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December 17, 2007

Maryland Chamber's 2008 Business Agenda

The Maryland Chamber’s Board of Directors recently approved its 2008 Business Agenda. Priorities for the 2008 General Assembly session include: Repealing the hastily adopted sales tax on computer services. Revising... More»

November 19, 2007

Special Session Results in $800 Million in New Business Taxes

The General Assembly concluded its 3 week special session today by enacting $1.4 billion in new taxes, $400 million in possible future state budget reductions, and authorizing slots at up... More»

November 2, 2007

Green Fund Costly For Business

The Green Fund bill is being heard in the House Environmental Matters Committee today. The bill would impose an impervious surface fee assessed on residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional properties.... More»

October 30, 2007

Maryland Chamber Opposes the Elimination of Electric Generation Tax Grants

Maryland Chamber Vice President of Government Affairs Ron Wineholt provided testimony today in opposition to provisions of the Budget Reconciliation Act (SB1/ HB1) that would eliminate $31 million in annual... More»

July 25, 2007

Maryland Energy Summit

The Baltimore Sun’s Jay Hancock is at the Maryland Energy Summit, and he has posted an update to his blog. Read more here. According to a press release, the Governor... More»

June 21, 2007

NAM: The Energy Bill Turns Bad

The National Association of Manufacturers issued a “Key Vote” letter today opposing the energy bill being debated in the U.S. Senate. On its blog, www.shopfloor.org, NAM said, “H.R. 6, the... More»

April 11, 2007

2007 Session Recap

We’ve posted a preliminary recap of the session. We’ll expand on it later this week.... More»

March 23, 2007

News & Notes for March 23, 2007

Rascovar: Showdown over health insuranceMiller says this extra tobacco tax revenue will be needed to close the state’s $1.5 billion budget deficit next year. He also notes the tobacco tax... More»

March 16, 2007

News & Notes for March 16, 2007

Opponents decry tax proposalTestifying against the bill was Karen Syrylo, a tax consultant with the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, who said 40 percent of current state sales tax revenue is... More»

March 8, 2007

Business Coalition Opposes Rubber Ducky Bill

The Maryland Chamber joined together with a number of business groups to oppose HB 833, legislation that seeks to ban a wide range of popular consumer products that contain Bisphenol-A... More»

February 27, 2007

News & Notes for February 27, 2007

Tax-increase discussions under wayThe Maryland Chamber of Commerce has called on the General Assembly to tap economists and accountants to undertake a comprehensive study of the state’s tax structure. Kathleen... More»

January 26, 2007

News & Notes for January 26, 2007

New year, new governor, new outlookBusiness leaders are hopeful that more can get done this year on issues such as reducing the cost of health insurance for employers, while keeping... More»

January 25, 2007

California Car Bills to be Heard Today

The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee will hold a hearing on clean car legislation (SB 51 and SB 103) today at 2 p.m. I posted some details, courtesy of the Maryland... More»

January 23, 2007

Are California Cars Coming to Maryland?

Maryland Automobile Dealers Association (MADA) President Peter Kitzmiller briefed the Chamber’s Legislative Committee yesterday on SB 51/HB 44, the Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2007. There’s already been a lot... More»

October 23, 2006

2007 Business Agenda Released

During last week’s meeting of the Maryland Chamber’s Board of Directors, the Board adopted the Chamber’s 2007 Business Agenda. The agenda outlines the Chamber’s priorities for the coming year and... More»

April 12, 2006

Highlights and Lowlights of the 2006 General Assembly Session

The Chamber took positions on 169 bills this session. Click here for the highlights and lowlights. Related info: The Gazette: Annapolis ’06: A collapse at the wire Assembly minds business... More»

March 21, 2006

AG: Bills Targeting Liquid Natural Gas Facilities Preempted by Federal Law

In a letter requested by Sen. John J. Hafer (R-Dist. 1), Maryland Assistant Attorney General William R. Varga stated that he believes legislation introduced to prohibit the construction of operation... More»