HB1363 (Human Services – Two Generation Family Economic Security Commission) passed both the House and the Senate before our early adjournment.
Late Wednesday, an Appropriations Subcommittee in the House unanimously voted against HB1628 that would have expanded the state\’s sales tax to everyday services.
Last Monday, I spent nearly seven hours in a marathon joint hearing with the House Appropriations and Ways and Means Committees and the Senate Budget and Taxation and Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committees on the bill that would implement the recommendations of the Kirwan Commission.
Following the work of the Economic Stability Study Group over the interim, including a Western Maryland Listening Session attended by more than 150 community leaders, I am pleased to share that the Study Group has put forth legislation to establish the Two Generation Family Economic Security Commission.
Last week\’s big event was Governor Hogan\’s 2020 State of the State Address. Maryland continues to thrive with Governor Hogan at the helm. His address focused on accountability in government, bipartisan collaboration, tax relief especially for retirees, and redistricting reform.
The biggest issue of the past week in Annapolis were votes to override the Governor\’s vetoes on several pieces of legislation in 2019. The House and Senate overrode 5 of 8 vetoes. I voted to sustain all of Governor Hogan\’s vetoes.
This year the Senate\’s Budget & Taxation Committee will work on the budget first, so in the meantime, me and my colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee are given a variety of briefings on topics that will be coming up in the budget and throughout the Session.
In Western Maryland, we celebrate and enjoy small town life, and the issues that affect our urban and suburban neighbors can seem far away. When it comes to the violent crime crisis in Baltimore City, it’s easy to ask, “why should I care?”
Last week, Governor Hogan submitted his FY21 Budget Proposal, which he dubbed his \”Accountability Budget\” to the General Assembly.