This Week at the General Assembly: February 14, 2014 |
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Commission on Tax Policy, Reform and Fairness (HB554)
 | | Delegate Kathleen Dumais(D-15) Montgomery County |
Delegate Kathleen Dumais (D-15) introduced legislation to establish a commission to study, consider, and make recommendations regarding tax policy. She introduced similar legislation in 2013. This year, Senator Brian Feldman (D-15) has cross-filed this bill in the Senate. MCCC's VP of Public Affairs, Ilaya Hopkins, will submit written testimony in support of HB554/SB625. The House Bill is scheduled to be heard in the Ways and Means Committee on Friday, February 14.
We also congratulate Delegate Dumais on being recognized by her colleagues on February 12 as the recipient of Casper Taylor Founder's Award.
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Business Relief and Tax Fairness Act of 2014 (SB395)
Also known as "Combined Reporting," Senator Paul Pinsky of Prince George's County (D-22) introduced SB395, which would require specified corporations to compute Maryland taxable income using a combined reporting method. MCCC has consistently opposed combined reporting. Ms. Hopkins testified in opposition of the bill in person at the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee hearing on Wednesday, February 12.
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Maryland Minimum Wage Act of 2014 (SB331/HB295)
At the request of the O'Malley Administration, President of the Senate, Mike Miller, and Speaker of the House, Michael Busch, introduced legislation to raise Maryland's minimum wage to $10.10 per hour. MCCC testified on Montgomery County bill 27-13 in October 2013 on the issue. Given the range of our membership and varied nature of their businesses, MCCC believes that minimum wage is an issue that should be regulated at the federal level.
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MCCC tracks bills, submits written testimony and testifies in person in Annapolis on pieces of legislation throughout the General Assembly Legislative Session. Visit MCCC's Legislative Action Center to keep up-to-date on the issues and bills we are tracking. You can see text from written testimony as well as follow links to the actual pieces of legislation.
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What's Happening in Montgomery County |
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Montgomery County Environment and Energy Bills Package
Montgomery County Councilmember Roger Berliner (D-1) introduced a package of environment and energy bills in early 2014 intended to address climate change at the local level. Ms. Hopkins testified in person at the Montgomery County Council Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy, and Environment Committee (T&E) hearing on Tuesday, February 12. To see a video of the testimony, click here and go to Evening Hearings, February 11 (MCCC begins at 4:20). To see written testimony, click here. To read an article in Bethesda Now, which highlights key testimonies from the February 11th hearing, click here.
Included in this package is Bill 7-14, Contracts and Procurement Certified Green Business Program, which encourages businesses to become green certified. In 2009, MCCC together with the Department of Environmental Protection and Montgomery College, helped establish the voluntary Green Business Certification Program with the support of Councilmember Nancy Floreen.
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The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is a non-political organization and does not endorse candidates. We will be sharing information with members regarding events and activities surrounding the elections that they may be interested in attending.
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Purple Line NOW! Gubernatorial Candidate Forum
Purple Line NOW! is hosting a Transportation Forum with Maryland's Gubernatorial Candidates on Tuesday, February 18, at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center on the Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus. Click here for information. The forum begins promptly at 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcast by Montgomery College Television.
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BCC Chamber Montgomery County Executive Democratic Candidate Debate
The Bethesda Chevy-Chase Chamber of Commerce is hosting a debate for the Democratic candidates in the Montgomery County Executive race on March 7, 2014 from 7:30-10:00am, at the Hyatt Regency in Bethesda. Registration required. Click here for more information.
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The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) supports local, state and federal legislation that protects, enhances, and leverages our assets and promotes economic prosperity for Maryland. This message highlights MCCC advocacy activity in Annapolis and Montgomery County. To learn more about our advocacy work, visit our Advocacy Page.
For more information, contact Ilaya Hopkins, VP, Public Policy, MCCC at (301)738-0015 or ihopkins@mcccmd.com.
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