memo_logo.pngIt’s been a busy month and things will continue to pick up fast in our government. Tomorrow marks the ceremonial beginning of our new era for Maryland as Governor Wes Moore and Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller will be officially sworn into office. We should expect the Governor to present his budget on Friday and unveil a legislative package the following day that will address education, transportation investments and finalize the last few cabinet office appointments. 

 

In addition, in two weeks all bills for the legislative session will have been introduced and bill hearings will be occurring more frequently. We’re eager to see what the Governor has planned and to see how we fair with our legislative priorities during session.

 

 

We’re excited yet determined to attain many progressive victories in the legislature and in our communities. 

 

Thank you for being part of the fight.

 

In solidarity, 

The Progressive Maryland Team

 

 
 

Here’s what’s in today’s memo:

  • Legislative updates: session status, new bills and our weekly legislative highlight!
  • Event updates: Progressive Maryland’s Annual Membership Assembly
  • PM task forces & issue campaigns: Meeting dates and legislative priorities
  • Local chapter updates: Harford County and LSPC chapter updates
  • State & National news: As new administration arrives, Maryland’s problems persist.
 

Legislative Updates:

Click here to view the suggested dates of interest provided by the General Assembly. The House and Senate will reconvene tomorrow at 9 am 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 and get more detailed updates on this year’s Legislative Session schedule at the General Assembly website.

 

This week’s legislative highlight: Environment, Energy & Transportation

 

We’re excited to announce that, so far, we are supporting one new bill that was recently introduced to the General Assembly. Progressive Maryland is supporting the Equity in Transportation Sector Bill. This bill will require that equity be considered when State transportation plans, reports, and goals are developed. As part of this bill, we have previously supported and will continue to support requiring the Department of Transportation to conduct transit equity analyses and consult with certain communities before announcing or proposing service changes. We believe it is important to keep an open line of transparency and that access to transportation should be equitable and this legislation is a step in the right direction.

 

This session, Progressive Maryland will also be supporting terminating the use of waste-to-energy facilities as part of our state’s renewable portfolio and expanding the installation of energy-efficient appliances to limited-income households and electrifying buildings and transportation.

 

We expect more bills under this category to be introduced soon and will provide an update of any new bills we also plan to support. Be on the lookout! 

 

If you are interested in writing testimony to support these issues, please reach out to Christianne. 
 

PM EVENTS:

We’re looking forward to our Annual Membership Meeting on Saturday, February 4th, from 10:30am-1:30pm. We’ll be meeting in person at Anne Arundel Community College. Covid precautions will be in place. Please become a member in order to receive an invitation to attend. You don't want to miss this gathering! Please join us to celebrate our 2022 victories and to help us lay out our goals and organizing priorities for the new year. 

 

This event will bring together Marylanders who want to build a more equitable and just state. It’s a great opportunity to build community, learn how to get involved with our organizing campaigns, and hear from  leaders, legislative allies and grassroots activists. 

 

***There are less than 2 weeks left to become a Progressive Maryland member and lock in your invitation to our Annual Membership Assembly happening on Saturday, February 4th!
 

Updates: PM Task Forces & Issue Campaigns 

Environmental Justice Task Force

Inaugural EJTF meeting on Saturday, Jan 28th from 3pm-4:30pm at the Enoch Pratt Free Library Cherry Hill Branch | 606 Cherry Hill Rd, Baltimore, MD 21225. Join Progressive Maryland for our Environmental Justice Task Force Launch meeting. Since 1985, the Wheelababrator trash incinerator’s health-harming toxins have reduced life expectancies for generations of black communities in south Baltimore. Additionally, the pernicious effects of the incinerator have caused some of the highest levels of asthma-related hospital visits in the country.

 

During the 2023 Maryland General Assembly Session, legislation will be introduced to remove trash incineration from the states renewable portfolio standard. What’s more, If this legislation is passed, the trash incinerator would lose its renewable energy credits: this would significantly reduce its profitability. Power holder’s will be held accountable to this decades-old elephant in the room issue. Come learn and be a part of the discussion! Sign up for the event here. We can't wait to see you!

 

Check out this article to learn more about the trash incinerator.

Healthcare For All:

We're excited for the start of the Maryland General Assembly and our grassroots campaign to engage with more Marylanders in 2023. Our focus will be on: supporting the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board’s work to curb what we’re paying for prescription drugs, a bill that eliminates immigration status as a barrier to signing up for healthcare coverage, efforts to deal with the problem of medical debt, measures that help our communities and healthcare workers get the support need, and ways for Maryland to explore a Single-Payer style healthcare system. Check out the latest report on drug company price gouging which was covered in MarketWatch. More proof that we must keep fighting the greed of Big PhRMA! Want to join us? Contact Patty

 

Note: Reach out if you’re interested in submitting testimony on the above topics for the session. If you want to remain confidential, take our healthcare issues survey which will help guide our work. 
 

Local Chapter Updates:

Progressive Harford County 

Join Progressive Harford County during the chapter's first meeting of 2023. The meeting will be this Thursday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. on Zoom. We'll discuss upcoming events and other issues in Harford. Councilmember Jacob Bennett will also be there to let the chapter know how we can support him during his legal battle with the County Council and County Executive. RSVP here.

 

Join Progressive Maryland to learn how a bill becomes law in the Maryland General Assembly. Del. David Moon, Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee, will be our featured speaker providing a case study on a bill. Click here to RSVP!

 

Lower Shore Progressive Caucus

The Lower Shore Progressive Caucus is hosting its annual Legislative Agenda Meeting tomorrow night! If you’re an LSPC member or would like to get involved, sign up to come to the meeting. Let your voice be heard and find out how you can make change!

 

Additionally, we are excited to say that long-time LSPC member and mayor of Salisbury, Jake Day, has been appointed as Secretary of Housing and Community Development in Governor Wes Moore’s administration. Mayor Day has made great change in Salisbury, and we know he’ll be one of the best leaders the Department of Housing and Urban Development has ever had.

 

If you have questions and want to learn more, contact Kris to learn more and get involved.
 
 

State and National News:

A new administration for Maryland will get sworn in tomorrow (Wednesday) -- except for new (and first woman) Comptroller Brooke Lierman, who by state law was sworn in yesterday (Monday) despite the holiday. As we note below, Maryland in the wake of eight years of Larry Hogan's tender care shows plenty of remediation needed. It's all News You Can Use, and you have our permission to get angry enough to do something about it yourself. Team up with others in a group that seeks a better Maryland. May we suggest Progressive Maryland?


It’s News You Can Use, in digestible form so you can make change and build power sooner.
 
 
 
woody woodruff

About

M.A. and Ph.d. from University of Maryland Merrill College of Journalism, would-be radical, sci-fi fan... retired to a life of keyboard radicalism...