MOORE, CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TALK FBI HQ: Gov. Wes Moore is asking Maryland’s congressional delegation to “continue to put pressure” on the U.S. General Services Administration to ensure a “fair process” that will determine whether the state will land the planned new FBI headquarters. Jeff Barker/The Baltimore Sun.
- Now that Democrat Wes Moore is governor, there seems to be the potential for a much stronger relationship between his office and the entire congressional delegation, a fact that was abundantly clear Monday afternoon as the delegation played host to Moore and key members of his administration during a 2-hour meeting in the U.S. Capitol. The mutual praise flowed freely and was almost hyperbolic. At least half a dozen times, Moore said Maryland has the best congressional delegation in the land. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
POLL: MARYLAND INDEPENDENTS MOVE AWAY FROM BIDEN: A new poll finds independent voters in Maryland moving away from incumbent Democratic President Joseph Biden. The Gonzales Research & Media Service poll released Wednesday asked voters to weigh in on head-to-head matches between Biden and two top Republican challengers. The poll also gauged sentiment in a hypothetical primary contest against Gov. Wes Moore (D). Among the results, pollster Patrick Gonzales said independent voters in Maryland have not yet coalesced behind Biden. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
W. B’MORE GROUP ENVISIONS RED LINE AS MULTIMODAL HUB: A group of West Baltimore residents envision bringing back the Red Line project, killed by Gov. Larry Hogan, as a multimodal hub that would be the first stop of a new east-west transit line, a place where passengers arriving from Washington, D.C., could switch to a subway line and complete a trip to downtown Baltimore in as little as 45 minutes. His organization and its development wing — HUB West Baltimore — call it the “Smart Line.” The group has reached out to politicians and transit advocates to float the idea. It likely will be just one of many proposals that jockey for political support in the coming months and years. Giacomo Bologna/The Baltimore Sun.
OBAMACARE COSTS EXPECTED TO RISE, BUT LESS THAN LAST YEAR: Health insurance prices may be higher in 2024 for Marylanders who buy their own coverage, but the hike is expected to be smaller than it was last year, when coronavirus pandemic-related costs prompted carriers to request rate increases averaging 11%. Angela Roberts/The Baltimore Sun.
REPUBLICANS RETHINK GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS AFTER 2022 LOSS: After eight years of a highly popular Republican governor overseeing the fiscal health of a strongly Democratic state that is now lead by another in a long line of Democrats, what does it mean for Republicans and Maryland to be in the post-Hogan era? “What the overall results of the 2022 gubernatorial cycle means is that we have to do a better job of putting forth candidates and focusing on issues that the majority of Marylanders are concerned about, and candidates who can speak to those issues in a compelling way,” said Del. Jason Buckel (R-Allegany), minority leader in the House of Delegates. Bryan Renbaum/The Baltimore Post Examiner.
ELECTED OFFICIALS PLEDGE TO FIGHT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: As Father’s Day approaches Sunday, some elected officials in Maryland are spreading a pledge to combat domestic violence. About 40 Maryland state delegates signed their names to a Prince George’s County poster with a pledge “to never engage in any type of abuse — physical, emotional, sexual, financial or digital.” Del. Jazz Lewis (D-Prince George’s) led the effort a few days before this year’s 90-day legislation session ended in April. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
MO CO WRESTLES WITH PROPOSAL TO CHANGE POLICE COMMISSION: Community members and leaders voiced concern Tuesday over a proposed bill in the Montgomery County Council that would restructure how the county oversees police reform and public safety. Expedited Bill 27-23 seeks to repeal the county’s existing Policing Advisory Commission to clarify the work of police accountability in the county. This is because the county will instate a state-mandated Police Accountability Board in July. Ginny Bixby/MoCo360.
