DEMS PUSH 2.5% TAX ON BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS SERVICES: Democratic lawmakers in the General Assembly are pursuing a 2.5 percent tax on business-to-business services in two identical bills introduced Monday night, a measure aimed at raising more than $1 billion that counters Democratic Gov. Wes Moore’s plans for closing a historic budget deficit. Katie Shepherd/The Washington Post.
AID-IN-DYING BILL LIKELY TO STILL HAVE TOUGH TIME IN SENATE: A decade-long fight over whether to let terminally ill patients hasten their deaths with physician oversight returned Monday in a two-hour House hearing, but lawmakers again said the Senate is likely to be the stumbling block this year. Danielle Brown and Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
MARYLAND CONGRESSIONAL DEMS INVITE LAID-OFF WORKERS TO TRUMP SPEECH: Maryland congressional Democrats will use tonight’s state of the union speech to highlight President Trump’s firing of federal workers, bringing as guests those who have either been terminated or who are leading national efforts against the layoffs. Officials have warned that the firings will have devastating impacts on Maryland’s economy and workforce. At least one Democrat, U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume, will skip the speech altogether. Sam Janesch/The Baltimore Sun.
- Katie Stahl “was on probationary status only because she was promoted. So she was doing everything right,” said Rep. Johnny Olszewski Jr., a Baltimore County Democrat who invited Stahl to the state of the union speech. “It’s important for President Trump and members of Congress to see people like Katie, who aren’t just faceless individuals.” Tim Prudente/The Baltimore Banner.
ARUNDEL OFFERS AID TO LAID OFF FEDERAL WORKERS: The Anne Arundel County government is providing resources for recently laid-off federal workers in the county, including a job fair this month. In response to the federal layoffs lead by billionaire Elon Musk, County Executive Steuart Pittman has created a federal employee assistance section on the county’s website and announced a “federal career transition hiring event.” James Matheson/The Capital Gazette.
2nd HOUSE COMMITTEE REJECTS MOORE’s CUTS TO EDUCATION BLUEPRINT: A second House committee voted Monday to reject cuts proposed by Gov. Wes Moore (D) to the state’s sweeping education reform plan, setting up a likely floor fight with Republicans this week and a showdown with the Senate in coming weeks. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
STATE BUDGET-SPARING CHANGES EXPECTED IN CHILD VICTIMS ACT: After fighting for years to lift the statute of limitations on childhood sexual abuse lawsuits, the architect of the Child Victims Act is considering a trio of changes to the law because of its potentially enormous impact on Maryland’s budget. The proposals may come as a relief to lawmakers who are concerned about the state’s fiscal outlook. Madeleine O’Neill/The Baltimore Banner.
O’MALLEY WARNS OF DOGE EFFECT ON SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS: Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, who most recently was commissioner of the Social Security Administration, said Monday the recent cuts made by tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency at the agency could result in the “collapse” of the Social Security system “within the next 30 to 90 days.” O’Malley said on CNBC the recent DOGE initiatives may jeopardize monthly benefit payments for over 72.5 million Americans. Ailia Zehra/The Hill.
- The Social Security Administration is making sweeping moves to reduce its workforce and workspace as President Donald Trump and DOGE slash the federal government. Bria Overs/The Baltimore Banner.
LGBTQ+ ADVOCATES RALLY AGAINST TRUMP ORDERS: They were gathered in the cold outside the State House, but the message Monday from lawmakers and supporters of the Maryland Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus was directed more at the White House: “Our rights are not up for debate.” President Donald Trump (R) revoked dozens of former President Joe Biden’s (D) executive actions, including orders calling for an end to diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and limiting federal policy to two sexes, male and female, as a step toward doing away with “gender ideology extremism.” William Ford and Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
DISABILITIES ADVOCATES CONTINUE TO PROTEST AGENCY CUTS: Marylanders with developmental and intellectual disabilities are remaining firm in their fight against $200 million in proposed cuts to the Developmental Disabilities Administration that supports them. On Monday, people with developmental and intellectual disabilities took matters into their own hands, organizing an action night to show lawmakers the impact the funding cuts could have on their lives. Natalie Jones/The Baltimore Sun.
B’MORE EARLY VOTING SITE SAW LITTLE USE, BUT COST A BUNDLE: The Baltimore City Board of Elections overspent its budget by $1.4 million during last year’s presidential election, most on a new early voting site that saw relatively little use. The overage, about one-fifth of the board’s overall budget, came after election officials opted to increase the number of early voting centers in the city from seven to eight. Emily Opilo/The Baltimore Banner.
JUDGE CLOSES DISCRIMINATION SUIT AGAINST STATE POLICE: U.S. District Court Judge Richard D. Bennett on Monday ordered closed a lawsuit that accused Maryland State Police of violating federal employment discrimination laws. The move came days after the Justice Department filed notice it would dismiss the case as President Donald Trump’s administration moves to end several anti-discrimination lawsuits that had been previously filed through the Justice Department’s civil rights section. Dan Belson/The Baltimore Sun.
PROSECUTOR NAMED INTERIM U.S. ATTORNEY FOR MARYLAND: Prosecutor Kelly Hayes has been appointed interim U.S. attorney for Maryland after first joining the office in 2013, according to a news release from the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office. “I have spent over a decade witnessing the incredible and impactful work my colleagues do every day, and I am beyond honored to lead this Office as we continue to serve and protect the people of Maryland and the United States,” Hayes said in the email. Brooke Conrad/The Baltimore Sun.
POCOMOKE HIGH BENEFITS FROM ‘RESTORATIVE PRACTICES:’ For Principal Jenifer Rayne, the positive environment at Pocomoke High School is a result of the school’s adoption of “restorative practices,” a social science technique that downplays traditional discipline methods such as suspensions in favor of building meaningful relationships among students and teachers. Audrey Keefe of Capital News Service/MarylandReporter.com.
