Latest news with #MarylandMatters
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maryland Democrats celebrate party wins, but Trump and GOP Congress are never far off
U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) was a special guest speaker at the 2025 Maryland Democratic Party Gala on Thursday. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters). It was a celebration of Maryland Democrats and their victories over the past year, but the specter of President Donald Trump and the Republican Congress was never far off. With fancy gowns, sharp suits and drinks in hand, several hundred Maryland Democratic politicians, advocates and donors gathered Thursday at Martin's West and tried to find the light in their uphill battle against the Trump White House and the Republican majority in Congress. But in three hours of speeches, nearly every speaker stressed that the fight against Trump's administration needs to continue — even if the challenges seem insurmountable. That included the evening's keynote speaker, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), a one-time pastor at Douglas Memorial Community Church in Baltimore. 'We will not give in to those who are trying to weaponize fear and despair,' Warnock told the crowd. 'We will not be intimidated into silence. We must raise our voices now more than ever. 'We are not going to give in to the rhetoric … of those who are trying to divide us. People who have no vision,' he said. 'They don't know how to lead us, so they are trying to divide us.' During the evening, Democratic leaders aired a wide range of grievances against the Trump administration's actions over the last five months — from mass layoffs of federal workers to the 'erroneous' deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to massive proposed budget cuts for programs such as Medicaid. While much of the evening served as a rallying cry to push back against Republicans in Congress, the evening also functioned as a farewell event to the outgoing Maryland Democratic Party Chair Ken Ulman, who will officially resign from the position Friday. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Ulman said he was proud of what was accomplished in the time since he took over as chair in 2023. 'We've been busy the last couple of years. What did we do? In 2024, we won some elections. We won some big elections,' Ulman said. 'We kept our margin in the federal delegation. Angela Alsobrooks beat Larry Hogan – it took 10 years, we got him.' He was referring to the election of U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D) against former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R). Ulman also recognized wins by Democratic freshman Reps. Johnny Olszewski Jr. (2nd), Sarah Elfreth (3rd) and April McClain Delaney (6th), and he celebrated the party's hand in staving off several school board candidates — normally nonpartisan elections — who were politically aligned with the conservative group Moms for Liberty. But always it came back to the Trump administration. Democrats promised to fight back against what Alsobrooks called 'a horrible time' in America. 'We must understand in this moment that we have to fight back with everything within us, because we are not only harming ourselves here at home, but our image across the world is at stake,' Alsobrooks told the gala. 'What a horrible time it is for our country.' Many of their comments centered around the budget reconciliation bill known as the 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' which aims to reduce federal spending by drastically cutting funds to programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP or food stamps. In a live recording of the Maryland Democratic Party's new podcast, called 'Burn the Talking Points,' Maryland's freshman House members were asked to describe the Big Beautiful Bill in one word. Olszewski said the bill was 'ugly,' Elfreth called the legislation 'an abomination,' while McClain Delaney simply called it 'mean.' Also speaking Thursday were Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-8th), as well as Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman, and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller. Gov. Wes Moore (D) ended the evening with his usual bright message of encouragement for the years ahead under the Trump administration. 'As Sen. Warnock said, these are challenging times. No one can deny it,' he said, adding that he hoped to see Maryland take charge in pushing back against Trump and the Republicans. 'There is something that no one can deny. Maryland is showing that we can do different. That inside this moment, we have to be able to call out injustices,' Moore said. 'And we have to be able to call out the atrocities that we are seeing from this administration. 'But we also have to be very clear that calling out the atrocities will not be enough — we have to show what an alternative can actually be,' he said.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
As Chesapeake restoration crashes, greenwashing pervades
