Several county executives and the mayor of Baltimore joined together on Thursday to urge the legislature and Governor to support an effort to increase the statewide minimum wage to $15. Governor Larry Hogan says he’s open to the conversation but isn’t convinced it’s needed because of concerns of the impact it would have on some businesses.
White House protest calls on Trump administration to issue report, apply sanctions for the murder of Washington Post journalist
February 8th is the deadline for President Trump’s administration to provide a report on what happened to slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and how the U.S. will respond. On Thursday the Committee to Protect Journalists and other organizations gathered in front of the White House to demand that President Trump hold Saudi Arabia accountable for the murder of Khashoggi.
Maryland lawmakers have mixed reviews of 2019 State of the Union
One day after President Trump’s 2019 State of the Union Address, Maryland’s two senators and its lone Republican congressional representative offer differing views on the President’s comments on investigations, funding the government, and the southern border.
Senate committee hears testimony on governor’s Judicial Transparency Act
Members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee heard heated testimony for and against Governor Hogan’s proposed Judicial Transparency Act of 2019. The bill would require a state Sentencing Commission to publish an annual report that includes detailed, judge-by-judge information about the sentences handed down to convicted violent offenders.
Lawmakers React to Governor Hogan’s State of the State
State House Democrats and Republicans may have their differences but Montgomery County Senator Susan Lee (D) says Governor Hogan’s State of the State showed his willingness to work with both parties. But the Democrats say they are concerned about the Governor’s proposed half-billion dollars in additional tax relief and his failure to support an increase in the minimum wage.
Governor Hogan again urges bipartisanship, sets priorities in State of the State
Republican Governor Larry Hogan, inaugurated for a second term just two weeks ago, told a joint session of the Maryland General Assembly that the state of the state has “never been stronger.”
U.S. Senate votes down two bills to end record shutdown
On the same day that the U.S. Senate rejected two bills that would end the government shutdown, Maryland Senator Ben Cardin again criticized President Trump’s proposal for a wall along the Mexican border. Cardin also said delaying the President’s State of the Union address was the right thing to do because it would not be appropriate to talk about the state of the union while the government is still shut down.
Maryland Senators meet with local business owners
After 34 days of the government shutdown, local business owners are feeling more heat. Dawson’s Market is offering discounts to its federal worker patrons until Monday, Jan. 28th. Other business owners, however, are concerned for what will happen beyond that time.
Baltimore food hand-out for federal workers impacted by government shutdown
100 families affected by the government shutdown took advantage of the Maryland Food Bank’s fresh produce, canned goods, and other grocery items to help get them through their period of unemployment and no pay.