LAWMAKERS TARGET ‘DATA-DRIVEN PRICING’ TOOLS: With more households struggling amid a teetering regional economy, Maryland leaders plan to pursue legislation that would bar retailers from using data-driven pricing tools to adjust the cost of specific grocery items throughout the day. Michael Brice-Saddler and Katie Mettler/The Washington Post.
MOORE COMMISSION RECOMMENDS REDISTRICTING CONCEPT: Gov. Wes Moore and his fellow Democratic allies are barreling toward an ugly intraparty fight over redistricting, as his advisory commission voted late Tuesday to advance a conceptual map that could oust the state’s lone Republican member of Congress. Erin Cox, Katie Mettler and Katie Shepherd/The Washington Post.
- The Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Commission voted 3-2 to recommend the map to Gov. Wes Moore (D) and the General Assembly. U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D), who chaired the panel, said the vote followed a “transparent redistricting process.” “From the start, our commitment has been simple: Put Marylanders in the driver’s seat,” Alsobrooks said in a statement following a roughly one-hour meeting that the public could not observe. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
- The map significantly redraws the Eastern Shore-based 1st Congressional District, currently represented by Republican Andy Harris, stretching it across the Chesapeake Bay to sweep in liberal and purple areas of Anne Arundel and Howard counties. All told, the district would connect Ocean City and Columbia. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
MOORE AND DEMS SAY THEY WON’T RAISE FEES, TAXES: Gov. Wes Moore has a promise about the state budget he’ll propose on Wednesday: “We’re not raising taxes or fees.” Democratic leaders of the General Assembly, who have the ability to tweak and revise Moore’s budget, have sounded a similar theme. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
LIERMAN SAYS OFFICE HAS ‘NO CAPACITY’ FOR NEW TAX MEASURES: Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman told the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee on Tuesday that her office cannot accommodate major changes to personal income taxes this year because of an August rollout of a new tax processing system. Ensuring a smooth transition, she said, is “absolutely of the utmost importance” to maintaining efficient revenue collection and funding state operations. Mennatalla Ibrahim/The Baltimore Sun.
MARYLAND’s FISCAL HAMSTER WHEEL: Findings from Maryland’s fiscal watchdog show a pattern that keeps repeating: Year after year, the state flags millions, and in some cases billions, of dollars that are not fully accounted for. Every year, as Maryland closes the books on its fiscal year budget, the Office of Legislative Audits takes a close look at how state agencies handle their money. A state employee who reviews these finances says the same problems keep surfacing, raising concerns as lawmakers enter the second week of the 2026 legislative session. Tessa Bentulan/The Baltimore Sun.
HOGAN WON’T RUN FOR GOVERNOR: Former Gov. Larry Hogan said in an op-ed published Tuesday that he won’t run for governor because it’s time for Republicans to “invest in a new generation of candidates who are ready to step up.” Who could take his spot as the candidate the party rallies behind ahead of the November election remains to be seen, but one name is coming up again and again: Steve Hershey. Tinashe Chingarande/The Baltimore Sun.
OP-ED: HOGAN URGES PARTY TO FIND CANDIDATES WITH POSITIVE MESSAGES: In his op-ed announcing that he would not run again for governor, former Gov. Larry Hogan wrote, “Our eight years proved that Maryland is best served by leaders who understand that no one has a monopoly on good ideas. To my fellow Republicans: It is time to invest in a new generation of candidates who are ready to step up, and as elected politics is a binary proposition, who are willing to win with a positive message that appeals to more people.” Larry Hogan/The Baltimore Sun.
OP-ED: HOGAN REMAINS ONE OF MARYLAND’s MOST POPULAR GOVERNORS: I remember in 2014 telling anyone who would listen to me that Larry Hogan would beat Anthony Brown in the race for governor. They told me all about Maryland’s demographics and other stuff, but I told them that Hogan’s message about taxes was getting through to people, especially with all the tax and fee increases Governor Martin O’Malley was inflicting upon people. John Dedie/Maryland State Politics & Government.
COURT UPHOLDS STATE BAN ON GUNS IN MANY PUBLIC SETTINGS: A federal appeals court Tuesday upheld Maryland’s law banning guns in a wide range of public settings, from school grounds and government buildings to parks, sports venues and areas within 1,000 feet of a public demonstration. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
VIDEO INTENSIFIES SCRUTINY ON BALTIMORE DELEGATE: Video footage from a July 2023 altercation involving Del. Caylin Young has surfaced, intensifying scrutiny of the Baltimore City Democrat as he currently faces an unrelated assault charge from New Year’s Day. While an earlier criminal case tied to the 2023 video was ultimately dismissed, the newly obtained footage and witness account raise fresh questions about Young’s conduct—and about how legislative leaders respond when allegations of violence involve one of their own. Gary Collins/The Baltimore Sun.
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION CONCERNED BY PLANNED ICE FACILITY: Maryland’s Democratic congressional delegation expressed grave reservations on Tuesday about a reported plan by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to open a new facility in Hagerstown. Daniel Zawodny/The Baltimore Banner.
TRONE POACHES STAFF FROM INCUMBENT HE IS CHALLENGING: Former Rep. David Trone’s comeback campaign will be led by a senior staff plucked from the incumbent he is challenging, Rep. April McClain Delaney, and a $5 million personal loan. Ben Mause/The Baltimore Sun.
FREDERICK RESIDENTS PROTEST COUNTY’s NEW DATA CENTER ZONE: A group of about 30 protesters gathered in front of Winchester Hall on Tuesday to oppose the formal enactment of a new data center zone by the Frederick County Council. The 2,615-acre Critical Digital Infrastructure overlay added to the county zoning map near Adamstown around the former Alcoa Eastalco aluminum smelting site was voted on by the council in December following a public hearing where most commenters opposed the plan. Erik Anderson/The Frederick News Post.
Its not more fair nor is it better for democracy to double down on disenfranchising voters for one congressional seat. I really hope this blows up in their face if they get this passed. Wouldn’t it be funny if the margins are so slim that we end up actually getting 2 more repubs in office instead of the current 1. Or if it is struck down by our state supreme court. Or courts put it on hold for so long that it doesn’t even go into affect until after trump leaves office. Its stupid and I do not appreciate my district changing or being roped into communities that have different priorities. The Dems have just shown us they are no different than Repubs putting Party over its constituents and their actual needs.
Its really sad it took a fiscal emergency for us to look at all the miss accounted money instead of constantly raising fees and taxes on us MDers. Like they could have taken this shit serious years ago and reduced the pain we have now. But no they just show that its all about the The MD Dems having full unfettered and unquestioned control of OUR Money and completely disrespect us in how it is spent and accounted for.
But that’s ok, I’m sure we will reward all of them with electing them yet again next year only for them to F us with some new taxes and fees next year. I really hate that we elect these people to 4year terms, giving them 3 years to F us and one year to be like no we aren’t bad, ignore all the shit we did the last 3 years.
Its a real shame Hogan wouldn’t run. He’s our only chance to fiscal sanity the next 4 years and probably the only candidate that has a chance to unseat this lying asshole as he smiles to our faces and insults our intelligence. At this unaffordability rate I’m not sure I will be here in 4 years, and I’m not the only one thinking this. If our state legislature doesn’t get their act together people are going to start leaving or changing party affiliation.