Political notes: ‘Madness' in the House, another FAMLI delay, a sludge slump
With two weeks left in the legislative session, it's about to get crazy in the General Assembly. So talking about madness in the House seemed only fitting Monday night.
'Tomorrow, we're going to have some tough discussions over the [budget] debate that may be partisan, but tonight, we can stand unified and congratulate our Lady Terps for coming back in double overtime,' House Majority Whip Jazz Lewis (D-Prince George's) said to cheers and applause.
'As well as our men's Terps,' said Lewis, who earned both his undergrad and graduate degrees at the University of Maryland, College Park. 'Congratulations, Terrapins! Win March Madness, please.'
Lewis' comments came less than an hour after the Maryland women's basketball team beat Alabama 111-108 in double overtime to advance to next weekend's Sweet 16. And it came less than a day after the Terrapin men's basketball team beat Colorado State 72-71 on a game-winning bank shot at the buzzer by Baltimore product Derik Queen.
'Quite the Baltimore all-star,' said Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore) to cheers and whoops from the Senate when he asked who had watched the Terps triumph over Colorado State the night before.
Another Queen was caught up in the March Madness — Del. Pam Queen (D-Montgomery) who was identified by ESPN announcers Sunday as the very enthusiastic fan jumping and screaming in support of Madison Scott at the Ole Miss-Baylor game in Waco, Texas. Scott, a fifth-year point guard/forward for Ole Miss from Indian Head, refers to Queen as 'my grandmother, Miss Pam.'
Something worked: Ole Miss defeated Baylor, 69-63, to advance to the Sweet 16. Queen's seat, meanwhile, was empty at Monday night's session of the House.
There were other allegiances on the floor Monday.
Del. Emily Shetty (D-Montgomery) majored in mathematics and graduated in 2005 from Duke University, whose men's and women's teams also advanced to the Sweet 16 over the weekend. Today, Shetty teaches a public servant leadership training course as part of a Maryland Fellows Program at the University of Maryland.
'May the best teams win,' she said after the House adjourned Monday night. 'Cheering them both on for the time being, but I'm hoping for Duke at the end.'
A move to further delay implementation of statewide paid family leave benefit is officially underway as of Friday.
The House Economic Matters committee added language to a bill that will slow the start date of payroll deductions to fund the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program (FAMLI) by 18 months, even though the program has already been pushed off several times.
The Moore administration announced its intention in February to delay the program. At the time, Maryland Labor Secretary Portia Wu cited federal 'uncertainty' as a reason to delay the program again — to help the state, employers and workers prepare amid 'huge instability and uncertainty' from the Trump administration.
Advocates counter that federal uncertainties should reenforce the need to issue the benefit as soon as possible – and 55% of Maryland voters agree, according to a recent poll. But the administration is pushing through with the delay anyways.
HB 102 was originally a bill to create a voluntary option for self-employed individuals to participate in the FAMLI program, but the amendment adopted last week also makes it the vehicle to delay the FAMLI program altogether, so that collections would start in Jan. 1, 2027, and benefits would become available on Jan. 1, 2028. Benefits are currently supposed to be available in 2026
Del. Lorig Charkoudian (D-Montgomery), worries that with each delay, the value of the benefit can't keep up with rising costs and inflation.
'I understand the reasons for the delays but my biggest concerns, when we finally implement the program, that the purchasing power of the benefit is going to be considerably eroded,' she said, planning to offer an amendment to address that issue but opted to withhold it.
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Committee Chair C. T. Wilson (D-Charles) said Friday that the delay is necessary amid the state's current financial picture.
'The concern is twofold, it's making sure that we have the ability to properly get this program into play,' Wilson said. 'But it's also to make sure that in, what I would consider financially tumultuous times, as much as this is needed, it is also taking money out of the pockets of both the employers and the employees.'
The Economic Matters Committee approved the amended bill and sent for full House consideration. If successful there, the legislation would still need consideration by the Senate Finance Committee and Senate approval.
