Here’s what’s in today’s memo:

• Black History
• Legislative Updates
• PM Events
• Issue Campaign Updates
• Events from Allies
• State & National News
• PM Job Openings

Black History Month

Honoring Andrew Brimmer’s Legacy

On this day in 1966, Andrew Brimmer made history as the first Black governor of the Federal Reserve System. His appointment was a groundbreaking moment for Black economic representation, bringing a much-needed perspective to one of the most powerful financial institutions in the country.

Born to sharecroppers in Louisiana, Brimmer’s journey from rural poverty to economic policymaker was remarkable. A Harvard-trained economist, he used his expertise to advocate for policies that addressed racial economic disparities, including Black unemployment and access to capital. His work paved the way for greater inclusion of Black voices in financial policy and inspired generations of Black economists and policymakers.

As attacks on economic justice continue today, we recognize Brimmer’s legacy and the ongoing need to fight for Black economic empowerment. His impact reminds us that true progress comes when we have a seat at the table—and the power to shape policies that affect our communities.

Brimmer being sworn in as a member of the Federal Reserve Board by William McChesney Martin in 1966. 

2025 Legislative Session: 

Click here to view the suggested dates of interest provided by the General Assembly. 

The House and Senate will reconvene Tonight at 8pm and will post live updates on their website. 

TRACKER: Click here to keep track of all active Maryland bills, their action status, top sponsors, and top committees. You can also view the bills from the previous legislative session. For more detailed updates on this year’s Legislative Session and to search specific bills click here. 

Reclaim Renewable Energy Act Hearing

The hearing for our environmental justice priority bill, the Reclaim Renewable Energy Act of 2025 (HB0220/SB0010), is set for this Thursday, February 13. To ensure frontline community voices are heard loud and clear by legislators, Progressive Maryland and our allies are holding a rally at Lawyers Mall from 11 AM to 12 PM before the hearing. Sign up here to join us!

Fighting for Universal Health Care

Last Thursday, one of our key healthcare bills, HB 0417 – the Public Health - Commission on Universal Health Care, had its first hearing in the House. This bill would create a commission to study how Maryland can implement a single-payer universal health care system, ensuring every resident has access to health coverage.

This bill has been introduced for four years, but it has never gotten a hearing. This year, we’re determined to push it forward. Check out our Healthcare Justice section to see every single bill we’re supporting.

PM EVENTS:

Make Your Voice Heard at Lobby Night

We’re just two weeks away from our Progressive Maryland Lobby Night happening on February 24th at 4:15pm and we need you there! This is our chance to bring the voices of working people directly to our legislators and fight for the policies that matter most. Join us in Annapolis to make an impact.—RSVP today!

Task Forces & Issue Campaigns Updates: 

Healthcare Task Force: Breaking News! Progressive Maryland’s Health Care Priorities 2025 Legislative Session

Health Insurance Reform: Reduce care and claim denials! Progressive Maryland’s two bills have been introduced: one that creates more transparency about what’s behind insurance denials and a breakdown of the impact they’re having on communities; and one that makes it easier to appeal and win reversals of claim denials.  

• Appeals HB1341 
• Transparency 

     ➜ Stay tuned for hearing dates and calls to action to support these two timely measures  

HB905/SB720: Safe Staffing (Hospitals) Act of 2025 requiring hospitals to maintain a clinical staffing committee and to implement a clinical staffing plan; this will help address the staffing crisis that fuels worst in the nation ER wait times in our state

HB268/SB981: Hospital Debt Prevention: will increase financial assistance to families and individuals who need it, ban medical debt credit reporting  

HB424/SB357: Prescription Drug Affordability Board: will expand the authority of the Board to apply upper payment limits to certain high-cost drugs for all Marylanders 

HB417: Public Health-Commission on Universal Health Care: 

would create a Commission that will explore feasibility of a single payer health care system in Maryland.                                 

Other Priorities: We are ready to support allies and advocates who may need to stop cuts in Medicaid and fight other threats to healthcare services for our most vulnerable communities and the healthcare workers who serve them.

We need you! Get active now if you are not yet, sign up here: volunteer form. 

