Politics

At the Maryland Association of Counties conference this week, Republican Gov. Larry Hogan kicked off his farewell tour, seeking to cement his legacy as he winds down his time in office, preaching on the power of state and local partnerships to get things done. As of Thursday morning, Hogan noted that he had “153-and-a-half” days left in office. “Not that I’m counting,” he joked.

Armed with a favorable U.S. Supreme Court ruling, a gun rights group this month resumed its challenge to Maryland’s licensing requirements for would-be handgun purchasers as an infringement on its constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Maryland Shall Issue’s challenge to the handgun qualification license, or HQL, mandate had been held in abeyance at the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals pending the justices’ decision in a New York case addressing whether the Second Amendment provides a right to carry handguns outside one’s home without the owner having to show a good and substantial reason for carrying.

Frederick has joined 60 other municipalities, including Baltimore and Washington, D.C., in approving a resolution asking the federal government to move toward nuclear disarmament. The city’s aldermen unanimous approved the resolution at their meeting Thursday night. Frederick joins city, county, and state governments around the country in asking the federal government to renounce the use of nuclear weapons as a first-strike option.

Parts of three development projects around Frederick can move ahead after getting approval from the city’s aldermen Thursday night. The aldermen unanimously approved the dedication of 11 acres of parkland as part of the development of the Summers Farm property on the western edge of the city. The property is on nearly 97 acres at U.S. 40 Alternate and Mount Phillip Road, and was annexed into the city in September 2009.

The president of the Maryland Association of Counties said Thursday that a “significant increase” in state transportation aid represents a good start but more is still needed. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, speaking to the annual gathering of county leaders, said $663 million in transportation aid was the culmination of a promise made eight years ago. But the underlying formula governing that aid is lower than where it was before cuts were made more than a decade ago.

When the County Council returns from its summer recess in September, members face an issue of growing importance: Should rent stabilization policies be used as a tool to help with housing affordability? Late last month, council members decided not to vote yet on a proposed bill that would have extended the existing rental increase cap at 4.4% for six months. The 4.4% was higher than the rental increase cap of 0.4%,which was  tied to the county’s voluntary rent guidelines, and expired in mid-May.

With President Joe Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act into law on Tuesday, advocates of the law are touting the benefits that Marylanders will eventually see from cheaper prescription drugs, home energy assistance and policies to combat climate change.= The bill commits the government to spending hundreds of billions of dollars on programs related to health care and clean energy, but it also would raise money by setting a minimum corporate tax and other changes. All told, officials estimate the bill to have a net reduction on the federal deficit of at least $300 billion.

After months of campaigning, and then breaking barriers as the state’s first openly nonbinary candidates elected to the Democratic Central Committee, Tia Hopkins and Antonio Bowens both know that now the real work begins. Hopkins, 34, reported being inundated with calls and messages from local well-wishers in light of the win. Votes will be certified this week, according to Hopkins.