Weekly Media Briefing: Week of February 9
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 9, 2026
CONTACT: Andy Ellis andy@gogreen2026.com
Weekly Media Briefing: Ellis/Andrews Campaign
February 9-16, 2026: Immigration enforcement, disability service cuts, and what the Governor should say Wednesday
Maryland Moves to Ban 287(g) Immigration Enforcement Agreements
The Maryland General Assembly is advancing legislation to ban 287(g) agreements that allow local law enforcement in eight counties to act as federal immigration agents. Governor Moore has indicated he will sign this legislation. The Ellis/Andrews campaign endorsed a complete end to local ICE cooperation in January, calling for full ICE abolition, and a set of policies that actively protect Marylanders from federal agents acting without regard to the constitution.
"Banning 287(g) agreements is the right thing to do, but it should have happened already. Last session. Senate President Ferguson killed this same bill in 2025 to cut a political deal. Now, with ICE arresting over 3,300 people in Maryland last year — more than two-thirds with no criminal record — the legislature is finally catching up to where voters already are. Nearly half of Americans now support abolishing ICE. Maryland should be leading, not following. Democratic leadership in Annapolis bears sole responsibility for kicking the can down the road until now, and Bill Ferguson should have to explain his motivation to every family that has been destroyed by this political maneuver over the last year," said Andy Ellis.
Read more: https://www.gogreen2026.com/news/abolish-ice
Governor Moore Proposes $150 Million in Disability Service Cuts
Governor Moore's FY2027 budget proposes $150 million in cuts to the Developmental Disabilities Administration, affecting approximately 21,000 Marylanders who depend on waiver services. The cuts include eliminating geographic rate adjustments, capping individual service claims, and reducing wages for direct support professionals who already earn less than retail workers. This is the second consecutive year the Moore administration has targeted disability services to close a budget gap created by years of refusing to raise taxes on the wealthy despite holding a legislative supermajority.
"Democrats control every lever of power in Maryland. Governor Moore won by 30 points. He could have raised taxes on the wealthy in 2023. He could have done it in 2024. He didn't — because it was politically inconvenient. Now there's a $1.5 billion deficit and 21,000 disabled Marylanders are the ones paying for it. The same budget that cuts $150 million from disability services extends corporate R&D tax credits through the DECADE Act. Tax breaks for corporations, service cuts for families with disabled children. This is not a fiscal crisis. This is what happens when Democratic leadership protects the wealthy and sends the bill to disabled Marylanders and the underpaid workers who care for them," said Andy Ellis.
Read more: https://www.gogreen2026.com/solidarity-econ
What the Governor Should Say Wednesday — and Probably Won't
Governor Moore is scheduled to deliver his State of the State address Wednesday evening. Democrats control every constitutional office in Maryland and have held veto-proof supermajorities in the General Assembly for decades. With that kind of power, Maryland should be doing more. Moving quickly and boldly to address the problems we face.
"Every year, Governor Moore gives a speech about the Maryland we're building. And every year, the budget tells a different story. Democrats have held every lever of power in this state for a generation. There is no Republican blocking the path. There is no divided government to blame. If we wanted bold action on the climate crisis, we could have it. If we wanted real protections for workers, we could pass them tomorrow. If we wanted to expand democracy, fund public education, and build an economy rooted in the people and communities of Maryland. All of that is within reach. The only thing standing in the way is the political choice to protect the wealthy and the corporations instead. We issued a point-by-point reply to this same speech last year. Every criticism we raised has gotten worse. We look forward to debating Governor Moore about how we build the Maryland we all deserve," said Andy Ellis.
Read more: https://www.gogreen2026.com/priorities
This Week's Livestream
Join Andy Ellis and Owen Silverman Andrews Thursday at 7 PM ET on YouTube.
This week: Moore's State of the State reaction, our friendly amendment to the effort to modernize unemployment insurance, and a recap of Wednesday's democracy bill testimony blitz in Annapolis.
Watch live at youtube.com/@GoGreen2026.
On the Calendar This Week
Tuesday, February 10: From the Streets to the Statehouse — Host Dayvon Love is joined by Andy Ellis to discuss alternatives to the state's two-party political system and what a multiparty future could look like for Maryland voters. 5:30 PM, YouTube.com/@LBSBaltimore
Wednesday, February 11: Andy Ellis in Annapolis all day for legislative session
Thursday, February 12: Weekly Livestream — 7 PM ET, YouTube
Monday, February 16: Campaign Happy Hour — Peabody Heights Brewery, Baltimore, 6 PM
Want Andy at your event? Contact us at info@gogreen2026.com.
About the Ellis/Andrews Campaign
Andy Ellis and Owen Silverman Andrews are running for Governor and Lt. Governor on the Green Party ticket. Their campaign is seeking public financing and small donors — no corporate cash. They're running to prove that Maryland's democracy can work for everyone, not just the two parties that take turns. Get involved at gogreen2026.com.