Maryland’s 2019 Legislative session ended on Monday. There were some positives that came out of the day.   All four bills that would have made Maryland a "sanctuary state" failed to pass both houses thanks to the help of many of you and our petition drive.   The bill to create a "Long Gun Qualifying License," like an HQL, died as Democrats in the House and Senate couldn’t come to an agreement on final language. Most of the anti-gun bills died this session thanks to the activism of many 2nd amendment supporters.    Senator Justin Ready’s "Laura & Reid’s Law" passed by a unanimous vote. The bill creates an additional felony with up to 10 year sentence for a person who commits a crime of violence against a woman they know or believe is pregnant. That is on top of whatever the sentence for the underlying crime. This is a huge step forward in obtaining justice for victims and protecting those who are vulnerable to abuse and violence.    Members of both parties came together to pass SB 195/HB 25 that should help identify possible misuse or abuse of a monitored prescription drug to combat the opioid epidemic.    Bills to address human trafficking also passed with bipartisan support.    Unfortunately, this session had a host of bad policies that did pass including those that will potentially lead to businesses to lay off workers and higher taxes down the road.    The Maryland legislature will not reconvene until Wednesday, January 8, 2020. 

Upcoming Events

 

Garrett County Republican Women April Meeting

Perkins Restaurant McHenry, MD 21541 April 17, 2019 at 6:00 PM    

Montgomery County Conservatives April Happy Hour

Stanford Grill Rockville, MD 20852 April 18, 2019 at 5:00 PM    

Republican Club of Harford County April Meeting

MaGerks Pub & Grill Bel Air Bel Air, MD 21014 April 22, 2019 at 6:30 PM    

Washington County Republican Club April Meeting

Funkstown American Legion Funkstown, MD 21734 April 24, 2019 at 7:00 PM    

Republican Club of Frederick County April Happy Hour

The Main Cup Middletown, MD 21769 April 24, 2019 at 6:00 PM    

Cecil County GOP 2019 Lincoln Day Dinner

The Wellwood Restaurant Charlestown, MD 21914 April 24, 2019 at 6:00 PM    

Howard County Republican Women Club April Meeting

Brighton Gardens Columbia, MD 21045 April 24, 2019 at 6:15 PM    

Legislative District 20 April Meeting

Sheraton Silver Spring Silver Spring, MD 20910 April 24, 2019 at 7:00 PM    

Republican Women of Worcester County April Meeting

Mad Fish Bar & Grill Restaurant Ocean City, MD 21842 April 25, 2019 at 11:00 AM    

Howard County Republican Club April Meeting

Miller Branch Library Ellicott City, MD 21042 April 25, 2019 at 6:30 PM    

Prince George’s County GOP Organization-Building Training

Largo Kettering Branch Library Largo, MD 20774 April 27, 2019 at 10:30 AM    

Republican Women of Baltimore County Legislative Wrap-Up

Fazzini’s Taverna Restaurant Cockeysville, MD 21030 April 27, 2019 at 12:00 PM    

MFRW Annual First Lady’s Luncheon

Live! Casino & Hotel Hanover, MD 21076 May 2, 2019 at 11:00 AM    

Maryland Federation of College Republicans Spring Convention

University of Maryland – College Park College Park, MD 20842 May 4, 2019 at 10:30 AM    

Washington County GOP 2019 Lincoln Day Dinner

Hager Hall Hagerstown, MD 21740 May 10, 2019 at 5:00 PM    

Frederick County GOP 2019 Lincoln Day Dinner

Linganore Winecellars Mount Airy, MD 21771 May 10, 2019 at 6:00 PM    

Maryland Republican Party 2019 Spring Convention

Grand Hotel & Spa Ocean City, MD 21842 May 17-18, 2019    

Garrett County GOP 2019 Lincoln Day Dinner

Wisp Resort McHenry, MD 21541 May 31, 2019 at 6:00 P.M.  

This Week in the News…

 

Join the MDGOP Facebook List!

Comment Yes   Our team works hard every week to keep you updated on what’s happened the past week in Maryland Politics. Now you can receive your weekly report directly inside Facebook!   If you’d like to subscribe, click the image above and comment "Yes."    