The press conference was meant to discuss 'historic' legislation that would set new limits on the amounts of PFAS in sewage sludge, but it took a gloomy turn Monday afternoon when legislators behind the bill revealed that a deal on the proposal had seemingly fallen through.
Originally, Senate Bill 732 and House Bill 909 bill would have set a limit at 1 part per billion of certain harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in sewage sludge, a byproduct from wastewater treatment plants that is often spread on farm fields as fertilizer.
Once applied to farmland, harmful PFAS chemicals such as PFOS and PFOA can wind up in livestock and crops, or run off into nearby rivers, streams and lakes. Even at incredibly low concentrations, such as 1 part per billion, PFAS in sewage sludge can pose a health threat to farm residents, their neighbors and those who rely primarily on their products, according to research released Jan. 14 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Bill sponsor Sen. Sara Love (D-Montgomery) said that supporters made 'tremendous' concessions to win support for the measure. The amended bill set an initial limit at 50 parts per billion, before lowering the threshold to 25 parts per billion in 2028.
'We had an agreement,' Love said. 'Unfortunately, many of us just came off a call, and I am really disappointed that several of the wastewater treatment plants — including those whose numbers already meet the threshold and those who don't even land-apply in Maryland — are standing in the way of this historic legislation.'
During a hearing for the bill, some wastewater utilities argued that sending any noncompliant sludge to landfills or other sites instead of farm fields would come with a significant cost — which could be passed onto ratepayers.
The bill did not meet the March 17 deadline to cross from one chamber to another, which already challenged its path to passage. But now, its future is even murkier.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Politico
7 minutes ago
- Politico
Proponent of Medicaid cuts set to brief House Republicans as they plot another megabill
Those staff-level meetings continue as House GOP leaders try to plot a way forward amid skepticism over whether another sprawling domestic policy bill is even possible given the difficulties Republicans had coming to agreement over the first one. House leaders discussed the topic with GOP chairs right before the chamber left for August recess, according to two Republicans granted anonymity to discuss the private gathering, tasking them with compiling lists of possible spending cuts and other ideas. What policies might be addressed in a second package is far from settled, though some House GOP factions are discussing further slashing Medicaid as well as possibly targeting Medicare funding. Blase was allied with conservative hard-liners earlier this year in pushing for significant cuts to Medicaid in the first GOP package. He was the initial author of a letter arguing for 'structural' changes to the program that Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and 19 other hard-right members later sent to their House Republican colleagues. An RSC spokesperson declined to comment on Thursday's briefing. But a person granted anonymity to discuss plans in advance said the meeting is set to cover enhanced tax credits for Affordable Care Act health insurance premiums, which are due to expire at the end of the year, as well as rules governing the percentage of Medicaid expenditures covered by the federal government and reimbursed to states. The briefing will also cover the 340B drug discount program; proposals to even out Medicare payments for outpatient services, known as 'site neutral' payments; plans for expanding tax-advantaged Health Savings Accounts for medical expenses; and arrangements that allow employers to reimburse employees for insurance premiums and medical expenses with pre-tax dollars. Blase, who did not respond to a request for comment, served on the White House National Economic Council during Trump's first term. He and other conservative health wonks launched Paragon in 2021, and it has rapidly gained influence in GOP policy circles. Former Paragon staffers are now top health aides to Speaker Mike Johnson and President Donald Trump.
