2014 Session

During the 2014 legislative session, MDCEP focused on a number of issues that affect working Marylanders, particularly legislation to raise the minimum wage and expand the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit. Our work also looked at potential reforms to corporate taxes and immigration enforcement. And of course, followed the state budget and the the decisions lawmakers faced in their efforts to cope with reduced revenue projections .

While the productive session saw important progress on many of these issues, particularly the minimum wage and EITC, the General Assembly left a number of issues on the table, especially concerning health policy, as the legislature failed to enact proposals to streamline Medicaid enrollment, require employers to provide paid sick leave, and expand access to health care while discouraging smoking.  Progress in other areas was also undercut by detrimental steps in the wrong direction, especially legislation that will cut the estate tax, a measure sure to increase inequality in Maryland. Efforts to address these issues should be central to the 2015 legislative agenda.

You can find material on these issues below and throughout the site including testimonyreports, and fact sheets, as well as on our blog, Maryland’s Money Matters.

Study: Recent EITC Expansion in MD will Make Taxes More Fair, Reduce Inequality

May 15, 2014 by Sean Miskell
Working Marylanders with the lowest earnings will pay slightly less of their income in taxes — 9.9 percent compared to read more

House of Cards or Race to the Bottom?

March 26, 2014 by Sean Miskell
While the series ‘‘House of Cards’’ depicts politics as a deeply corrupt charade in which key players scheme and backstab read more

Statement in Support of HB 198 – EITC Expansion

March 19, 2014 by Benjamin Orr
Increasing Maryland’s Refundable EIC Would Reduce Inequality Given before the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee The Maryland Center on Economic read more

Statement in Support of HB 954 – Streamlined Medicaid Enrollment

March 11, 2014 by Sean Miskell
Given before the House Health and Government Operations Committee   Streamlining Medicaid enrollment will help more Marylanders receive health coverage The read more

Statement in Support of HB 29 – Law Enforcement Trust Act

March 6, 2014 by Sean Miskell
Carrying out federal immigration detention requests costs money that can be better used elsewhere Given before the House Judiciary Committee read more

Statement Opposing HB 739 – Estate Tax Expansion

March 5, 2014 by Sean Miskell
Raising the estate tax exemption increases inequality, harms Maryland’s economy Given before the House Ways and Means Committee read more

Statement Opposing SB 602 – Estate Tax Expansion

March 5, 2014 by Sean Miskell
Raising the estate tax exemption increases inequality, harms Maryland’s economy Given before the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee read more

Millionaire Estate Tax Supports Maryland Economy; Family Farms Protected

March 5, 2014 by Benjamin Orr
The estate tax is a small but important part of Maryland’s revenue system. It raised $182 million in Fiscal Year read more

Statement in Support of SB 554 – Law Enforcement Trust Act

February 27, 2014 by Sean Miskell
Carrying out federal immigration detention requests costs money that can be better used elsewhere Given before the Judicial Proceedings Committee read more

Putting the Issue to Rest – Why Automatic Minimum Wage Increases Make Sense

February 21, 2014 by Sean Miskell
Raising Maryland’s minimum wage to $10.10 an hour is vital to the state’s economic prospects, but – as legislation proposed read more
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