Md. lawmakers push health department to expand Medicaid coverage for transgender health care

In light of recent federal policy changes, Sen. Mary L. Washington (D-Baltimore City) and Del. Anne R. Kaiser (D-Montgomery) are urging the Department of Health to redesign its Medicaid policy surrounding health care for transgender Marylanders. Washington and Kaiser wrote to Maryland Department of Health Secretary Dennis R. Schrader in early April, saying that the state is at risk of being sued for violating nondiscrimination provisions under the Affordable Care Act.

Under attack, Montgomery County’s Marc Elrich says he’s misunderstood

Marc Elrich, 72, has had a 35-year political career. Yet, to many of his supporters, the sitting county executive in Maryland’s largest jurisdiction has never been a traditional politician: He doesn’t care for wearing neckties or cleaning up for pictures, he’s nonchalant about fundraising and he’s known for rambling and going off-script, often to the surprise of his own communications team. This authenticity helped Elrich build a devoted army of supporters even as it made him a divisive figure in deep-blue Montgomery County, a D.C. suburb teeming with political ambition. In 2018, it helped him stand out in a crowded Democratic primary and clinch the nomination by 77 votes.

Baltimore Residents React To Speaker Pelosi’s Congressional Delegation To Ukraine

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is now the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Ukraine. The California Democrat embarked on the trip to send a message: that America firmly stands with the Ukrainians. She said the trip was to bring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a message of appreciation for his leadership while Russia continues to launch attacks on his country. The focus of the conversation between Pelosi and Zelensky centered around security, humanitarian aid, and economic assistance.

Mayor Postpones Baltimore Tax Sale, Removes All Owner-Occupied Homes

Baltimore will remove all owner-occupied homes from the city’s tax sale, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) announced Wednesday. Scott also postponed the tax sale, where past-due property taxes and other charges are sold at auction to the highest bidder, to June. Roughly 2,900 owner-occupied homes were entirely removed from the auction, according to the city.

Some Local Boards of Elections Shift Early Voting Centers After Primary Delay

With the primary election delayed to July 19, some local boards of elections had to reshuffle their jurisdiction’s early voting centers — and the State Board of Elections gave approval to several counties’ new early voting locations this week. Anne Arundel County replaced five early voting centers for the primary election only. County officials designated the “closest available schools” to replace four libraries and the Pip Moyer Recreation Center due to summer activities.

Frosh Wins Restraining Order Against Harford Sheriff to Gain Access to Fatal Police Shooting Investigation

A Harford County Circuit Court judge granted a temporary restraining order in favor of Attorney General Brian E. Frosh (D) on Thursday, requiring the Harford County sheriff’s office to provide unrestrained access to evidence in the police shooting death of John Raymond Fauver. “We’re very pleased with the court’s decision,” Frosh said after the hearing. “She’s ordered everything that we’ve asked for — they will turn over all of the evidence, immediately.”

Hogan Touts Redevelopment Plan For Defunct Maryland Naval Base, Economic Growth

Gov. Larry Hogan described the redevelopment of a defunct Cecil County naval base as a “game-changing step forward” for Maryland during a ceremony on Thursday. The Maryland state government plans to redevelop the Bainbridge Naval Training Center along with more than 400 acres along the Interstate 95 corridor in an effort to bring thousands of jobs to a part of Maryland that “is home to a major distribution and logistics market,” Hogan said in a social media post.

Hoyer endorses Moore in Maryland governor race

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is wading into the crowded Democatic gubernatorial primary in his home state of Maryland, endorsing author and entrepreneur Wes Moore. Hoyer is the most prominent Maryland Democrat to weigh into the race so far, with the state’s two Democratic senators having not picked a side in the primary.

A Lobby Special: #DaysBetween

As we reach the end of the Center Maryland #DaysBetween, Damian sits down with Jim Anderson, a former Enterprise real estate executive with first-hand experience with James Rouse and the Columbia project, as well as many other notable developments nationwide. The two share their experiences with the Rouse ideology and tease apart what made him as influential and ahead of his time as he was.

We hope to see you soon in the Lobby.

10 State Senate Primaries to Watch

At last, the district lines are cast in stone. The filing deadline is in the rearview mirror. So it’s time to look ahead to some of the most competitive legislative primaries on the ballot July 19. With fewer and fewer purple legislative districts in the state, much of the action over the last few election cycles has been in the primary. In 2018, for example, three Senate seats changed hands in the general election, with two that had been held by Democrats switching to the Republican column and one GOP seat flipping to the Democrats.