Politics

Maryland lawmakers currently earn a yearly salary of $50,330 — but that figure could be increasing soon as the General Assembly Compensation Commission considers whether to raise pay for state legislators over the next four years. That commission, which convenes every four years to decide on lawmakers’ compensation, kicked off its work with an informational meeting last week. Simon G. Powell, a budget analyst with the nonpartisan Department of Legislative Services, told commission members that lawmakers have been taking on more work in recent years despite the fact that Maryland is not considered a full-time legislature like neighboring Pennsylvania.

Baltimore’s Board of Estimates approved a $6.6 million contract extension Wednesday to fund speed cameras on Interstate 83. The contract, which was approved by a vote of 4-1, calls for six cameras to be installed at various locations along the Jones Falls Expressway. Only two will be operational at any given time, based upon a plan approved by state lawmakers earlier this year.

Catherine Curran O’Malley, the former Baltimore City District Court judge and ex-first lady of Maryland, is assembling a campaign team to run for state attorney general in 2022, Maryland Matters has learned. O’Malley, who resigned from the bench three weeks ago after serving for two decades, has begun hiring ahead of an announcement that’s expected to come shortly after Thanksgiving.

Baltimore residents and local officials told state lawmakers that they want to see legislation improving public transportation, education, public safety and decriminalizing drug use in the city during the next legislative session, which starts in January. “This is a very important year for the future of the city. The 2020 census has given us some sobering reminders about where there’s work to be done,” Del. Stephanie Smith (D-Baltimore), chair of the Baltimore City House delegation, said at the start of a three-hour virtual public hearing on state legislative priorities Monday night.

The majority of council members in Prince George’s County approved a redistricting map Tuesday night that has been widely lambasted by residents in this Maryland suburb as a blatant example of politically motivated gerrymandering. More than 150 residents testified late into the evening against the map, which they said would divide communities, erode trust in government and hurt the reputation of county leadership.

After Maryland’s Legislative Redistricting Advisory Commission released several “concept” congressional boundaries this week, Howard County residents weighed in on their representation at the national — and state — level at a public hearing Wednesday night. Beth Hufnagel of the League of Women Voters of Howard County thanked commission members for releasing the maps before they wrap up their public hearings later this month, and said panelists should consider deliberating their final congressional map in a public meeting.

Frederick Sen. Ron Young (D) announced over the weekend that he will retire at the end of his term. Young endorsed Del. Karen Lewis Young (D), his wife, to succeed him in representing District 3 in the Senate. “I think she’s by far the best person to follow me,” Young said in an interview on Sunday. “I can’t think of anyone who would do the job better.” Lewis Young announced her candidacy for the position in June, though Ron Young wasn’t ready at that time to announce his retirement.

Gubernatorial candidate and nonprofit executive Jon Baron, embarking on his first run for public office, says Maryland’s next top executive should focus on evidence-based policies as the state recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Baron founded and ran the Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy, a nonprofit group that “seeks to increase government effectiveness through the use of rigorous evidence about what works.” He said that he wants to bring that evidence-based approach to state government and institute policies that he has seen reduce poverty and boost educational outcomes in other states.