Maryland
Maryland lawmakers call President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” a betrayal
Maryland Democratic lawmakers expressed disappointment after President Donald Trump’s budget bill passed Congress.
The so-called “big, beautiful bill” is expected to be signed into law by the president on Friday, July 4.
The Maryland Freedom Caucus, headed by Republican Congressman Andy Harris, said the bill “secured transformational wins for fiscal responsibility, border security, energy independence, welfare reform, and tax relief.”
What’s included in the “big, beautiful bill?”
Mr. Trump’s budget bill was approved in a 218 to 214 vote by the House, and a 51-50 vote in the Senate, which required Vice President JD Vance to be the tiebreaker.
The bill, when signed, would make significant cuts to healthcare and nutrition programs, like Medicaid and SNAP. According to CBS News, the bill would add $3.4 trillion to federal deficits over the next 10 years and leave millions without health insurance.
The legislation includes more than $46.5 billion for border wall construction and related expenses, $45 billion to expand detention capacity for immigrants in custody, and about $30 billion in funding for hiring, training, and other resources for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, CBS News reports.
The package also includes an increase to the cap on the state and local tax deduction, raising it from $10,000 to $40,000, according to CBS News. After five years, it would return to $10,000, a departure from the initial House-passed bill.
CBS News says the bill would raise the debt ceiling by $5 trillion, going beyond the $4 trillion outlined in the initial House-passed bill.
And, the current $2,000 child tax credit is set to return to the pre-2017 level of $1,000 in 2026, according to CBS News, and the tax credit would permanently increase to $2,200 under the bill, $300 less than the initial House-passed hike.
Maryland lawmakers react to the passed budget bill
Democrats in Congress voted unanimously against the bill, citing steep cuts to safety net programs, including SNAP, the food assistance program, and Medicaid.
Maryland lawmakers argue that the bill provides for the rich and takes away from those who need the assistance.
“This so-called ‘big, beautiful bill’ marks a direct and heartless assault on the American people,” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement. “Neither Maryland nor any other state across the country has the resources to fill the massive hole that the federal government created today in our social safety net.”
Gov. Moore called the bill a nightmare for Maryland families, saying it impacts healthcare for senior citizens, student loan borrowers, those relying on food assistance, and people with disabilities.
“President Trump and Republicans in Congress are cutting a quarter of a billion dollars from Maryland’s rural hospitals, taking health care away from nearly 200,000 Marylanders, and hurting 684,000 Marylanders that rely on food assistance to pay for their groceries—working families, seniors, children, veterans, homeless individuals and people with disabilities. Today, our federal government has delivered a gift to the ultra-wealthy and told everyone else: ‘You’re on your own,’” Gov. Moore said.
Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott called the bill a “bad policy” and a “betrayal.”
“Every member of Congress who voted for this should be ashamed. Baltimore won’t forget,” Scott said.
The mayor said the legislation threatens jobs, healthcare access, and public safety, and makes it easier to purchase guns.
“For cities like Baltimore, the impact will be devastating,” Scott said.
Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen criticized Republicans in Congress for backing Mr. Trump over the U.S. citizens, and called it “tax breaks for billionaires.”
“A giant handout for the ultra-rich. A big, ugly betrayal for everyone else,” Van Hollen said.
Maryland Sen. Angela Alsobrooks added that it is a “dark day for America.”
“Republicans have slashed health care for Americans with disabilities, taken food from the mouths of hungry children, and left our seniors to fend for themselves.”
Maryland
Severn scratch-off makes player a millionaire as Maryland Lottery pays $31.8M in prizes
SEVERN, Md. (WBFF) — A scratch-off ticket sold in Severn turned one Maryland Lottery player into a millionaire, leading a week in which the Lottery paid out more than $31.8 million in prizes statewide.
Maryland Lottery and Gaming said it paid more than $31.8 million in prizes from Feb. 23 through March 1, including 36 tickets worth $10,000 or more.
