In  June of 2022, the Supreme Court issued a dangerous decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, striking down a portion of New York’s concealed carry permitting law that, like a similar provision in the Maryland code, required those seeking to carry concealed guns in public to demonstrate that they had a “proper cause” to do so. As a result, the bar to carrying hidden, loaded guns outside one’s home or place of business have been significantly lowered. States like Maryland that once imposed high standards for permit issuance must now respond by updating their laws to conform them to the court’s ruling. These changes include strengthening the permitting process in order to ensure that the Maryland State Police are able to appropriately exercise its authority to deny permits to those who have demonstrated that they are likely to endanger themselves or others by carrying a handgun in public and designating ‘sensitive places’ across the state, where firearms may not be carried to include places of public accommodation such as hotels, inns, theatres, and food and retail establishments serving alcohol. SB1 would also make it illegal to carry a permitted gun on anyone’s property without the permission of the property owner.

The evidence overwhelmingly suggests allowing almost anyone to carry a concealed gun in public increases violent crime, gun theft, workplace homicide and mass shootings. Designating sensitive places of public accommodation where firearms pose a significant danger to public health and will maximize public safety and this bill does so in such a manner that it withstands constitutional scrutiny and does not infringe on the rights of lawful and responsible gun owners.

Promoting Offshore Wind Energy Resources Act

Bill Sponsor: Senators Hester, Feldman, and Brooks

Committee: Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee 

Organization Submitting:   Lower Shore Progressive Caucus

Person Submitting:  Jared Schablein,  LSPC Chair   

Position: FAVORABLE

I am submitting this testimony in favor of SB0781 on behalf of the Lower Shore Progressive Caucus. The Caucus is a political and activist organization on the Eastern Shore, unaffiliated with any political party, committed to empowering working people by building a Progressive movement on the Lower Eastern Shore. 

This legislation is an important step forward in promoting clean energy and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. By requiring new offshore wind projects to include a community benefit agreement, and by encouraging the development of new transmission facilities and upgrades, this bill will help to create good-paying jobs, reduce carbon emissions, and strengthen our economy. This will be a major boost for the economy on the Lower Eastern Shore which has struggled to attract good paying jobs and industry for decades.  

Offshore wind energy has the potential to provide a significant source of clean, renewable energy for our state. By harnessing the power of the wind, we can generate electricity without relying on fossil fuels, reducing our carbon footprint and protecting the environment for future generations. This bill recognizes the importance of offshore wind as a key component of our energy mix, and takes important steps to promote its development.

One of the key provisions of this bill is the requirement for a community benefit agreement for any new qualified offshore wind project. This agreement will help to ensure that the benefits of offshore wind are shared fairly among all members of the community. By requiring developers to engage with local stakeholders, this provision will help to build support for new wind projects and ensure that they are compatible with the needs and interests of the communities they serve.

Another important provision of this bill is the requirement for the Public Service Commission to conduct a thorough analysis of transmission system expansion options. By identifying the most effective ways to upgrade and expand our transmission infrastructure, we can ensure that the benefits of offshore wind are maximized and that the energy is delivered to where it is needed most.

Finally, this bill encourages the development of new offshore wind transmission facilities and upgrades by requiring the Commission to issue a certain number of competitive solicitations for proposals. This will help to create new jobs and investment opportunities in our state, while also strengthening our energy infrastructure and reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuels.

It is for these reasons the Lower Shore Progressive Caucus supports this bill and recommends a FAVORABLE report in committee. Thank you for your consideration.

I am submitting this testimony in favor of SB0555 on behalf of the Lower Shore Progressive Caucus. The Caucus is a political and activist organization on the Eastern Shore, unaffiliated with any political party, committed to empowering working people by building a Progressive movement on the Lower Eastern Shore. 

As we speak our economy faces two significant issues. The first of these issues is that Inflation is the highest it has been in over 40 years, and wages are not increasing fast enough to match the rising cost of living.  This is resulting in low wage earners on the Eastern Shore and around the state having to work two to three jobs just to stay afloat.  