We’ll be in Annapolis for Lobby Night on Feb. 24th and in D.C. at the Capitol and in the streets on February 25th and 26th. 

To learn more, get in touch with Patty at [email protected]

Environmental Justice: Rally This Week

We're having a rally this Thursday, February 13, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Lawyer's Mall in Annapolis to demand passage of the Reclaim Renewable Energy Act. RSVP for the event here. 

If you would like to submit written testimony in support of the RREA, reach out to SirJames at 240-883-7645 or [email protected]. 

EVENTS FROM ALLIES:

Reel & Meal film Feb. 17 chronicles Black labor militancy in ‘60s Detroit

Reel and Meal at the New Deal free film Monday evening, February 17, is “Finally Got the News” – the emergence of Black militant unionism at Detroit auto plants in the late 1960s. Prof. Clarence Lusane of Howard U. will guide a post-film discussion. Film at 7pm, in person at the New Deal Café, Roosevelt Center, Greenbelt MD, or remote with registration link here.

Maryland fights for traction as Fed money dwindles; TrumpWorld onslaught continues as unions, courts push back

Well, it’s not “Groundhog Day Trump” as in the 1.0 version  – the GOP establishment, previously wary and scornful, has realized that the reality-show entertainer Trump was (just barely) more electable (and for them way more threatening) than were policy types on the Dem side. So the GOP members of Congress embraced his blitzkrieg for the first hundred hours-plus of Musk mischief.

It begins to look as if Biden and Schumer’s obsessive appointment of judges (more than Trump appointed) may provide the margin to protect the nation against Trump’s looney outbursts and Musk’s insidious hacking. States Newsroom summarizes: “With [Musk] opponents unable to deploy more than,,,   limited defenses, and many powerful Republican lawmakers either shrugging or agreeing, the federal courts have emerged during the past weeks as the only obstacles to some of Trump’s more provocative moves, States Newsroom's D.C. Bureau reports. 

The Boston Globe reports — “In their aggressive bid to upend the federal government, Elon Musk and his lieutenants have, perhaps unintentionally, driven thousands of federal workers into the arms of one of the biggest enemies of their sweeping project: Organized labor. Unions that represent federal government workers are reporting significant increases in signups since President Trump took office and empowered Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” to drastically slash the federal workforce.” Also echoes from Minnesota via States Newsroom.

Meanwhile, remember those tariffs (it was only last week!)? Summing  up the new ones on steel and Chinese goods plus the paused ones on Canada and Mexico, “Projections from the Tax Foundation suggested the proposed tariffs would shrink US GDP by 0.4% and increase taxes by $800 per household.” (Semafor) – one of the many ways your working-class pocket is picked by the billionaire class. And it’s definitely related to the consequences of the election: as Bernie Sanders points out, “Add it all up and the three wealthiest men in America [Musk, Zuckerberg and Bezos] have become $215 billion richer since Election Day.” [see “NATIONAL AND THE FEDS” below for more of Bernie]

How can you get good info in falsehood-festooned  times like these? It’s harder than ever, as we hear from the WaPo’s proprietor of “how to read this chart,” Philip Bump: “The right-wing bubble absorbs D.C.: During Trump’s first term, misinformation was not nearly as rampant as it is today.”

News You Can Use is trying to help. Stay tuned every Monday. Below, how Maryland, other states and the beleaguered Democratic remnant are finding ways to push back.

PM Careers

Chapter/Membership Organizer

District 8 Community Organizer

Social Media Coordinator

Racial and Economic Justice Organizer

Progressive Maryland BlogSpace:

We value creating space for our members to express their thoughts on any issues related to our campaigns. Have an idea for a blog post? You can submit writing, film, graphic design, etc. to be published on our website to the blog moderator Woody.

• NEW TODAY – Maryland fights for traction as Fed money dwindles; TrumpWorld onslaught continues as unions, courts push back
• Ready for tariffs and a trade war? They will come closer to the kitchen table than you think. It's News You Can Use
• Progressive Maryland Stands With Immigrants
• Trump flails around as admin gets blustery but shaky start; Maryland adapts while struggling with own budget constraints

>>Read more on the homepage of progressivemaryland.org

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Progressive Maryland
P.O. Box 6988
Largo, MD 20792