2016 Session

Decisions made during the 2016 legislative session will affect the prosperity of average Marylanders for years to come.

Legislators will have some key opportunities this session to support a higher standard of living for all Marylanders. They can respond to Governor Hogan’s call to help working people make ends meet by expanding the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit to cover the 355,000 people who currently get little or no benefit from the credit, despite very low wages. And they can benefit the state’s economy by ensuring that Marylanders don’t have to choose between their health and their job by supporting legislation allowing all workers to earn paid sick leave.

It’s likely to be a fast-paced, combative 90 days, as the governor pushes tax cuts that many legislators realize would threaten the ability to preserve quality education and other essential services in Maryland.

You will find material on these and other issues that arise during the session below and throughout the site including testimonyreports, and fact sheets, as well as on our blog, Maryland’s Money Matters.

New Laws Move Maryland Forward

October 3, 2016 by Kali Schumitz
When new laws went into effect on Saturday, our state took some important steps forward in creating a more vibrant read more

Veto of Clean Energy Jobs Act Harms a Growing Industry

June 8, 2016 by Kristina Li
CC0 Public Domain Author: chrischesneau When he vetoed the Clean Energy Jobs Act, Gov. Larry Hogan took an action that read more

2016 Session Leaves Missed Opportunities to Help Working Marylanders

April 13, 2016 by Kali Schumitz
When this year’s legislative session began, there was the potential for the General Assembly to take meaningful steps to help read more

Approved State Budget Leaves Unmet Needs

April 1, 2016 by MDCEP
Maryland’s new state spending plan does not do all it could to meet the needs of families still struggling to read more

Expanding Maryland’s Earned Income Tax Credit Doesn’t Require Costly Giveaways to the Wealthy

March 30, 2016 by MDCEP
Position Statement Supporting Senate Bill 840 with Amendments Given before the House Ways and Means Committee The Earned Income Tax read more

Where the Senate and the Governor Differ on the Budget

March 22, 2016 by MDCEP
The biggest disagreement between the Maryland Senate and Gov. Larry Hogan over this year’s budget is over whether to help read more

A Giveaway to the Wealthiest is not “Tax Relief for Everyone”

March 17, 2016 by Benjamin Orr
Some Maryland senators are advocating for tax giveaways to the wealthy and calling it “tax relief for everyone.” As appealing read more

State Budget Should Plan for People Returning to Medicaid

March 16, 2016 by Kristina Li
Decision makers in Annapolis appear willing to gamble on passing a budget that likely won’t meet the state’s needs. It read more

Not All Tax Cuts Are Created Equal

March 15, 2016 by Benjamin Orr
Photo by K Whiteford As leaders in Annapolis grapple with how best to support Maryland’s continued economic progress, both the read more

Maryland Needs a Better Way to Determine How to Fund Vital Services

March 10, 2016 by MDCEP
This week’s political sparring between the governor and the legislature over how important decisions are made about the state’s budget read more
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