The Week Ahead

The General Assembly returns to Annapolis today in a special session to pass budget and revenue legislation eliminating the need for the doomsday budget. On Wednesday the governor outlined what state leaders expect to accomplish over the next three days, but regardless it is going to be a stressful week.

Monday, May 14th

• Senate Budget and Taxation Committee will hold hearings on the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFA), the State and Local Revenue and Financing Act, and Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (a federal tax credit program to help local jurisdictions borrow for education spending, excluding new construction). MBTPI has prepared testimony in support of the revenue bill in both chambers. 11am in 3 West, Senate Office Building, Annapolis. 
• House Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing on the BRFA. Testimony is due by 11am today. 1pm in room 120, House Office Building.
• House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on the State and Local Revenue and Financing Act. Testimony is due by noon today. 2pm in room 130, House Office Building.
• We expect the Senate will have its second reading of the BRFA and revenue bills late Monday.

Tuesday, May 15th

• We expect the Senate to vote on the BRFA and revenue bills Tuesday morning.
• We expect the House to begin its consideration of the BRFA and revenue bills late Tuesday.

Wednesday, May 16th

• If all goes according to plan, the legislature will wrap up the special session sometime on Wednesday.
• MBTPI co-hosts our annual Legislative Wrap-Up with Maryland Nonprofits, the Maryland CASH Campaign, Advocates for Children and Youth, Job Opportunities Task Force, and the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition. This free event will focus on what came out of the 2012 regular session, what is happening with the special session, and our budget briefing.  Lea Gilmore from the Moving Maryland Forward Network will speak, as will representatives from each of the sponsoring organizations. Leading legislators will stop by as available. Lunch is included. You must register for this free event, and the deadline to register is today (Monday) at 4 pm. 10am to 2pm, Senate Office Building, Annapolis.
• To register, download a registration form. Complete your information at the top of the form, write "Legislative Wrap-Up" for 'course name', and May 16 for 'course date', and ignore all payment related fields. Fax the completed form to Maryland Nonprofits at 410-235-2190.
• If you are a Maryland Nonprofits member you can register online.  Scroll down to "Legislative Wrap-Up" and click on Register . 

Friday, May 18th

• Friday is Bike to Work Day.  In an effort to encourage more bicycling, communities across the country sponsor events, pit stops, and support teams for the day.  If you live in the Baltimore region you can find out more here.  If in the DC region, look here. 
• Bureau of Labor Statistics releases state employment figures for April 2012.  Maryland's unemployment rate ticked up slightly in March, to 6.6 percent.  The rate rose because the labor force grew faster than employment (MD added more than 2,000 jobs in March).