The second issue is that small businesses are struggling to retain employees due to paying lower wages than many large businesses. That means small businesses are at a competitive disadvantage. This is being seen in a big way on the Shore where due to low wages so many Shore businesses are struggling to find workers because of the low salaries they offer. 

The solution to these problems is the passage of this bill because when low wage earners get a raise, they are most likely to immediately spend that money on basic-necessities and goods & services in the local economy.  The increased customer base combined with increased spending in the local community will be  good for businesses.  There is data to back this up the idea that Raising wages will boost the economy as we recover from the economic crisis caused by COVID19. Raising the minimum wage will circulate $2.6 billion in the Maryland economy through increased consumer spending.  It will also lift 152,000 children up the economic ladder, meaning better pay earlier in life.

Also, Indexing the minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index is an essential component of The Fair Wage Act. Without indexing, the minimum wage would be subject to the same challenges that have plagued it for years. As the cost of living continues to rise, the minimum wage would become less effective in helping workers maintain a decent standard of living. This would be particularly detrimental to low-wage workers, who are often the most vulnerable members of our society. 

The Eastern Shore needs this committee to stand with Governor Moore and pass this bill.  90% of minimum wage workers are over the age of twenty and half of the workers who will benefit from this raise are women and people of color, helping to narrow the gender and racial pay gap.

It is for these reasons the Lower Shore Progressive Caucus supports this bill and recommends a FAVORABLE report in committee.

Dear Senators Van Hollen and Cardin, 

The following organizations, community leaders, and elected officials are writing to you about the reintroduction of the Medicare For All Act of 2022 by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT). 

This common-sense legislation is similar to the Medicare For All Act of 2019 introduced by Senator Sanders and had fourteen of your Senate colleagues. and would guarantee health care as a human right for anyone living in the United States. Just like every other Industrialized nation on earth has already done. As we write to you, drug and insurance companies are using our broken and immoral healthcare system to enrich themselves at the expense of sick Americans and spending millions blocking any meaningful reform to fix the major issues our nation faces in healthcare. 

A Medicare For All system will:

1. Save $450 billion and 68,000 lives every year, according to the Lancet, a world-leading medical journal.
2. Reduce prescription drug prices by allowing Medicare to negotiate on behalf of the American people and forcing big pharmaceutical corporations to decrease prices.
3. Ensure Americans never lose their coverage, even if they change or lose their job. 
4. Create a system where every doctor or hospital would be in-network for every person – whether a cancer specialist, pediatrician, psychiatrist, or nursing home. 
5. Aid working families due to having no copays and no deductibles for any health services, including all primary care, hospital care, prescription drugs, dental, vision, mental health, and long-term care. 
6. End Medical Bankruptcy and the practice of working people having to choose between healthcare and paying the rent or putting food on the table. 

It is for these reasons and more that the following organizations, community leaders, and elected officials proudly support Medicare for All and strongly urge that you cosponsor the Medicare For All Act of 2022.

In Solidarity,

Jared Schablein

Chair, Lower Shore Progressive Caucus  

Cecilia Plante

Co-chair, Maryland Legislative Coalition

Todd Nock 

Pocomoke City Councilmember & Candidate House of Delegates 38A 

Rosie Bean 

President, Feminists, Liberals, Independents & Progressives (FLIP)

