Establishing a criminal justice policy that prevents police officers from stopping drivers and searching vehicles just because they smell cannabis and recruiting more people of color to teach in public schools are two of more than a dozen priorities the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland laid out Wednesday.
Del. Jheanelle Wilkins (D-Montgomery) said that caucus members lead on a breadth of issues and in “key roles to keep the House and the Senate moving as we do the people’s work. We’re excited to deliver on our strength in our leadership this 2023 session and beyond.”
The 64 legislators in the caucus, which Wilkins said is the largest Black caucus in the nation, are a powerful voting bloc and include four major leaders from both chambers: House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County), Speaker Pro Tem Sheree Sample Hughes (D-Lower Shore), House Majority Whip Jazz Lewis (D-Prince George’s) and Senate President Pro Tem Malcolm Augustine (D-Prince George’s).
Read more about the bills the caucus is sponsoring this session here
Political Notes: Moore pulls back Hogan recess appointees, Lierman’s government affairs team, advocacy and lobbying firm news
Gov. Wes Moore (D) has withdrawn 48 of former Gov. Larry Hogan’s 316 recess appointments submitted last July to the Senate for approval, including Maryland Stadium Authority Chair Thomas E. Kelso.
Kelso, Hogan’s former campaign chair, was one of the Republican former governor’s first appointments after taking office in 2015 and has overseen the agency as it expanded its reach over the last 8 years.
It was unclear why Moore singled out 48 nominees from the 316 recess appointments Hogan announced last July 12, though the press office offered this explanation in its statement:
“It’s customary for an incoming administration to review recess appointments. We reviewed each … that Gov. Hogan submitted and withdrew 48, more than twice the standard 20 or so during a transition in administration.”
Plus more on: Comptroller Brooke Lierman’s plea on the national debt ceiling, new comptroller staffers, and advocacy and lobbying firm news.
In other news
BPW vows focus on MBE participation: In their first meeting as members of the Board of Public Works, Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Comptroller Brooke Lierman (D) said the panel will sharpen its focus on including more diverse businesses in state contracts.
BWI chief touts growth: Ricky Smith, who has headed the Maryland Aviation Administration since the early days of the Hogan administration, said Wednesday that he anticipates running the agency for the foreseeable future. Smith spoke Wednesday about the impact of BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport on the state and regional economy at a breakfast in Linthicum Heights.
Keeping watch: A bill would give “courtwatchers” — such as singer Fiona Apple, who keeps up with Prince George’s County courts — continued virtual access to public court proceedings in what the artist said is “a constitutional right to open and public courts.”
