MARYLAND (WBFF) — Democratic leaders in Maryland are calling lawmakers back to Annapolis next month for a special session focused on reshaping the state’s congressional districts, a move Republicans say ignores more urgent problems facing residents.
Gov. Wes Moore is calling the legislature back for the session to deal with redrawing Maryland’s congressional map. Republicans said Moore has turned down requests for special sessions on juvenile crime, affordability issues and the state’s massive budget deficit, but is moving forward with a session tied to changing the constitution in a way they say would enable extreme gerrymandering.
“There’s nothing fair about what’s going on here. It’s shear raw naked political power,” Del. Jason Buckel said during an interview on WBAL news radio Tuesday afternoon.
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Republicans argue the effort is designed to target Maryland’s only Republican member of Congress by drawing that lawmaker out of office. State Del. Ryan Nawrocki insists the plan would silence Maryland’s only Republican voice in Congress.
“It’s an attempt to disenfranchise over a million Republican voices in Maryland,” Nawrocki said.
Nawrocki said the governor is prioritizing politics over issues affecting residents and criticized the cost of the special session.
“I’d applaud the governor if he called a special session to deal with those issues. Instead we’re dealing with things to make him look better to further his campaign for president. That’s what all this is about Jeff. And we’re gonna spend a lot of tax dollars to make Wes Moore look better to run for president and to not deal with the issues Marylanders are impacted by,” he said.
Nawrocki and other members of Maryland’s Freedom Caucus said they plan to use the special session to introduce other measures aimed at making Maryland more affordable.
“We’ll see what the legislature is really interested in. Are they really interested in the issues voters are truly concerned about or is this just a pure partisan political power grab and that’s it?” Nawrocki said.
Moore, however, insists the move will ensure fair representation for Marylanders, an argument Republicans reject as they warn taxpayers will bear the costs.
“None of this is done for the benefit of Marylanders. This is all done to curry favor in D.C.,” Buckel said.
“It’s him campaigning on our taxpayer dime and I think that’s fundamentally wrong,” Nawrocki said.
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