The Week Ahead

Last week MBTPI testified on seven bills, including: forming a committee to study evidence-based budgeting (support), an earned income disregard pilot program (support), and the new transportation financing plan (support with amendments). We also blogged about action in the House Appropriations Committee and the benefits of raising the cigarette tax.

Last Friday the House of Delegates passed the operating budget. The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee also sent its version of the operating budget to the  full chamber. The Senate will debate the budget on the floor this week, setting up a conference committee next week. The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee report and supporting documents will be available online at 8pm tonight (look for them on the legislature's website under recent publications).

This morning, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released state level employment figures for January. Maryland's unemployment rate held steady at 6.7 percent, the same rate it has been since November. This is still lower than the national unemployment rate of 7.9 percent.

For the week of March 18th to March 24th:

• The Senate debates the operating budget, starting on Wednesday. The House continues work on the capital budget. Check the budget hearing calendar for more information.
• Maryland Hunger Solutions is holding a Fighting Hunger and Poverty Breakfast. Nearly 1 in 6 households in Maryland reported in 2012 the inability to afford enough food. The breakfast will allow attendees to hear and see the voices of individuals struggling with food insecurity and the challenges of living in or near poverty, and ultimately provide an opportunity for everyone to engage in the critical effort to eliminate hunger and poverty across our state. If you have any questions or to RSVP, please contact Lisa Klingenmaier (lklingenmaier@mdhungersolutions.org ) by tomorrow, March 19th. Thursday, March 21st, from 8-10am in room 170 of the House Office Building.

The Week Ahead

Last week we blogged about this year's fiscal briefing and Maryland's structural deficit. In the last two weeks Neil Bergsman was interviewed about the proposed budget and transportation funding.

Monday, January 28th

• Education and Economic Development Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee and the Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittee of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee hold a joint policy briefing on higher education. 1pm in room 3 West, Senate Office Building, Annapolis.
• Public Safety, Transportation, and Environment Subcommittee of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee receive a briefing on the implications of the FY 2014 budget on the Chesapeake Bay. 2pm in Schweinhaut, Senate Office Building, Annapolis.
• Maryland CASH Campaign and the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition host their third annual Consumer Caucus Reception. RSVP to Robin McKinney at robin@mdcash.org, or call 443-692-9422. 6-8pm at The Maryland Inn, 16 Church Circle, Annapolis. 

Tuesday, January 29th

• Senate Budget and Taxation Committee holds hearings on the Maryland Emergency Medical System Operations Fund, State Retirement Agency, and Maryland Supplemental Retirement Plans. 1pm in room 3 West, Senate Office Building, Annapolis.
• Capital Budget Subcommittee of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee is briefed on the capital budget. 4pm in room 3 West, Senate Office Building, Annapolis.
  

Wednesday, January 30th

• House Appropriations Committee subcommittees hold a variety of hearings:
• Education and Economic Development Subcommittee meets to discuss higher education. 2pm in room 120, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Health and Human Resources Subcommittee is briefed on the budget for the Department of Human Resources and also by the Office of Legislative Audits. 2pm in room 150, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Public Safety and Administration Subcommittee is briefed on the Office of the Attorney General. 2pm in room 145, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Senate Budget and Taxation Committee holds a hearing at 3pm on Senate Bill (SB) 34, which would reduce the corporate income tax from 8.25 percent to 6 percent. MBTPI will submit testimony on this bill, which we will post on our website Wednesday under Advocacy>2013 Session.
• Bureau of Labor Statistics releases metropolitan-level employment figures.