Gov. Wes Moore (D) signs the Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act on May 13, 2025, with a basket of greens brought by a Montgomery County farmer to celebraate the signing. (Photo by Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters) The Chesapeake Bay is being polluted with huge flows of farm pollutants and environmental greenwashing. Elected and appointed government officials are aided and abetted by supposed conservation leaders. Government officials are driven by hypocritically burnishing their Green credentials with nothing-burgers while avoiding offending polluting interests. Some environmental organization leaders are also driven to claim significant policy successes when there are none. This is done to ensure that they do not lose governmental and private funding by criticizing the lack of meaningful measures to significantly curb Bay pollutants. These opportunists have become environmental mercenaries. Sadly, gone are a formerly robust group of experienced environmental journalists. The few new ones are overburdened with other assignments and succumb to Greenwashing. A prime example is the Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act. On May 14, Maryland Matters reported on the bill's signing, dutifully quoting its progenitor, Gov. Wes Moore: 'This is the most comprehensive piece of Chesapeake Bay legislation that Maryland has seen in years.' This is a Trumpian overstatement of epic proportions reminiscent of former Gov. Larry Hogan's discredited claim in 2019 that his efforts resulted in a Chesapeake Bay 'cleaner than it has been in recorded history.' A close examination of Moore's Legacy legislation reveals that it does very little if anything to reduce the Bay's major pollutants of nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment and toxic chemicals. Maryland Matters welcomes guest commentary submissions at editor@ We suggest a 750-word limit and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions. We do not accept columns that are endorsements of candidates, and no longer accept submissions from elected officials or political candidates. Opinion pieces must be signed by at least one individual using their real name. We do not accept columns signed by an organization. Commentary writers must include a short bio and a photo for their bylines. Views of writers are their own. Maryland Matters also gave a mostly favorable boost to Moore's 'complex' legislation on Feb. 11, mostly parroting Moore and his secretary of Agriculture's propaganda. The reporting did note that 'Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced with some fanfare in the fall that he planned to introduce legislation during this year's General Assembly session to expand and modernize Maryland's efforts to protect the Chesapeake Bay, telling assembled leaders from every state in the Bay watershed, 'It's up to us to protect it.'' Moore was speaking as chair of the Bay Program's Executive Council. Moore is obviously desperate to burnish his presidential cred, as was Hogan. The legislation changes little in the status quo so as not to upset agribusiness and commercial fishing interests that might impede his presidential ambitions. From my 55 years of environmental advocacy, I can discern greenwashing, and this bill epitomizes such. Let's examine the Legacy Act's details: First, a person who has a tidal fish license or commercial channa license and harvests and processes finfish on a vessel by ikejime for direct sale to restaurants need not have a food establishment license. Secondly, minor changes are made regarding the procedures for adoption of fishery management plans. Nothing is included that would better conserve crashing fish and crab populations. Aquaculture regulations are tweaked but there are no needed changes to better advance oyster aquaculture. The bill allows publicly funded oyster restoration projects to generate water quality trading credits allowing pollution reductions from planting oysters to be traded for increased pollution elsewhere. In a separate bill, oyster poaching penalties are relaxed. The Legacy Act establishes a Water Quality Monitoring Program in the Department of Natural Resources that simply formalizes the existing water quality monitoring system. Big deal. But the major initiative in this grab bag is yet another voluntary agricultural program termed LEEF, Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming. Despite my repeated efforts to dissuade the secretary of Agriculture from such a meaningless approach that would waylay needed regulatory efforts, the legislation was enacted into law. The secretary acknowledged publicly that voluntary farm measures have failed to achieve the necessary pollution reductions. Farmers who choose to may apply for certification to be created akin to LEED building certifications except this is entirely voluntary and there are no details on its implementation or on attaining certification levels except: Credit must be given for preserving farmland, participation in farmers markets, donations to food banks, on-farm research and for farmers lecturing about agriculture. Instead of acting to curb the largest source of Bay-choking pollution by better regulatory measures and enforcement, and despite knowing that voluntary farm measures do not work well, LEEF would perpetuate the desecration of our environmental legacy. LEEF already was used to defeat legislation requiring riparian buffer plantings on 2,665 acres of Critical Area farmland. Remarkably, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's president is quoted supporting this fraud: 'With federal cuts and rollbacks looming heavily on our state, Maryland's environmental leadership is more important than ever. This Act will help maintain forward momentum and ensure that investments in clean air, clean water, habitats, and local economies are secured.' With such gubernatorial and NGO leadership, may God Save The Bay!
