The Week Ahead

Last week we blogged about the cuts to food assistance that will arrive this fall, absent action from Congress. Also last week, Neil Bergsman appeared on WYPR's Midday with Dan Rodricks to talk about taxes in Maryland. You can hear a streaming podcast of the show here. Neil's segment can be heard around the 19 minute mark.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released several reports last week, including the monthly employment numbers by state and metropolitan area for June 2013 (not seasonally adjusted). Overall, the national unemployment rate this June was 7.8 percent, which was 0.6 percentage points lower than last June. Maryland's non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.5 percent in June, up from 6.9 percent in May. The Employment Situation Summary for July 2013 reported that the national unemployment rate reduced lightly by 0.8 percentage points, at 7.4 percent. Very little change occurred in most labor sectors and among most worker demographics since June.  

For the week of August 5th through the 11th:

• On Tuesday, August 6th, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will release its Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey at 10:00 am.
• On Wednesday, August 7th, the Workgroup on Access to Habilitative Services Benefits meets at 9:30 am at the Maryland Insurance Administration Hearing Room on the 24th Floor of St. Paul Plaza at 200 St. Paul Place in Baltimore.
• Later on Wednesday, the Vehicle Theft Prevention Council will be reviewing programs and budgetary issues for fiscal year 2014 at 10:00 am at the Loyola University Graduate Center at 8890 McGaw Road in Columbia.
• Also at 10:00 am on Wednesday, the Board of Environmental Health Specialists assembles at the Howard County Bureau of Utilities Building at 8270 Old Montgomery Road in Columbia. They may discuss/vote on proposed regulations, and a portion of the meeting may be held in closed session.
• Wednesday afternoon, the General Provisions Article Review Committee meets at 2:00 pm in room 241 of the House Office Building at 6 Bladen Street in Annapolis. They will be reviewing committee drafts.
• On Thursday, August 8th, the Maryland Health Insurance Plan Board of Directors have a board meeting at 9:00 am in Suite 630 of 1 Calvert Plaza at 201 E. Baltimore Street in Baltimore. Participants may attend in person or by conference call. For dial-in instructions, click here.