Commentary

If Americans remember anything from President Joe Biden’s first address to a joint session of Congress (a State of the Union in all but official title) Wednesday evening, it will likely be the image of Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi seated directly behind him. Not because they are both Democrats. (Been there). Not because they wore pandemic-appropriate masks. (Thirteen months into a pandemic, done that). But because never before have two women occupied those two seats of power, a highly visible demonstration of a changing of the guard in Washington. Appearances count. And around the world, people just witnessed a powerful statement about equality, equal opportunity and women in leadership.

It’s been an unusual, difficult year for all of us. But despite the atypical times, this year’s legislative session went as it usually does, with Democrats in the Maryland General Assembly overriding Gov. Larry Hogan’s vetoes to deliver results for our state. The unusual year compounded high expectations coming into the 2021 session; Maryland faced intertwined economic, public health and racial justice crises that required immediate action.

With the change in presidential administrations, some are demanding that President Biden fire the current Commissioner, Andrew Saul, of the Social Security Administration (SSA), appointed by President Donald Trump. Under current law, Commissioner Saul may stay in office through the end of his term (another four years), although a recent Supreme Court decision does put the law around independent agencies into constitutional question. Legal and political issues aside, what is, as a matter of good public policy, the correct governance and political structure for this massive, critical federal agency, with considerable decision-making authority and policy responsibility?

U.S. firearms sales have reached a record high thanks largely to first-time buyers. As a result, the federal background check system is swamped. Gun violence is up and mass shootings are a regular occurrence in this country, with the April 15 attack on a FedEx facility in Indianapolis that left eight dead just the latest example. In Maryland, there’s been a big uptick in not only in firearm sales, but specifically in people wanting to carry handguns.