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Budget surplus, pot, virus, climate, top issues in Maryland

By The Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland lawmakers will be gathering for their annual 90-day legislative session this week with a huge budget surplus.

How to manage more than $4.5 billion in surplus for the current and next fiscal years will be a top issue in an election year.

Lawmakers also will be grappling with potentially legalizing recreational marijuana, battling COVID-19 and stronger measures to address climate change.

Legislation to create a statewide insurance program to provide family and medical leave is expected to be proposed.

Lawmakers also will be finalizing a new map for state legislative districts for the Maryland General Assembly’s 188 seats.

Survey indicates primary care physicians are planning exit

By Kristi King
A national survey of primary care physicians paints a grim picture for the future of health care in the U.S., but an advocate cites an example from Maryland as a sign of hope. “Our latest survey showed that there are 62% of clinicians who personally know of somebody who has quit during the pandemic, about 30% personally know of practices that have closed, and there are 25% who say they are going to be leaving primary care within the next three years,” said Rebecca Etz, co-director of the Larry A. Green Center.
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