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Van Hollen, other Dems push legislation to boost Medicaid and counter Trump cuts
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in a file photo from February. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters) Senate Democrats unveiled a package of bills Thursday aimed at expanding access to health care coverage, including one bill modeled after a successful Maryland law that lets taxpayers use their tax returns to enroll in care. Sen. Chris Van Hollen's (D-Md.) 'Easy Enrollment in Health Care Act' is one of about a dozen bills — including one from Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) requiring Medicaid and Medicare to provide dental, vision and hearing coverage — put forward by Democratic senators as a response to the Trump administration's efforts to cut federal health care spending. 'We're all here for those two reasons,' Van Hollen said Thursday at a Capitol Hill news conference to unveil the bills. 'One is to shine a light on the great damage and harm the Trump Republican plan will do. But also to put forward some ideas about what we could be doing to actually make health care better for more Americans.' Van Hollen joined Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Democratic Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico to unveil the bills. The Democratic legislation comes at a time when the Senate is deliberating the Republican-backed 'One Big Beautiful Bill.' The budget reconciliation bill would implement a number of Trump agenda items, including drastic cuts to Medicaid and other supports that backers say are needed to rein in what they call 'waste, fraud and abuse' in those programs. With a Republican majority in both the Senate and the House, Wyden acknowledged that the Democratic bills have little chance of passage. But. he said, Democrats still hope Republicans will work with them on the legislation and 'do the right thing.' Report: Up to 100,000 Marylanders could lose coverage if Medicaid imposes work requirements Democrats and health care advocates say the budget reconciliation bill would create more administrative hurdles for Medicaid recipients and will result in millions of people losing coverage, even if they would be eligible for the joint state-federal health care program. 'It's 'beautiful' if you're a billionaire or a very wealthy person. For everybody else, it's an ugly mess,' Van Hollen said of the GOP bill. 'It comes at the expense of everybody else in America. And that's especially true when it comes to attacking health care … In fact, it will kick 16 million Americans off their health insurance plans.' He said his bill, modeled after Maryland's 'Easy Enrollment' program, would do the opposite. In Maryland, Easy Enrollment lets people check a box on their state tax forms to allow the state to use information on the return to see if their household qualifies for Medicaid. Those who qualify then get further information on what options they qualify for, reducing administrative hurdles to Medicaid and other programs in Maryland. 'What we should do is make it easier for eligible individuals to get the Medicaid that they are eligible for,' Van Hollen said. This is the second time he has introduced the bill in Congress. A version introduced in the last Congress never even got a committee hearing. The other Democrats at the press conference offered their own bills to strengthen Medicaid. Cortez Masto's bill would increase funding for health care fraud investigation units to help catch more waste, fraud, and abuse in the system. She says that is more productive than just cutting funds to Medicaid. Luján is sponsoring a bill to temporarily expand federal funding to Medicaid programs for home- and community-based services that help support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Wyden also highlighted his own legislation to address hospital labor and delivery unit closures by supporting rural hospitals with additional Medicaid dollars. 'Fact of the matter is that Democrats want to make it easier for Americans to get health care, rather than put people who desperately need health care through bureaucratic water torture if they're going to get the health care they need,' Wyden said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Officials announce $96 million in grants to continue supporting student mental health
State leaders and members of the Consortium of Coordinated Care announce $96 million in grant awards to improve student mental health. (Photo by Sam Gauntt/Maryland Matters) Woodlawn High School Principal Jamel Jerigan said that in addition to the usual stresses of high school life, students in her Baltimore County school face mental health needs that impact their learning. That's why renewed funding for a state consortium that helps boost connections between schools and mental health resources is so welcome, she said during an outside the State House Wednesday. 'We serve a vibrant, resilient and diverse student community,' Jernigan said at the event on Lawyers' Mall. 'But like so many schools across the state, we've seen firsthand how mental health crises continue to impact our students.' The Maryland Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports will award a total of $96 million in grants this year to 107 programs to help combat increasing anxiety, depression and other challenges students are facing today. The consortium grew out of the state's education reform plan, the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, to improve student mental and behavioral health by providing greater access to wraparound services. The $96 million in grants funding will help support programs and organizations provide more targeted services attuned to the needs of students in each county, reaching 80% of Maryland schools, officials say. The grant awards vary by program, ranging from $71,000 to just over $3.5 million. For Woodlawn High School, the consortium helped expand access to school-based mental health providers, connected families with community services and created spaces where 'students can feel seen, heard, supported and empowered,' Jernigan said. 'That has made all the difference – from increasing graduation rates, attendance and engagement to boosting healthier relationships and improved outcomes, both inside and outside the classroom,' she said Wednesday. 'We must recognize that today, our youth are facing unprecedented challenges,' said Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City), on hand with other state leaders at the event to announce the second round of grants for the program. 'We want them to be successful. But what we know is … if their mental health is not strong, noting else matters,' Ferguson said. 'They cannot be successful if they don't believe in themselves to recognize their own God-given potential.' House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County), added that while students have long struggled with mental health, the COVID-19 pandemic brought those issues to the forefront, along with political unrest and social media. 