It has been a very busy week as the General Assembly approaches “Crossover” on Monday. This is the deadline for bills to pass and “crossover” to the opposite chamber without having to clear extra hurdles once they get there to advance to committee. Bills not making the crossover deadline are less likely to pass during the Session, however, there are always exceptions.
It has been a very busy week as the General Assembly approaches “Crossover” on Monday. This is the deadline for bills to pass and “crossover” to the opposite chamber without having to clear extra hurdles once they get there to advance to committee. Bills not making the crossover deadline are less likely to pass during the Session, however, there are always exceptions.
It has been a very busy week as the General Assembly approaches “Crossover” on Monday. This is the deadline for bills to pass and “crossover” to the opposite chamber without having to clear extra hurdles once they get there to advance to committee. Bills not making the crossover deadline are less likely to pass during the Session, however, there are always exceptions.
This week, we have spent a lot of time in committee and on the Senate floor and have been passing many “third readers” over to the House.
This year, we know that the budget bills and legislation focused on energy and utility bills will not crossover before the deadline and will be worked out before the end of Session.
On Wednesday, Maryland’s business community came to Annapolis to testify against SB 1045 – the proposed new 2.5% sales tax on business-to-business services. Hundreds of small business owners testified in the Senate and the House and shared their concerns about this tax will cripple their operations and potentially chase them out of Maryland.
The deficit and budget issues Maryland is facing predate the current concerns coming out of Washington. We are now paying the price for not investing in our private sector and creating an environment that allows them to thrive. Despite this unfriendly climate, these business owners have chosen to stay in Maryland, but instead of supporting them, Democrats are handing them the invoice to close our budget deficit.
You can’t claim you want to grow our private sector economy and then support raising taxes on job creators.
Unfortunately, Governor Moore is noticeably absent from this conversation. He has stated time and again that growing Maryland’s economy is his top priority while specifically touting investments in the life science and technology sectors, yet he is quietly standing by while his fellow Democrats are poised to introduce this new tax and crush the very industries he’s promoting. Maryland’s private-sector business community needs the Governor focus on the economic growth or our state and end his silence by forcefully opposing this brand-new tax on services.
This Session I, along with Delegate Hinebaugh, brought forward Senate Bill 399/House Bill 1270 in order to increase utilities and transmission infrastructure in our Western Counties. Currently, District 1 residents (and other Marylanders) are suffering from rising energy costs. The goal of this bill is outlined in the fiscal note.
As explained in the Cumberland Times News:
Families and employers across the state and of all income brackets are enraged that at a time of abundant American energy, their electric bills are skyrocketing. This is forcing many to cut back on spending and in some cases having to choose between keeping the lights and heat on or a long overdue car repair or new clothes for their children.
Already a costly state in which to do business, increased power costs mean less hiring, more layoffs and higher prices for customers. Many are predicting that Western Maryland, especially Allegany County, will be among the hardest hit areas of the state when additional price hikes go into effect later this year.
While interstate energy markets are complex, the simple reason for higher prices is not enough power supply to meet current and expected demand running on an outdated grid and inefficient transmission lines. This last point can’t be minimized. Our increasingly digital personal lives, education, careers, entertainment, communication, health care, government services and the broader economy not only require massive amounts of electricity but also the ability to deliver it safely, reliably and efficiently. Our highways need to be repaved regularly and sometimes widened to meet demand and the same is true of our transmission infrastructure, much of which is more than half a century old.
The fact is Maryland needs upgraded and additional transmission infrastructure to power our economy and our increasing reliance on digital devices and cloud computing. Legislation introduced by Maryland State Del. Jim Hinebaugh (R-Dist. 1A), HB1270, and an identical companion bill by Sen. Mike McKay (R-Dist.1), SB399, in the Maryland Senate take the right approach when it comes to a vital new transmission line through Garrett and Allegany counties.
As conservatives, the Land & Liberty Coalition believes in the importance of responsible stewardship of our natural resources while also promoting economic growth and energy independence. The legislation, which exempts certain areas in the Big Savage Mountain Wildland, Bear Pen Wildland and Dan’s Mountain Wildland from designation as wildland areas, addresses both priorities by routing the new line parallel to an existing Potomac Edison transmission line that already runs through these wildlands.
Compared to potential alternative routes, HB1270 and SB399 would ensure that the new line has less impact on residents, farms and businesses. And because it would also be a much shorter route than alternatives it will save money, involve less forest clearing and have a smaller footprint on wetlands and trout streams.
One of the primary benefits of HB1270 and SB399 is the potential for economic growth and job creation. By allowing the construction of overhead transmission lines in these areas, we can facilitate the development of critical infrastructure projects. These projects not only create jobs during the construction phase but also support long-term employment opportunities in maintenance and operations. In a time when many communities are struggling economically, this bill provides a much-needed boost to local economies.
HB1270 and SB399 also play a vital role in enhancing our energy independence and security. By enabling the construction of new transmission lines, we can improve the reliability and efficiency of our energy grid. This is particularly important as we seek to reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources and ensure a stable and secure energy supply for Maryland residents. A robust and modern energy infrastructure is essential for our state’s economic resilience and our national security.
While environmental conservation is important, it must be balanced with the current and future needs of our communities and economy. Importantly, the legislation ensures that any development in these wildland areas is subject to a Public Service Commission certificate of public convenience and necessity, which includes rigorous environmental reviews and the opportunity for public input. As such, the CPCN process guarantees that projects are developed responsibly and with minimal impact on the environment.
As conservatives, we fully support this bill as it aligns with our values of conservation, economic prosperity, energy security and responsible governance.
I also want to hear from you. As you all know, I serve Garrett, Allegany, and Washington Counties and all of your voices are important to me. The best way to represent you is to have your voice heard. Please feel free to contact my Annapolis Office at (410) 841-3565 or my District Office at (240) 362-7040. My public email address is now mike.mckay@senate.state.md.us. Please feel free to email me at anytime. I also have a District Office at the Williamsport Town Hall. It is on the second floor in the first office. Our mailing address below remains the same however.
I continue to be your voice and advocate in Annapolis so I want to hear from you. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or what I can do to help you. I am on the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and the Executive Nominations Committee. All of our hearings are streamed live on Youtube and the MGA website.
If you are interested in seeing where my bills are in the process, you can create a MyMGA account or you can click here to view bills I am sponsoring by clicking “Legislation” under my name. You can sign up to testify on any bill you wish.
Sincerely,
Mike