Thursday, January 31st

• House Appropriations Committee subcommittees hold a variety of hearings:
• Education and Economic Development Subcommittee holds briefings on the Maryland School for the Deaf, the Interagency Committee on School Construction, the Department of Business and Economic Development, and the Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO). 1pm in room 145, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• House Health and Human Resources Subcommittee holds briefings on  Public Health Administration and the Office of Health Care Quality. 1pm in room 150, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• House Public Safety and Administration Subcommittee holds briefings on the State Retirement Agency, Maryland Supplemental Retirement Plans, the Comptroller of Maryland, and the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS). 1pm in room 120, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Senate Health and Human Services Subcommittee holds briefings on social services and the Secretary of State. 1pm in Amoss, Senate Office Building, Annapolis.
• Working Matters coalition holds a rally to announce the official filing of the Earned Sick and Safe Time Act, a bill to allow workers to earn a limited number of annual paid sick days from their employer. MBTPI has signed on in support of the Act because everyone gets sick and everyone deserves the opportunity to recover without risking their economic security. See our blog Tuesday for more information. RSVP to Melissa Broome at melissa@jotf.org, or (410) 236-6079. 11am in the East Wing Conference Room, Senate Office Building, Annapolis, MD.

Friday, February 1st

• House Appropriations Committee holds hearings on the Maryland Emergency Medical System Operations Fund and Maryland Department of Transportation. 1pm in room 120, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Senate Budget and Taxation Committee subcommittees hold several hearings:
• Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittee discusses higher education. 1pm in room 3 West, Senate Office Building, Annapolis.
• Health and Human Services Subcommittee holds hearings on Public Health Administration and the Office of Health Care Quality. 1pm in Amoss, Senate Office Building, Annapolis.
• Public Safety, Transportation, and Environment Subcommittee is briefed on the Judiciary and DPSCS. 1pm in Schweinhaut, Senate Office Building, Annapolis.
• Bureau of Labor Statistics releases national employment figures for January. The U.S. unemployment rate was 7.8 percent in December as employment and labor force participation both rose.

The (Very Busy) Week Ahead

As the Baltimore Sun so aptly put it, this week the Assembly shifts [its] attention from love to money.  In case you missed it, last week MBTPI testified in support of expanding property tax relief for renters.  This week we are submitting testimony on at least seven bills.


Monday, February 27^th

• Senate Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority, Workforce Development (DLLR), the University System of Maryland Office, and the UM Center for Environmental Science. 1pm, in 3 West, Miller.
• Senate Health and Human Services Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the State Board of Elections, the Office of Home Energy Programs (DHR), and the Infectious Disease and Environmental Health Administration (DHMH).  1pm in Amoss, Senate Office Building.
• House Education and Economic Development Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority and Funding for Educational Organizations (MSDE).  3pm in room 120, House Office Building.
• House Public Safety and Administration Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Judiciary, Office of the Attorney General, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.  3pm in room 150, House Office Building.
• House Transportation and the Environment Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the State Highway Administration (MDOT) and the Maryland Transportation Authority.  3pm in room 145, House Office Building.

Tuesday, February 28^th

• Senate Budget and Taxation Committee holds budget hearings on the Department of Information Technology, the State Retirement Agency, Maryland Supplemental Retirement Plans, and the Cigarette Restitution Fund.  1pm in 3 West, Senate Office Building.
• House Ways and Means Committee holds hearings on a number of proposed revenue measures beginning at 1pm in the House Office Building, including:
•  HB 784 (SB 249), which would reinstate the 6.25 percent income bracket for millionaires.  MBTPI supports this bill. [UPDATE: This hearing has been postponed to March 6th.] 
•  HB 836 (SB 523) would partially repeal the 1997 Tax Cut, by adding a quarter of a percent to each of the four existing tax brackets (over $3,000 of taxable income).  This bill is intended as an alternative to the Governor’s plan to reduce deductions for upper income taxpayers.  Unlike the governor’s plan this does not generate revenue for the counties.  MBTPI prefers the Governor’s proposal, but would support HB 836/SB 523 over the equivalent amount of damaging budget cuts. 
• HB 764 (SB 739) would require reviews of a wide range of tax credit programs every five years in order for the credits to be continued. MBTPI also supports this measure.   
• House Appropriations Committee holds a hearing on the revenue outlook for counties.  This will be particularly interesting in light of the debate over splitting teacher pension costs between the state and the counties.  1pm in the House Office Building.
• House Economic Matters Committee holds a hearing on the Rental Purchase Agreements Best Practices Act (HB 997/SB 778).  MBTPI supports this bill, which would force rent-to-own businesses to be more transparent with their customers and promote fairer business practices. A fiscal note is available. 1pm in the House Office Building.

