The Maryland State House. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.
Maryland lawmakers will begin debating afresh this week two of the topics that dominated the last legislative session: a multi-billion education reform plan, and a $350-million tax bill to fund it.
But there’s a new wrinkle to the continued debate ? an emergency bill filed by Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) on Friday that he says will prevent tech giants from passing along an estimated $250 million tax on digital advertising to Maryland small businesses.
The potential pass-through of the ad tax to Maryland small businesses has been a chief criticism of business groups and Republican Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R).
“These misguided bills would raise taxes and fees on Marylanders at a time when many are already out of work and financially struggling,” Hogan wrote in a veto letter in May. “With our state in the midst of a global pandemic and economic crash, and just beginning on our road to recovery, it would be unconscionable to raise taxes and fees now.”