Axios
36 minutes ago
- Axios
California's redistricting play sets up fight for control of Congress
California Gov. Gavin Newsom says the state will advance a plan to draw new congressional maps — a move he claims will "end the Trump presidency" and flip the U.S. House to Democrats. Why it matters: Newsom's gambit escalates a red-versus-blue-state standoff ahead of the 2026 midterms — a fight that could decide control of Congress. Driving the news: The Golden State governor mocked the president's bombastic style in a Tuesday-evening post on X, referring to President Trump in all caps as "Donald 'Taco' Trump" before declaring that California would draw "historic" and "more 'beautiful maps'" to have Trump removed from office and help Democrats "take back the House." What he's saying:"BIG PRESS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK WITH POWERFUL DEMS AND GAVIN NEWSOM — YOUR FAVORITE GOVERNOR — THAT WILL BE DEVASTATING FOR 'MAGA'," he wrote. Catch up quick: After Texas Republicans pushed ahead with off‑cycle congressional redistricting under pressure from Trump, Newsom proposed a "trigger" ballot measure: California would redraw its own electoral maps if Texas proceeded with its plan. Newsom previously said he intends to hold a special election on Nov. 4 for voters to approve a yet-to-be-drawn map aimed at increasing Democratic seats. "We'll fight fire with fire," Newsom said late last week. "We'll assert ourselves, and we'll punch above our weight, and it will have profound impacts on the national outcome, not just here in the state of California." The Legislature would need to vote to send the measure to a special election before voters could weigh in. Context: Trump ignited the redistricting arms race last month by urging Texas Republicans to redraw their maps to gain seats, with Missouri and Ohio following suit. New York and California, Democratic bastions, quickly promised to answer in kind. The U.S. Supreme Court unleashed the partisan gerrymandering floodgates in 2019, when it ruled federal courts had no right to rein in the practice. Between the lines: California's initiative would amend a 2008 voter-approved measure that created an independent redistricting commission to do the job every decade after a new census. The new maps would be in place for the next three election cycles — in 2026, 2028 and 2030 — with authority then reverting to the redistricting commission.
Chicago Tribune
38 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
Beckwith supports redistricting, immigration crackdown at Merrillville Q&A
Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith repeatedly addressed redistricting, immigration and education funding during a packed town hall session Tuesday night at the Marine Corps League. President Donald Trump is urging Republican states to redistrict again to make it easier for Republicans keep their majorities in the U.S. House and Senate during the midterm elections next year, which led Texas Democrats to flee the state to Illinois on Aug. 3. They've mulled returning after the first special session ends, but Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he will keep calling special sessions until the redistricting is passed. Vice President JD Vance met with Indiana Gov. Mike Braun and Republican state legislative leaders last week to urge them to call a special session to redraw the maps, which already favor Republicans 7-2. Beckwith said drawing districts to favor one party over the other began in Democratic-leaning states. 'I'm telling you right now they started it, and we're punching back,' he said. 'It's competition on a national level. 'We've got to compete with California' and other Democratic states, Beckwith said. One of the participants pointed out that 40% of Hoosier voters favored Democrats in the last general election, so 40% of Indiana's congressional delegation would be Democrats if districts were drawn fairly. '22% is a materially different from 40%,' a participant noted. In Lake County, 56% of voters voted Democratic. How does redistricting help local voters, the participant asked. If you don't like it, tell the Indiana legislators who will make those decisions, Beckwith said. 'My position is that Republican principles are better for everybody,' he said. When a participant suggested fair rules for redistricting nationally, Beckwith responded, 'I'm all ears.' 'I'm encouraging a commission on fair redistricting nationally,' he said. Until then, however, 'we need to do it because the other states are doing it,' he said. 'Let's make sure we're not counting people unless they're here as citizens,' he added. The U.S. Census Bureau counts the entire U.S. population every ten years, according to which is based on Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution and the 14th Amendment that mandates 'counting the whole number of persons in each State.' Beckwith was peppered with questions about immigration. 'We need to stop illegal crossings,' he said, thanking Trump for his immigration crackdown. Coming to the United States illegally is cutting in front of the line, he said, assured that everyone in the room would agree with him. 'Now we have people dragged out of their homes, schools, hospitals,' a participant noted. 'They're people in asylum from violence, poverty.' 