When I’ve talked about the harsh local impacts of federal policy in recent weeks, most have been the result of actions by the administrative branch. Many have been violations of federal law, and the courts have pushed back in 177 cases, as of May 23, according to New York Times records. In fact, the administration has lost 96% of cases challenging its actions.
But on Thursday morning last week, the United States Congress took a large step forward on policy that is a direct threat to county governments and the people they serve. House Republicans passed by a single vote a thing called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. If it passes in the Senate, where Republicans hold 53 of the 100 seats, the impacts won’t be reversed by the courts.
Economic forecasters are concerned because the bill doesn’t pay for itself. It grows the federal debt by $3.1 trillion over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). That’s because the tax cuts that benefit primarily the wealthiest Americans and the increase in defense and deportation spending far outweigh the cuts to programs.
The program cuts make life more costly and dangerous for low-wage Americans, seniors, and people at or below the poverty level. CBO projects that cuts to Medicaid and changes to the Affordable Care Act will strip health insurance from nearly 14 million Americans. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cuts will remove benefits from 11 million Americans.
Just at the moment when our economy could be facing a tariff-induced surge in prices and an economic slowdown, the bill transfers massive wealth from America’s struggling workers to billionaires.
The bill also cuts housing assistance, health services, job-producing infrastructure spending, and scores of other programs that are designed to create economic opportunity for those who struggle.
So yes, our county agencies are concerned, very concerned about the impacts on the people they serve. Maryland’s two Senators, Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks are firmly opposed to this fiscally irresponsible deficit spending and transfer of wealth. It will take three Senators from other states in the majority party to save us. You can call them, write to them, and mobilize your friends and family in those states. They have a choice to make, and you have a chance to influence them.
But life goes on here in Anne Arundel County, and our residents come together to do good work, every single day.
On Memorial Day, I had the honor of speaking at the unveiling of the Severna Park Heroes of the Vietnam War Memorial right on the B&A Trail at Hatton-Regester Green. What an outpouring of love and gratitude for five young Severna Park High School graduates who lost their lives in the Vietnam War. They were aged 32, 22, 21, 20, and 20 when they died. We heard from a teacher who had coached or taught the four youngest, from veterans of that war, and from community leaders inside and outside of government.
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It brought me back to the lessons of that war, and the harm done by some Americans who failed to honor the sacrifice of our soldiers, forgetting that those who step up to serve don’t choose which wars to fight, just as law enforcement officers don’t choose which laws to enforce, and firefighters don’t choose which disasters to respond to. Honoring service brings us together.
On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kristen Pironis, Executive Director of Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, our destination marketing/tourism agency, for the Pittman and Friends Podcast (for release next Tuesday). She might have the most fun job in the county. She gets to inspire people from near and far about the experiences that we offer in this place we call home. Yes, I said experiences, not just places, because experiences, she says, are what people are looking for. Don’t forget that, and go to VisitAnnapolis.org to create your own.
Wednesday morning, I started the day watching democracy in action. U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks did a town hall for seniors at Annapolis Senior Center, and it was reassuring to watch the back-and-forth between residents and their representative in Washington. She hears us and understands us.
Later that day, I joined Governor Wes Moore, First Lady Dawn Moore, and two or three hundred residents and dignitaries in the gym at Pip Moyer Recreation Center to commemorate the installation of an impressive new memorial that honors Congressman Parren Mitchell, Maryland’s first Black Representative to the United States Congress, and a founder of the Congressional Black Caucus.
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Photo Source: The Baltimore Banner
The Congressman died in 2007, but many of his relatives were there, including former State Senator Michael Mitchell. The highlight of the event was near the end, when Historic Annapolis CEO Karen Brown, gifted a poster-sized photo of the Senator being arrested by Annapolis police for insisting on service at a segregated diner. In a booming voice from his wheelchair, the former Senator told the crowd that it was an outraged Annapolis Mayor Pip Moyer who had visited him in jail and gotten him released, and that’s why it’s so fitting that his uncle’s memorial is at the Pip Moyer Center.
If you’re in the mood to experience some community this Saturday, there are two amazing experiences awaiting you. At 11 am is the Annapolis Pride Parade on West Street. The Pride Festival runs from noon to 5 pm at Maryland Hall. You can get into the spirit on this week’s Pittman and Friends Podcast titled Pride, Politics, and Personal Growth with Joe Toolan, or you can go to AnnapolisPride.org for more information.
Grab a meal afterward and then head to Navy Stadium for the first Annapolis Blues home soccer games of the season. Yes, I said games, not game. The men play at 5 pm, and the brand new women’s team starts at 7:30 pm! I suspect that the tailgating will get an early start and then pick up between games. Blues fans are a large and rowdy lot, so bring the whole family and everyone will sleep well that night.
Until next week…