More than 100 business owners and advocates implored Maryland lawmakers to reject a proposal to expand the state sales tax to services, saying it would have a crippling effect on the local economy.

Members of more than 30 organizations and professional groups descended on the state capital Monday in opposition to a proposal that would expand the state’s sales tax on their businesses.

A multi-billion-dollar expansion of Maryland’s sales tax to most services drew hours of impassioned opposition during a Monday afternoon hearing before a House committee tasked with finding ways to raise enough revenue to fund an ambitious and expensive education reform plan.

Despite hopes that it could raise billions of dollars for Maryland’s public school improvements, a proposal to expand the state sales tax is gaining significant opposition.

Three people considered at possible risk for coronavirus in Maryland do not have the disease, the state Department of Health reported on Monday, though a fourth case has been sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for testing.

Del. Jay Walker (D-Prince George’s), who is facing DUI and DWI charges after being stopped by the Charles County Sheriff’s Department Sunday morning, called his arrest “unfortunate” Monday evening and said he looks forward to proving his innocence.

Lawyers, real estate agents, accountants and other small-business owners told a Maryland House committee Monday that expanding the sales tax to include professional services would devastate the economy.

In January, Gov. Larry Hogan dubbed this legislative session the “Accountability Session.” I couldn’t have come up with a better theme myself.

Over the past four years, City Hall has passed a lot of legislation, but it hasn’t brought people together to solve entrenched problems that need more than a bill signed into law after a couple of sparsely-attended hearings.