'Everybody deserves due process because we believe in natural laws as well as constitutional laws,' Beckwith said. The Declaration of Independence refers to the God-given rights to 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,' he noted. Beckwith's answer bore a marked contrast with comments he made earlier this month at a town hall meeting in Terre Haute, where he said ICE detainees don't have the right to see a judge and compared the situation to the United States' response after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in World War II, when U.S. citizens and residents of Japanese descent were forcibly placed in internment camps. Several immigration attorneys criticized his comments as false and inflammatory in multiple media outlets. Then Beckwith said, 'We have been invaded over the last 4.5 years' under the Biden administration. 'We do not have the resources to have people wait in courts.' If people picked up by ICE can't produce an ID, they have to go back to their home country, Beckwith said. Multiple news reports have said the Trump administration is deporting people to countries they didn't come from, sometimes on a different continent, where the deported immigrants might not even know the language. 'I don't want to be a nation of lawlessness,' he said. Turning to state issues, one of the participants Tuesday said, 'I feel as though the supermajority (in Indiana government) is basically a communist approach.' 'I've never been called a communist. That's a new one,' Beckwith said. 'I'm not a huge fan of the supermajority in Indiana,' he said. 'We have gotten weak on Republican principles.' He said he favors more competition, he said, but took a shot at Democrats. 'You've got to bring better ideas to the ballot box,' he said. Pursuing social issues like LGBTQ+ rights is hurting Democrats, he said. 'Stop doubling down on stupid social progressive ideals.' 'This is why you're losing, Democrats, because you don't even know the basics of biology.' Beckwith has a history of attacking the LGBTQ+ community. In June, he made a Facebook post attacking Pride Month, titled 'The Rainbow Beast Is Coming For Your Kids!,' in which he called libraries 'drag indoctrination centers.' In August, he shared a post from an Indianapolis church where a speaker called for the execution of gay people, but said it was shared by his communications team and took it down amid an uproar. Earlier in the town hall meeting, Beckwith said, 'I think the Democrats do a much better job than the Republicans do' at communicating ideas. Multiple questions dealt with education funding. 'We have just gutted the public school system' with property tax refunds and vouchers for private schools, a participant said. Out of Indiana's $45 billion budget, $22 billion, or 47%, goes to education, Beckwith said. Even if a voucher is used to transfer a family's children from public schools, the school district still gets 20% of the state funding, Beckwith said. 'Inner cities benefit and use the vouchers more than any other demographic,' he said. 'We're spending a lot of money but in the wrong places,' he said. 'I see natatoriums being built.' 'That nice, shiny object' doesn't affect concerns like teacher pay, he said. 'I do feel we adequately fund them. It just doesn't go to the right places,' Beckwith said. Another participant noted that the Indiana University Board of Trustees no longer is elected. In June, Braun removed the three trustees voted on by IU alumni following last-minute language slipped into the state budget bill by legislators giving the governor full control of the board's makeup. 'IU has been a woke indoctrination center,' Beckwith said. IU chose to 'indoctrinate, not educate,' he said. Beckwith was a guest lecturer on political science at IU, he said. 'They were far below where they should have been.' Other questions dealt with a legal challenge to gay marriage and the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. 'I support a civil union,' he said. 'We did not create marriage. We have no business redefining it. God created marriage,' Beckwith said. On abortion issues, Beckwith said he would support saving the mother's life. 'That's not abortion. It's triage,' he said. 'Sometimes the world throws really crappy situations at us, and we have to respond appropriately,' Beckwith said. With rape, 'I want there to be justice,' he said. 'I will carve out one exception to my principles for that.' A rapist should be tried for first degree murder if an abortion occurs following a rape, Beckwith said. 'I want justice for people who do wicked things.' On rising utility costs, Beckwith reiterated his support for electing members of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and said he supports getting rid of the sales tax on utility bills. 'I will take arrows from the Republican Party all day long on this issue,' he said. 'They just keep raising taxes,' he said of fellow Republicans. 'I believe we dropped the ball there as Republicans.' Beckwith praised Lake County Councilman Randy Niemeyer. 'He is working hard to bring government efficiency back into local government' in Lake County. Beckwith's proposal was voted down Tuesday by the County Council. Since being elected lieutenant governor, Beckwith has visited Lake County more than others, he said. 'I think you have the potential to be one of the most awesome places in Indiana,'' he said. He singled out Gary's potential, including its airport. 'You've got good people up here. You have good work ethics,' Beckwith said.