Michele Gregory 

Salisbury City Councilwoman & Candidate State Senate 38 

Chrissy Holt 

President, Our Revolution Maryland 

John King 

Candidate For Governor 

Deborah Nissley

Candidate for Somerset County Commissioner District 4

Kristy Fogle 

Chair, Maryland Progressive Healthcare Coalition 

Larry Stafford 

Executive Director, Progressive Maryland 

Gains Hawkins 

President, Wicomico Democratic Club

“Kavanaugh is a conservative who could upend precedents on matters from abortion to gay rights and to the powers of the executive branch. But former Maryland attorney general Doug Gansler, Democrat and a friend of Kavanaugh's of nearly 35 years, believes Kavanaugh could play a similar role like Kennedy on some issues before the court.  I don't see him, Brett Kavanaugh, as being the far, the Scalia, Thomas, Alito, far, far right. I think he'll probably be a swing vote on many, many issues going forward," Gansler said.  (WBALTV 11 News, Baltimore)

As the Democratic gubernatorial primary for the state of Maryland begins to draw near, every candidate has shown their own, unique perspective and arguments as to why they’d be a good fit to be Maryland's next leader at the top.  However, historically, one Democratic gubernatorial candidate always seems to throw himself into some sort of controversy that comes back to haunt not just this particular candidate, but the Democratic Party as a whole.  

Whether it be Doug Gansler’s reckless behavior as the state's former attorney general. “Gansler once ran four red lights with sirens blaring, a trooper wrote. Another account said he “brags” about driving the vehicle unaccompanied on weekends with the sirens on.  “This extremely irresponsible behavior is non-stop and occurs on a daily basis,” Lt. Charles Ardolini, commander of the state police executive protection section, wrote in a December 2011 memo that said the problem had existed for five years.”  (Washington Post). Better yet, how about the time Mr. Gansler attended a teenage drinking party and made every excuse he could to dig himself out of taking any blame or attempting to stop the underage drinking gathering as the states top law official. “Assume for purposes of discussion that there was widespread drinking at this party," Gansler, who is running for governor in 2014, told the paper. "How is that relevant to me?” (NPR) What about years back when Mr. Gansler was accused of spending campaign funds from his failed gubernatorial attempt in 2014 on lavish dinners and outings... “On January 4, 2016, Doug Gansler's son posted a picture on Facebook of the family at the glitzy Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming.  This year (reference to 2016 at the time), when Gansler filed his campaign finance report this year, it listed a whole series of expensive meals in Jackson Hole. $356 dollars at the Teton Mountain Lodge. $299 at the Four Seasons Handle Bar. $283 at Cafe Genevieve. $242 at the Pioneer Saloon in Ketchum, Idaho near Sun Valley.  All the expenses are billed as "Political Dinners." All the expenditure dates are reported as of May 6, 2016. And all were reimbursed to Gansler from the tens of thousands in donations that remain in his campaign coffers from his failed 2014 race for governor.  Maryland election law says campaign funds -- even leftover campaign funds -- cannot be used for the candidate's personal expenses.” (WUSA9 News)

I don’t write this opinion piece or bring up past stories to go after Mr. Gansler as a person, but as a potential leader for one of the 50 most powerful, elected leadership positions in our country, we in the Democratic Party cannot, and should not come close to nominating a man, who is not only close friends with but has openly supported a Supreme Court Justice, who is willing to overturn The Roe vs. Wade decision.  We cannot and should not nominate a man who has a list of problem-causing issues for the state's top position.  Doug Gansler doesn’t seem to be a man of his word based on the sources that have covered him in years past.  His arrogance and privilege should not carry him into the political limelight once more... If anything he should never consider a run at the office again.  We as a party, as a state, and as a people should know better than to even come close to nominating a man with so little values and so little care for anyone, but himself and his namesake.  There are eight other candidates in the primary besides Mr. Gansler.  For the sake of all that is good Maryland, let’s make the right decision and nominate someone who has a proven character of grace and a humble attitude this election cycle and not someone who is willing to curb all of that to the side for intolerable behavior.

-Zachary Wallace 

Wicomico Resident 

“As a father with a kid in Maryland public school, and a lifelong educator who has improved the educational opportunities for millions of students across Maryland and our country, John King is the most qualified candidate to address our state’s educational needs and is committed to bettering the lives of all Maryland families. King’s broad coalition and common-sense platform are why he is so well-positioned to win the Democratic primary in the summer and the general election this fall. I have seen the enormous good John King has already done and plans to do for Maryland. I look forward to working with him to ensure he wins the July 19th primary and is elected our next Governor in November.”- Jared Schablein, LSPC Chair. 

