Maryland lawmakers convene Wednesday with billions of dollars in unexpected revenue and plans to tackle legalizing marijuana, more ambitious goals to mitigate climate change, potential tax relief and a host of other long-simmering but unaddressed policy goals in the final legislative session before the fall election.
Gov. Larry Hogan said “fair” legislative maps were on his top three priorities for this year, after addressing violent crime and delivering some form of tax relief. He outlined five proposals at a Tuesday afternoon news conference, including eliminating taxes on retirement income, making permanent a cash payment to the working poor and giving tax breaks or financial incentives to manufacturers and developers who participate in certain state economic development programs.
“I’m not going to say right off the bat ‘It’s dead on arrival.’ But I will say this: when you cut taxes, it’s like spending money. It won’t come back,” House Appropriations Chairwoman Maggie McIntosh said.expect prolonged debate over how to best use an enormous pool of cash at policymakers’ disposal. The sum is so large it could accommodate massive infrastructure spending, some targeted tax relief and still pad the state’s savings account for years to come, lawmakers said.
Senate President Bill Ferguson said he could support a sales tax expansion in a time-limited way, but “something that’s a more permanent, large tax cut, I don’t think that’s going to be on the table.”“The top things Marylanders care about are health and our economic future,” Ferguson added. “We’re going to continue to have to be nimble and respond to the areas that are in the greatest, greatest threat. That includes our most vulnerable around us.
Hogan on Monday pitched using some of the money for a $500 million, three-year plan to bolster law enforcement, including nearly half — $220 million — to raise salaries of police officers across the state. He’s also signaled he’d renew his push for tax relief for retirees, something Republican legislative leaders agreed is a top concern for the GOP caucus.House Minority Leader Jason C. Buckel and Senate Minority Whip Justin D.
Democrats agree, but don’t see tougher sentences as the sole solution. Many want to stronger oversight of the state’s parole and probation system. “We are seeing levels of violence across the state of Maryland that are simply unacceptable and untenable,” Ferguson said, adding that responsibility for implementing a comprehensive crime strategy lays at the feet of local and state governments. “The legislature only has so much leeway for what are inherently executive functions,” he said.
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