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.