The head of the Legislative Black Caucus wants the General Assembly to return to Annapolis before January to override a series of vetoes issued by Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R), particularly the measure to provide new funding for the state’s historically black colleges and universities.
But the caucus has yet to discuss the issue formally and has not taken an official position on whether to convene a special session.
The internal discussion comes as an array of issues of concern to the Black Caucus — including police killings of unarmed Black men, racial inequities in health care, economic opportunity and education, and the health and economic ravages of Black communities laid bare by COVID-19 — have taken on a new urgency in recent weeks. And it also comes as a progressive group, Our Revolution Maryland, has launched a petition drive urging the legislature to reconvene in a special session.
“All of us were disappointed that the governor vetoed a lot important bills that I think would have made a substantial difference in the lives of all Marylanders,” Del. Darryl Barnes (D-Prince George’s), the Black Caucus chairman, said in an interview.