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| Md. lawmakers accuse Gov. Hogan of ‘assaults on ... our black communities’ | Md. lawmakers accuse Gov. Hogan of ‘assaults on ... our black communities’ |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Maryland’s African American lawmakers on Thursday blasted Republican Gov. Larry Hogan for policies they said are hurting black communities, and their caucus leader called Hogan’s actions racially motivated. | |
| During a news conference, lawmakers tore into Hogan and reiterated other longstanding objections to actions by his administration, including Hogan’s decision to kill the Red Line light rail project in Baltimore and fund transportation projects elsewhere and to withhold extra education funding last year that was slated for Baltimore City, Prince George’s and other counties. | During a news conference, lawmakers tore into Hogan and reiterated other longstanding objections to actions by his administration, including Hogan’s decision to kill the Red Line light rail project in Baltimore and fund transportation projects elsewhere and to withhold extra education funding last year that was slated for Baltimore City, Prince George’s and other counties. |
| “There are assaults going on on our black communities across the state,” Del. Curt Anderson (D-Baltimore) said after the meeting of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. “We are not going to take it anymore. . . . We are not stupid. We know what’s going on, and we are going to retaliate.” | “There are assaults going on on our black communities across the state,” Del. Curt Anderson (D-Baltimore) said after the meeting of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. “We are not going to take it anymore. . . . We are not stupid. We know what’s going on, and we are going to retaliate.” |
| The unusually harsh language comes after a sharp dispute between the Democratic-controlled General Assembly and the first-term governor over whether to allow felons to vote while they are on parole or probation. | The unusually harsh language comes after a sharp dispute between the Democratic-controlled General Assembly and the first-term governor over whether to allow felons to vote while they are on parole or probation. |
| Hogan vetoed a bill that would have granted those voting rights, saying felons should not get to vote until their punishments are complete. Democratic majorities in both chambers recently overrode the veto, meaning the law will take effect next month, in time for up to 44,600 Marylanders, a disproportionate number of whom are African American and live in heavily Democratic Baltimore, to register for the April 26 primary. | Hogan vetoed a bill that would have granted those voting rights, saying felons should not get to vote until their punishments are complete. Democratic majorities in both chambers recently overrode the veto, meaning the law will take effect next month, in time for up to 44,600 Marylanders, a disproportionate number of whom are African American and live in heavily Democratic Baltimore, to register for the April 26 primary. |
| After the override, Hogan accused Democrats of voting against the will of the vast majority of state residents and said some could lose their seats over the issue. | After the override, Hogan accused Democrats of voting against the will of the vast majority of state residents and said some could lose their seats over the issue. |
| On Thursday, Hogan spokesman Douglass Mayer called the criticisms leveled by the black caucus “a new low” in Annapolis. | On Thursday, Hogan spokesman Douglass Mayer called the criticisms leveled by the black caucus “a new low” in Annapolis. |
| “Members of the General Assembly have just accused the governor of racism,” Mayer said. “This is the last, desperate act of legislators who refuse to discuss actual policy or solutions to real problems.” | “Members of the General Assembly have just accused the governor of racism,” Mayer said. “This is the last, desperate act of legislators who refuse to discuss actual policy or solutions to real problems.” |
| Del. Barbara Robinson (D-Baltimore), leader of the caucus, singled out Hogan’s plans to fund a new Baltimore City jail while deferring projects at historically black colleges when she said she “absolutely” believes his actions are racially motivated. | Del. Barbara Robinson (D-Baltimore), leader of the caucus, singled out Hogan’s plans to fund a new Baltimore City jail while deferring projects at historically black colleges when she said she “absolutely” believes his actions are racially motivated. |
| “I think the governor is getting bad advice from someone, because when he first ran he had a whole lot of African Americans behind him,” Robinson said. | “I think the governor is getting bad advice from someone, because when he first ran he had a whole lot of African Americans behind him,” Robinson said. |
| Even as the news conference was going on, Hogan — in a separate appearance on WBAL radio — said he wouldn’t fund jail construction if the project was unwanted. | Even as the news conference was going on, Hogan — in a separate appearance on WBAL radio — said he wouldn’t fund jail construction if the project was unwanted. |
| Mayer said the complaints by the black caucus aren’t factual. Among other things, Hogan has launched efforts to demolish vacant buildings in mostly African American parts of Baltimore and eventually replace them with new development. He also has pushed new educational initiatives in the city. | Mayer said the complaints by the black caucus aren’t factual. Among other things, Hogan has launched efforts to demolish vacant buildings in mostly African American parts of Baltimore and eventually replace them with new development. He also has pushed new educational initiatives in the city. |
| “Since taking office, the governor has spent more time in Baltimore City than any other jurisdiction and has invested more state dollars in regions of the state that are predominantly African American than anyplace else,” Mayer said. “There is not a single statement, fact or anything else that supports the lie that was perpetrated this morning.” | “Since taking office, the governor has spent more time in Baltimore City than any other jurisdiction and has invested more state dollars in regions of the state that are predominantly African American than anyplace else,” Mayer said. “There is not a single statement, fact or anything else that supports the lie that was perpetrated this morning.” |
| Black caucus members said the governor said he is unable to attend one of their weekly meeting until the last week of the legislative session, in mid-April. But Mayer says the governor offered to meet with them in early March, on a different day of the week than the regular caucus meeting. | Black caucus members said the governor said he is unable to attend one of their weekly meeting until the last week of the legislative session, in mid-April. But Mayer says the governor offered to meet with them in early March, on a different day of the week than the regular caucus meeting. |
| This is a developing story. Check back for updates. | This is a developing story. Check back for updates. |