Dear John King: The Eastern Shore of Maryland is often used, forgotten, or completely ignored by politicians from both parties. I was born and raised here; it is nothing new.

It honestly wouldn’t surprise me if most Maryland politicians do not know the Eastern Shore is a part of Maryland, let alone be able to name the counties. The Lower Eastern Shore is home to many of the poorest counties in the state and faces a lack of economic growth, opportunity, and political engagement. Yet, it is common for gubernatorial candidates to ignore the Shore and our issues because it is not considered one of the four counties to make or break an election, even though cycle after cycle this is proven false.  

I am happily surprised that, for one of the first times in my life, a candidate is running for governor who cares about the Eastern Shore and has plans and policies that will help us grow and develop. This candidate is you, John King, the former United States Secretary of Education.

Pay attention, Lower Shore. John King seeks to solve the economic, social, racial, and environmental injustices we face on the Eastern Shore and across the entire state of Maryland. John King supports creating a commission on Universal Healthcare that will study how we can make Maryland the first state to provide quality healthcare to all our residents and lead the nation in fixing our broken and immoral healthcare system. He also supports speeding up Maryland’s path to a minimum wage, a living wage, and indexing the minimum wage to inflation. He will support unions by working to ensure every Marylander has the right to collectively bargain in their workplace. Finally, he is committed to fighting the current climate crisis and ensuring that future high-paying green energy jobs come to the Eastern Shore. 

 As our next Governor, John King has the vision and experience needed to bridge the divides in our communities and make us stronger by working together to solve the issues we face on the Eastern Shore and throughout the state. Well, Mr. King, I hope you are reading this because the Lower Eastern Shore is with you, and we will win both the primary and general elections. 

The writer, Jared Schablein, is chair of the Lower Shore Progressive Caucus.

“As a policy expert, a former elected official, gubernatorial candidate, a farmer, and the founder and CEO of a non-profit organization focused on social justice who has served the Eastern Shore through her Career Heather Mizeur is deeply rooted in our Eastern Shore community and way of life, committed to bettering the lives of Eastern Shore families. Mizeur’s work to reach across the aisle and build consensus with people of all stripes has allowed her to expand healthcare to young adults, lead efforts to decriminalize marijuana and work to protect our pristine environment. I have seen the enormous good Heather Mizeur has done for the Shore. I look forward to continuing our shared work on behalf of everyday families across the Shore and district.” – LSPC Chair Jared Schablein.

In less than a year, Heather Mizeur has already shown that she is the most qualified candidate to take on radical Andy Harris and represent the vital needs of the Eastern Shore in Congress. As a farmer, a wife, and a public servant with deep roots on the Eastern Shore, Heather Mizeur spent her career listening to and helping solve problems facing the Eastern Shore and our state. Now she is bringing that same dedication and understanding to her work as a candidate for Congress here in MD-01, holding town halls and meet & greets across the newly drawn district and championing legislation to boost economic growth through a living wage for workers, cutting taxes for the middle class and small businesses, making the wealthy pay their fair share by closing corporate tax loopholes for large corporations, and enhancing public safety policies including reforming the criminal justice system. 

