday, Speaker Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County) admits that a projected $2.7 billion deficit will be the dominant issue for lawmakers — but she doesn’t believe it has to be the only one. Maryland Matters
Legislators in Maryland, Other Bay States Face New and Enduring Environmental Issues Amid Budget Woes: In state capitals across the Chesapeake Bay region this year, lawmakers are expected to grapple with renewable energy — how to produce more of it and how to pay for it. While that theme may unite Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, it is far from the only environmental priority expected to make waves in those Bay drainage states. Here’s a look at the environmental moves each state might make during their legislative sessions this spring. Bay Journal
Critter News from UPI via Pluribus: Maryland State Police are searching for a lost emu seen wandering around Mardela Springs, a small town on the Eastern Shore. Police said the emu is not the same one that escaped in October; that emu, named Liberty, was safely returned home. (UPI)
We helped you keep up on News You Can Use over the holidays with our Dec. 26 Boxing Day special and with our Weekender Roundup just this past Saturday. Check them out to see if you missed news important to you and your community – because that’s the point of News You Can Use…
THE OTHER 49
HEALTH CARE: A fierce lobbying fight is underway between hospitals and drugmakers over 340B, the program Congress approved in 1992 that requires manufacturers who participate in Medicare and Medicaid to sell outpatient drugs at deep discounts to health care providers that serve needy communities.
Since 2021, lawmakers in eight states have approved bills prohibiting drugmakers from placing limits on which pharmacies qualify for discounts under the 340B program. More states are likely to take up similar bills this year, or measures to bulk up reporting requirements for 340B participants.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. The 340B program covered $66.3 billion in outpatient drug purchases in 2023, and half the pharmacies in America participate. Congress doesn’t seem capable of action, so the states are stepping in. Pluribus
MORE: North Dakota is the first state in America to offer coverage for GLP-1 weight loss drugs for individual plans provided by the Affordable Care Act. Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread (R) said the change in rules would help North Dakota tackle higher-than-average obesity rates. (Fargo Forum) Expect many more states to follow North Dakota’s lead here. Pluribus – AND see more from Stateline Daily
SOCIAL MEDIA: Indiana lawmakers have introduced a bill to bar minors under 16 from accessing social media sites without parental consent. The bill would require parents to upload credit card information and give annual consent for their children to access social media. (WSBT) Pluribus
LGBTQ RIGHTS: Utah Rep. Trevor Lee (R) has introduced legislation limiting the types of flags that can be displayed at public schools. The bill would limit schools to displaying American flags, state, tribal, military or college and university flags and flags from other countries. Symbols that represent the LGBTQ community are not on the list. (Salt Lake Tribune) via Pluribus
MORE: Kansas Republicans will try to pass legislation once again to ban gender-affirming care for transgender minors. Republicans think they have the votes to override Gov. Laura Kelly (D) if she issues another veto, as she did in 2023 and 2024. (KCUR) Pluribus
TOWING COMPANIES: An investigation has found Connecticut allows towing companies to sell some people’s cars in just 15 days, one of the shortest windows in the country, the CT Mirror and ProPublica report. Many are towed not for violating the law, but instead for breaking a rule like parking the wrong way or failing to display a parking pass. The sales have particularly affected low-income drivers who have lost jobs after they were unable to get their car back. Stateline Daily
NATIONAL ISSUES AND THE FEDS
Comfort for the weird times ahead…
How “resounding” was Trump’s 2024 win?
According to data from the University of Florida Election Lab, approximately 245 million Americans were eligible to vote in the 2024 general election. As we see below, more people voted {we might say} “none of the above” by staying home than voted for either candidate.
Of the 245 million estimated eligible to vote – the actual electorate – Trump received just over 77 million, meaning about 168 million, give or take, did not choose him.
Preliminary election data shows about 155 million ballots were cast. This would mean an estimated 89 million Americans, or about 36% of the country’s voting-eligible population, did not vote in the 2024 general election.
Number of registered voters in the U.S. 161.42m {statista}
Trump Harris
Popular vote 77,303,573 75,019,257
Percentage 49.7% 48.3% {Wikipedia}
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Here’s the lowdown on Congress as it reconvenes, from Megan E, federal affairs director at our national affiliate, People’s Action:
Happy New Year People's Action!
I hope you had some time for rest and recovery over the holidays.
Congress is back in session. House Republicans re-elected Speaker of the House Mike Johnson without much drama. Today, Congress is scheduled for a joint session to count the electoral votes and affirm the results of the presidential election. No storming of the capital or other drama is expected there. We do have a snow day today so they may start the process (as required by law) and finish it tomorrow.
Vice President Harris will preside over the proceedings and release a video heralding “the ‘peaceful transfer of power’ as ‘one of the most fundamental principles of American democracy’ — something that ‘distinguishes our system of government from monarchy or tyranny.’” (Per Politico)
Trump is calling for one big reconciliation bill, instead of splitting the bill into two as Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated was the plan in December:
“We must Secure our Border, Unleash American Energy, and Renew the Trump Tax Cuts, which were the largest in History, but we will make it even better - NO TAX ON TIPS,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Republicans must unite, and quickly deliver these Historic Victories for the American People. Get smart, tough, and send the Bill to my desk to sign as soon as possible.”
Speaker Mike Johnson has said he’s likely to pass this bill by April/May. This will be harder than it sounds. Republicans are pretty unified on the border and energy policy; however, some House Republicans are demanding that the bill be deficit-neutral. That means they will need to find “pay-for” for their border spending and tax cuts. That will be very difficult. We know that they’re looking at cuts to IRA funds and tax credits, Medicaid, SNAP and (more quietly) Medicare and Social Security. They’ll also likely look at across the board cuts to agencies so that includes everything from education, housing, labor, FEMA and enforcement of environmental, health, safety and anti-trust laws.
Johnson will also oversee the narrowest House majority in nearly 100 years. As of Friday, there were 219 Republicans - 215 Democrats in the House with one vacancy. Two more Republicans have been nominated to serve in the Trump administration and will resign: Mike Walz on January 20th and Elise Stefanik, who will likely wait until her Senate confirmation hearings, not yet scheduled.
The last time Republicans had a trifecta in 2017, it took them over 6 months to pass their tax bill and they had a much bigger House majority. Our goal will be to slow down their agenda and dominate the narrative about what they are doing, making meaning for people about how their trickle-down approach will hurt people and offer, instead, an affirmative vision for how the government can support an economy that works for everyone. Every opportunity for a failed vote in the House will be an opportunity to promote our narrative. We should also be able to reduce harm in the final package.
House Republicans that face tough reelections in 2026 and the dwindling handful of Republicans who are traditional and not extreme will be faced with the choice of rejecting these extreme propositions or going on the record in support of them.
New committee assignments were announced in the Senate on Friday. Most notably, Senator Sanders has joined the Senate Finance Committee which oversees Medicare and tax policy. He’ll still remain the ranking member of the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions committee. Several new members have been named as the top Democrats on Committees, including: (1) progressive Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) will be Ranking Member on Senate Budget; (2) Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) will serve as Ranking Member on Senate Energy (big improvement over Joe Manchin); and (3) Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) will serve as the Ranking Member on Senate Environment and Public Works. The full list of Democrats is here and the list of Republican committee assignments is here.
In solidarity,
Megan
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