The Week Ahead

Last week we blogged about Senate budget action, hunger in Maryland, and the good and bad news about transportation. Neil Bergsman also appeared in a Washington Times story about the gas tax. MBTPI also submitted Senate testimony in support of a Earned Income Disregard pilot program, and expanding education funding.

For the week of March 25th to March 31th:

• Both houses have passed their versions of the operating budget. Work now moves to conference committee, to iron out differences between the two versions of the bill. The constitutional target for passing the operating budget is next Monday, April 1st (the 83rd day of the session). Work continues on the capital budget.
• The House passed the transportation finance package last week. Action now moves to the Senate (SB 1054). MBTPI supports the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013, but only if it is paired with an expansion - by amendment or a separate bill (i.e. SB 703) - of the refundable portion of the state earned income tax credit.