Heather Mizeur knows personally what it means to worry about the rising costs of health insurance and accessibility to the care you need. As a State Delegate, she authored the Kids First Act, a piece of legislation that served as a national model to find and enroll tens of thousands of qualified uninsured children into health plans. She also brought together a robust bipartisan coalition to pass the Family Planning Works Act. This transformational legislation improved pregnancy outcomes and lowered infant mortality rates, while also reducing abortions. Finally, her Family Coverage Expansion Act made Maryland one of the first states to allow young adults to stay on their family health plans until age 26. This policy would go national under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

A heavily suburban base anchors the new Maryland’s 1st District outside of Annapolis. However, the district also stretches over the Bay and includes the entire Eastern Shore. That’s why Heather Mizeur understands that the beauty and wonder of the Eastern Shore must be protected for future generations while ensuring the Shore’s farmers and watermen remain part of the lifeblood of the Shore’s economy and bounty. That is why Mizeur has created her Agri-Climate plan. This plan aims to create a new project called the National Soil Health Initiative (NSHI) through the USDA that would address saltwater intrusion problems. Grow the carbon credit market to allow farmers to get paid for mitigating the effects of climate change through soil-based carbon sequestration. Finally, reform conservation programs to streamline the process.

There is no doubt that Heather’s policies and ability to build a broad coalition has caused panic among Andy Harris and his campaign. 

However, Heather Mizeur has a proven ability to expand her political network and base beyond her natural political supporters, thanks to her unique ability to present common-sense ideas that some consider “progressive” in ways that are palatable to centrist and independent voters. In response to Heather’s popularity, Andy Harris’s campaign began sending out fundraising letters saying, “My Democrat opponent Heather Mizeur outraised me by $100,000 in the last quarter,” the outside of the envelope reads, “If I don’t do this, Maryland will lose its only Republican Congressman.”

Combine her prolific fundraising ability with her massive coalition of supporters, including federal, state, and local leaders, farmers, watermen, environmentalists, Progressives, Centrists, Conservatives, Democrats, Republicans, and third-party voters, it is clear that Andy Harris is facing the most significant challenge ever in his political career. 

There is no doubt that defeating Andy Harris and protecting our democracy and institutions are the top priorities in the First District in 2022. We cannot afford to lose and Heather Mizeur is the only candidate who can beat Andy Harris in a tough year for Democrats in 2022. The Lower Shore Progressive Caucus is committed to doing everything in our power to make sure Heather wins. 

What Would HB610/SB0493 Do?

HB610, introduced by Delegate Sheila Ruth (District 44B, Baltimore County), and SB0493 introduced by Senator Paul G. Pinksy (District 22, Prince George’s County), would establish the Commission on Universal Healthcare. This commission would develop a plan to implement a statewide universal healthcare program that would provide health benefits to all residents through a single-payer system.

Why Is HB610/SB0493 Necessary?

Since the expansion of Medicaid there has been a significant decrease in the rate of the uninsured and there are major gaps in health care access. Deductibles and out of pocket expenses create barriers for Marylanders who are insured from receiving the health care and treatment they need. Almost 6% of Marylanders are still uninsured, and Marylanders living in or near poverty are almost three times as likely to be uninsured.

Increasing access to health care will lower costs for the state and create better health outcomes for all Marylanders. Without routine access to primary and preventive care, the uninsured are often diagnosed at more advanced stages of disease and, even after being diagnosed, tend to receive less therapeutic care. This further perpetuates health disparities which disproportionately affect communities of color. Unfortunately, when uninsured Marylanders are forced to utilize emergency departments to access primary care services, there is a corresponding increase in costs to the state for uncompensated and undercompensated care.

A single-payer system would enable patients to receive the care they need in the most appropriate venue, control costs for everyone, and ultimately provide better health outcomes for Maryland residents.

What Should Happen Instead?

In order to improve the health outcomes of Maryland residents the General Assembly should set up a Kirwan-like commission for healthcare that would consider plans and analyses done in other states on how to:

1. ensure all Marylanders, regardless of income, assets, health status, citizenship or immigration status, or availability of other health care coverage will have access to quality affordable healthcare;

2. include a benefit package which covers primary & preventive care, chronic care, acute episodic care, reproductive care, including pregnancy, birth control, and abortion services, and hospital services;

3. centralize equity as a goal of the plan in order to reduce health care disparities; and

4. increase health care access in underserved urban and rural settings.