Headlines from HJM: March 3, 2020

Businesses, education advocates clash in Annapolis over Maryland sales tax proposal

Publisher Name : Baltimore Business Journal
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.
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Md. business groups denounce plan to expand sales tax

Publisher Name : The Daily Record
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.
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As Businesses Oppose Tax Bill, Sponsor Willing to Deal

Publisher Name : Maryland Matters
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.
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This week in Maryland politics: Lawmakers consider sales tax expansion to pay for public school improvements | VIDEO

Publisher Name : The Baltimore Sun
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.
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3 Coronavirus Tests in Md. Come Back Negative; Hogan Attends WH Meeting

Publisher Name : Maryland Matters
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.
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Del. Walker, Arrested for DWI, Temporarily Relinquishes Leadership Post

Publisher Name : Maryland Matters
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.
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5,000 emails in three hours: Blast of opposition to Md. bill expanding sales tax

Publisher Name : The Washington Post
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.
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Delegate: Bill would strengthen Maryland’s ethics laws, hold officials accountable | COMMENTARY

Publisher Name : The Baltimore Sun
In January, Gov. Larry Hogan dubbed this legislative session the “Accountability Session.” I couldn’t have come up with a better theme myself.
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Baltimore council acting too quickly to change city’s government structure | COMMENTARY

Publisher Name : The Baltimore Sun
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.
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