Wednesday, February 29^th

• Wednesday will be a long day in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. The committee holds a hearing on the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (or BRFA, SB 152/HB 87).  The House Appropriations Committee will hold its hearing on the BRFA on Thursday.  MBTPI supports the Governor’s revenue proposals as responsible measures to support vital services.  However, revenue enhancements should be paired with an increase in the refundable state earned income tax credit (HB 331/SB 943). The committee will also hold hearings on:
• Reinstating the millionaire’s tax (SB 249/HB 784).  MBTPI supports this bill. 
• Partially repealing the 1997 tax cut (SB 523, see description for HB836 above).  MBTPI supports this bill.
• A constitutional amendment on the budget process.  SB 837 would allow the legislature to shift funds between budget items, so long as the total amount is not increased, and would give the Governor a ‘line item veto’ on items increased.   This amendment would make Maryland legislators full partners in the budget process. MBTPI supports this bill. 
• A bill to reduce the Board of Public Works (BPW) power to cut appropriations.  SB 838 would limit the BPW to cuts totaling 10 percent of the approved budget, down from 25 percent.  The bill would also require proposed cuts to be presented to the legislative budget committees a week prior to BPW consideration.
• House Health and Human Resources Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (DHMH), the Office of Preparedness and Response (DHMH), and the Department of Housing and Community Development.  1pm in room 150, House Office Building.
• House Public Safety and Administration Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the State Treasurer, the Office of the Public Defender, the Department of Information Technology, the Department of State Police, and the Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals. 1pm in room 120, House Office Building.
• House Transportation and the Environment Subcommittee holds a budget hearing on the Department of the Environment.  1pm in room 145, House Office Building.

Thursday, March 1^st

• Senate Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the University of Maryland-College Park, University of Maryland-Baltimore, and Coppin State University.  1pm in 3 West, Senate Office Building.
• Senate Health and Human Services Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (DHMH), and the Office of Preparedness and Response (DHMH).  1pm in Amoss, Senate Office Building.
• Senate Public Safety, Transportation, and Environment Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Office of the Attorney General, the Department of State Police, the Maryland Energy Administration, and the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund.  1pm in Schweinhaut, Senate Office Building.
• House Appropriations Committee holds its hearing on the BRFA (HB 87/SB 152), which MBTPI supports, along with an increase in the refundable state earned income tax.  See first item in Wednesday above.
• House Environmental Matters Committee holds a hearing on modifications to the Neighborhood and Community Assistance Program (HB 731).  This bill increases the amount of contributions eligible for a 50 percent state tax credit from $2 to $5 million (increasing state costs from $1 to $2.5 million) and allows preference to be given to projects in Neighborhood Conservation Districts designated by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.  This is a limited but valuable source of funds for community level service programs which MBTPI has traditionally supported. 1pm in the House Office Building.

Friday, March 2^nd

• House Appropriations Committee holds budget hearings on the Department of Juvenile Services and the Governor's Office for Children & Interagency Fund.  1pm in room 120, House Office Building.
• Senate Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Department of Business and Economic Development, the Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals, the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission, and MHEC Scholarship Programs. 1pm in 3 West, Senate Office Building.
• Senate Health and Human Services Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Medical Care Programs Administration (DHMH). 1pm in Amoss, Senate Office Building.
• Senate Public Safety, Transportation, and Environment Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT) and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. 1pm in Schweinhaut, Senate Office Building.