'We continue to be particularly concerned about the alarming increase in anxiety, depression, self-harm and other kinds of mental illness impacting our students,' Jones said. Mary Gable, assistant state superintendent in the Maryland State Department of Education's Division of Student Support and Federal Programs, said the 107 programs cover a wide range of topics, including 'screenings, counseling, addiction treatment, family support, crisis planning and services, telehealth services, support groups and wraparound services.' The consortium was almost a victim of steep budget cuts as the General Assembly worked this year to balance a state budget with a $3 billion deficit. Funded at $130 million in Gov. Wes Moore's (D) budget, the consortium funding was cut to $40 million by the House. The Senate held out for $70 million this year and $100 million a year thereafter, which was approved in the final budget. During budget talks this year, advocates and consortium partners warned that pulling funding for the consortium would greatly diminish the reach of the mental health network. David Rudolph, chair of the consortium and a former delegate from Cecil County, expects that the General Assembly will continue to fund the consortium as much as possible in upcoming years. 'The commitment is there,' he said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Annapolis mayoral candidates hold cordial debate on environment, housing, other topics
Annapolis mayoral candidate Rhonda Pindell Charles, left, responds to a question during a debate Tuesday with her Democratic primary opponent, Jared Littmann, right. Baltimore Banner columnist Rick Hutzell, the moderator, center, listens. (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters) Rhonda Pindell Charles and Jared Littmann cordially debated, and mostly agreed, Tuesday on how they would improve Annapolis if they were elected the next mayor of the capital city. Both would form partnerships with community and nonprofit organizations. Both would work to eliminate environmental hazards in some of the city's underserved communities. And both Democrats bestowed high praise on current Mayor Gavin Buckley (D), who is term-limited from serving a third, four-year term. 'I think he's one of the best mayors we've had … and I've been here my entire life,' said Pindell Charles, who has served as an alderwoman on the city council since 2009. Littman, a former alderman who served five years on the council before his term ended in 2017, noted that he and Buckley have a number of similarities, including both having two children, but added that 'my demeanor's a bit different' than the outgoing Buckley's personality. Buckley was one of dozens on hand for Tuesday's nearly 90-minute debate hosted by the Caucus of African American Leaders at the Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center. Some sported blue Littmann T-shirts and others wore red or white shirts supporting Pindell Charles. There was at least one difference between the two besides their supporters' T-shirts: Pindell Charles and Littman outlined different approaches to hiring city personnel. 'I have committed to keeping all staff. I have never heard any other mayor say that,' Pindell Charles said. 'I've worked with these folks on a regular basis. I see how they operate [and] how they get things done.' Although Littman commended city staff, he said he would interview each of the city's directors and chiefs to assess their priorities, any expectations and how they would measure themselves against those expectations. Anyone who may scores themselves a '10 out of 10 of everything always makes me skeptical,' he said. 'I look for people who identify where there's room for improvement.' 'I do not promise anybody a job. Everybody's got to work for their job,' he said. Littman has been working for the mayor's job for 18 months already, declaring his candidacy in January 2024. Pindell Charles announced her candidacy in September. As of Tuesday, they were the only two candidates seeking to be mayor, although others have until July 28 to file. The Sept. 16 primary looms large in the city, where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by a ratio of 2.5-to-1. The Anne Arundel County Board of Elections said that as of Tuesday, about 13,881 Democrats were registered in Annapolis, compared to 5,518 Republicans and 6,006. unaffiliated voters. If no other candidates emerge, the primary winner could have a free pass to the mayor's office. Pindell Charles received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Morgan State University, before earning a law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law. The retired prosecutor, a native of the city she hopes to lead, seeks to make history as the city's first elected Black mayor. Alderman John Thomas Chambers Jr. (R), who was Black, served on an interim basis for two months in 1981 after the suicide of Mayor Gustav Akerland (R). Her time on council included a brief stint as acting mayor, when Buckley appointed her in 2o20 to serve while he traveled home to his native Australia to care for his ailing mother. Littman received a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering from Washington University in St. Louis and a law degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. He has worked as an associate county attorney in Montgomery County and is currently a small business owner with his wife, running K&B Ace Hardware in the city. During Littman's time on council, he sponsored several pieces of legislation that included a forest conservation law that's a model for local and state leaders throughout Maryland. On Tuesday, the candidates were asked about a dozen questions, including their plans to redevelop the City Dock, how they would account for financial gaps created by federal government cuts and ideas on how to improve public transportation in the next four years. Phillip Ateto, who lives in the city's Ward 3, said after the debate he didn't hear the candidates provide specifics on housing. In addition, he said they didn't answer a question on how would they respond to a crisis like the current protests in Los Angeles. 'I was disappointed neither one of them really answered the question about what's going on in L.A. and if it happened here,' Ateto said. 'The community needs to know what we can expect from our law enforcement.' Carl Snowden, convener of the Caucus of African American Leaders that hosted the debate, had a message for voters. 'Any citizen who has a candidate knocking on their door should ask one question: 'If I elect you as a member of city council or mayor, how will the quality of life change for me and my family?'' Snowden said. 'And if that person is not able to speak in specificity, then you be minded.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