David Bossie: The media need to investigate Joe Biden and his Ukraine dealings

David Bossie: The media need to investigate Joe Biden and his Ukraine dealings   Our National Committeeman David Bossie:   "When it comes to the Biden’s and Ukraine, there’s an awful lot of smoke. Among other things, Solomon is reporting that in 2016 during his tenure as Barack Obama’s Vice President, Biden threatened to pull $1 billion dollars in loans to Ukraine if its President Petro Poroshenko didn’t fire the country’s prosecutor general.   The catch? The prosecutor was allegedly knee-deep in a corruption probe of Burisma Holdings, a firm that featured Biden’s son Hunter as a board member."    

Tony Campbell: Don’t just complain about Pugh, impeach her

Don't just complain about Pugh, impeach her   Our 2nd Vice Chairman Tony Campbell:   "Signatures on a joint letter and press conferences are good for perception and the CYA of politics. It is time for the governor and the General Assembly to act. There is a constitutional remedy for the Healthy Holly mess. It is time to use the power of the Maryland General Assembly for the good of all Marylanders!"    

Nonprofit with ties to Mayor Pugh, top aides received city funding

Nonprofit with ties to Mayor Pugh, top aides received city funding   Does it ever end? 😳   "Mayor Catherine Pugh approved $19,800 in city funds to a nonprofit she previously chaired and that lists three top members of her City Hall staff on its board of directors — another example of how her business dealings have intersected with politics.   Brown, listed as the MCAT chair, could not be reached for comment at his City Hall office. He also served as an aide to Pugh in the Maryland House of Delegates and a member of her campaign staff in 2016.   In 2017, he was charged by the Office of the Maryland Special Prosecutor with funneling cash to relatives so they could make donations to Pugh’s mayoral campaign. He entered an Alford Plea in Baltimore City Circuit Court in 2017 the day before his trial was to begin for two counts of illegal campaign contributions. An Alford Plea means Brown admitted the state had enough evidence to convict, but the plea allowed him to maintain his innocence."    

2019 Maryland General Assembly: Here’s what happened with the key issues

2019 Maryland General Assembly: Here's what happened with the key issues   "Legislation to require background checks for private sales of rifles and shotguns failed late Monday when legislators couldn’t hammer out differences between two versions of the bill. Under current law, background checks are only required for long gun purchases made from a licensed firearms dealer."    

The Wall Street Journal: "Jobless Claims Dropped to Lowest Level Since 1969 Last Week" 

The Wall Street Journal: “Jobless Claims Dropped to Lowest Level Since 1969 Last Week”   “Thursday’s report suggests the labor market remains strong, leaving businesses reluctant to let workers go. That has spurred some of the fastest wage growth in the current business cycle.”    

U.S. Job Growth Remains Strong, Adding 196,000 Jobs in March and Surpassing Expectations

U.S. Job Growth Remains Strong, Adding 196,000 Jobs in March and Surpassing Market Expectations   "The unemployment rate for adult women (20+) ticked down to 3.3 percent and re-achieved its lowest rate since 1953."    

Audit finds wide-ranging problems in functioning of Prince George’s liquor board

Audit finds wide-ranging problems in functioning of Prince George’s liquor board   "The Prince George’s County liquor board, which officials promised to overhaul after a federal corruption investigation in 2017, did not properly vet or inspect licensees and failed to adequately respond to complaints, a state audit found.   The board, whose former director admitted that he facilitated thousands of dollars in payouts to elected officials in a wide-ranging bribery scandal, did not confirm that licensees had paid county taxes, document whether they had conducted required criminal background checks or inspect of all its licensees, the audit found. Of the 50 inspections that auditors reviewed, half were not properly completed.   Auditors examined the activities of the board in fiscal 2017, plus a few additional months. “The finding provided essential insight into the operating deficiencies of the agency,” Terence Sheppard, the liquor board’s director, wrote in a letter responding to the audit."  
We rely on small-dollar donations from conservatives throughout Maryland to help conservative candidates and to fight back against liberal policies.   Can you help chip-in to the effort?
>> DONATE TO THE MDGOP TODAY! <<
  — Patrick O’Keefe
Executive Director
Maryland Republican Party
www.mdgop.org
      Paid for by the Maryland Republican Party. Not Authorized by any Candidate or Candidate’s Committee. R. Christopher Rosenthal, Treasurer
Scroll to Top