The top scratch-off prize claimed during that period was a $1 million winning $1,000,000 Crossword ticket sold at the Walmart at 407 George Clauss Boulevard in Severn. Another top winner was a $100,000 Red 5’s Doubler ticket sold at the Carroll Motor Fuel station at 2535 Cleanleigh Drive in Parkville.
Other scratch-off prizes claimed Feb. 23 through March 1 included two $50,000 winners: a 200X the Cash ticket sold at the Wawa at 7501 Pulaski Highway in Rosedale, and a $5,000,000 Luxe ticket sold at the Spring Hill Lake Mini Market at 9240 Spring Hill Lane in Greenbelt. A $30,000 Diamond Bingo 6th Edition ticket was sold at Tempo Lounge at 402 Back River Neck Road in Essex.
ALSO READ | SUN | Maryland GOP unveils energy plan it says saves customers up to $40 a month
The Lottery also reported three $20,000 scratch-off winners, all on $1,000,000 Crossword tickets sold at Geresbeck’s Food Market at 8489 Fort Smallwood Road in Pasadena; Hillandale Beer and Wine at 10117 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring; and Paddock Wine and Spirits at 7627 Woodbine Road in Woodbine.
The Lottery reminded players to sign the backs of tickets and keep winning tickets in a safe location.
The Lottery said the last dates to claim scratch-off tickets are posted on the scratch-offs page at mdlottery.com.
More information is available at mdlottery.com.
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For confidential help or information about gambling problems, visit helpmygamblingproblem.org or call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Maryland
SUN: Dozens of vehicles moved to planned Maryland ICE facility; advocates concerned
Advocacy groups are raising concerns over a warehouse in Washington County that is slated to become an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility after dozens of black SUVs were moved to the warehouse’s parking lot on Sunday.
“When federal enforcement vehicles begin lining the warehouse lot, it sends a clear message about what’s taking shape in our community,” said the organizer of Hagerstown Rapid Response, Claire Connor. “We refuse to let ICE quietly plant roots in Washington County without transparency, accountability and community consent.”
The 825,620-square-foot warehouse is located at 16220 Wright Road in Williamsport. Access to the facility was blocked by orange traffic barriers and signs outlining regulations and “governing conduct on federal property” with the Department of Homeland Security emblem at the top of the page.
In late January, Washington County issued a news release stating that on Jan. 14, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent a letter to the county’s historic district commission and department of planning and zoning regarding the property.
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Read the full story on the Baltimore Sun’s website.
Maryland
Howard County police investigate fatal officer-involved shooting in Columbia
COLUMBIA, Md. (WBFF) — An adult man was killed in a police-involved shooting in Columbia early Sunday, prompting an investigation by the Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division.
Howard County police said officers were called on March 1, at about 12:09 a.m., to an apartment building in the 6400 block of Freetown Road for a report that involved an adult male threatening to harm himself.
According to police, at about 12:22 a.m., officers encountered the man outside the building. The man approached officers while holding a knife and ignored commands to drop the weapon, police said. Officers then shot the man.
ALSO READ | Gas leak explosion, fire in Prince George’s County leaves 1 injured
Officers attempted life-saving measures, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Officersrecovered a knife near the man.
No officers were injured, and the officers were equipped with body-worn cameras.
The Independent Investigations Division is investigating.
Anyone with information about this incident, including cell phone or private surveillance video, is asked to contact the IID at (410) 576–7070 or by email atIID@oag.maryland.gov.
The IID willgenerally releasethe name of the decedent and any involved officers within two business days of the incident, although that period may be extended, if necessary,pursuant toIID protocol.
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TheIID willgenerally releasebody-worn camera footage within 20 business days of an incident. There may be situations where more than 20 days is necessary, including if investigators need more time to complete witness interviews, if there are technical delays caused by the need to shield the identities of civilian witnesses, or to allow family members to view the video before it is released to the public.
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