From Del. Mary Ann Lisanti:
Dear Friends,
As we transcend the half way point of the 2018 Legislative Session, I would like to take this opportunity to update you on legislative initiatives I will be presenting this week. Additionally, the Economic Matters Committee of which I am a member, held a nearly 9 hour hearing this past Friday on reforms for the alcoholic beverages industry that I would like to bring to your attention.
Health care Facilities Legislative Package
From the initial announcement of a Freestanding Medical Facility several years ago, I have been a vocal proponent for access to health care for the surrounding communities in Harford and Cecil Counties most effected by the impending closure of Harford Memorial Hospital. And since I have worked with most healthcare companies in the environs of the aforementioned areas, I had the opportunity to contribute my experience at places like Marketreview.com on the insurances that the companies offer. Since that time I have watched this proposal develop and have been in continual contact with community leaders, the leadership at the Maryland Hospital Association, Upper Chesapeake Health and the University of Maryland Medical System in order to advocate for a full service hospital. I continue to have concerns and demand that the process be open and transparent to all concerned citizens and stakeholders.
In addition to HB 614 that I have previously shared regarding hospital employee retaining and replacement, I have two subsequent bills that will be heard this week. HB 1540 requires the Maryland Health Care Commission to publish a notice of the proposed closing or partial closing of a health care facility within 10 days after receiving the notice from the facility to all elected representative in the service area. The Commission will be required to ensure that the proposed plan is available to the public for review. In addition, the Commission will be required to publish the notice in a locally circulated paper for 2 weeks in the region of the proposed closure and provide a written/mailed notice of any informal meetings or public hearing. Notice will also be required to be posted at the health care facility and public facilities in the geographical area. This legislation also sets requirements of what is to be included on the notice of closure or partial closure.
The final bill heard this week is HB 1621. If enacted, this legislation would direct the Department of Commerce to conduct a study on the economic impact of the closure of Harford Memorial Hospital in Havre de Grace, and the transfer of its services to another location. It also requires the Department to develop a revitalization plan for the City and report all its findings to members of the Senate Finance Committee and the House Economic Matter Committee. The closure of Harford Memorial, which covers 9 acres of downtown Havre de Grace, has a direct impact on our residents, businesses, and greater tax base of the city, therefore I believe this study will be an important tool as to how we move forward after the hospital downtown closes.
Military Retirement Tax Relief
For many years legislators in Annapolis have worked to make military retirement income tax free for our veterans. I am honored to be the lead and co-sponsor on a solvent legislative package with Delegate Pat Young from Baltimore county. These bills are intended to provide veterans with income tax relief. HB 327 would phase in over multiple years until 2021, the limitation of military retirement income that may be subtracted from federal adjusted gross income for Maryland tax purposes. By 2021, all military retirement income would be able to be subtracted from taxes. Our second bill (HB 1048) will totally exempt military income from taxes beginning January 1st of this year!!! Our third bill, (HB 1051) is the new funding source.
If you are interested in supporting this bill, I ask that you show your support for this legislative package by doing one or more of the following:
1. Send an email of support for (HB 327, HB 1048 and HB 1051) to Ways and Means at http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=cmtepage&tab=subject3&id=w%26m&stab=01&ys=2018RS&poptype=contact&popid=comm|w%26m or maryann.lisanti@house.state.md.us
2. Testify in person for HB 327, HB 1048 and HB 1051 at the Ways and Means Committee tomorrow at 1:00pm.
3. Provide written testimony for HB 327, HB 1048 and HB 1051 by emailing it to ahiob@house.state.md.us and we will make sure it gets to the Ways and Means Committee in time for the hearing.
4. Call the Ways and Means Committee at 410-841-3469 and leave a message with the secretary that you support HB 327, HB 1048 and Harford Countyrong>1051.
5. Spread the word to your contacts.
Statewide Alcoholic Beverages Hearing
Friday was Alcohol Day in my committee, Economic Matters. In addition to the bill known at “Reform on Tap” that has been proposed by the Comptroller and alcohol regulator, Peter Franchot, there were several other important bills discussed. Our hearing began at 1:00pm and ended Friday evening around 9:30pm. A few of these important bills proposed an outright ban on powdered alcohol, repealing a state law that prohibits persons with an intellectual disability from legally purchasing alcohol, requiring “Maryland Made” wines to be produced with at least 50% of Maryland grown grapes, and adding the Harford County Farm Fair to a list of other county fairs that permit wine and beer tasting provided by local wineries and breweries.
Several other independent bills address issues such as, removing limits on the amount of malt beverages a brewery may produce, distribute, and consume off premises. Each are major public policy issues that deserve much public discussion because alcohol is a regulated product that impacts health and public safety. A task force was also proposed to bring producers, distributors, and retailers together with public policy and health professionals to examine these issues in totality in lieu of promoting one sector of the 3 tiered system.
I value your input as my sub-committee wrestles with these important issues.
These initiatives have the potential to impact a large variety of Marylanders so please don’t hesitate to contact my office if you have any questions or concerns regarding legislation or how I can assist you. It’s a great privilege to serve the people of Harford County and I always appreciate hearing from you while serving in Annapolis.
Sincerely,
Mary Ann Lisanti
Delegate, District 34A
Can someone please explain why military retirement should be tax free?
I agree with you for many reasons.
Stop all of these tax breaks for the military, fire fighters, EMS and the police.
These folks chose their respective occupations, knowing the salary, benefits and responsibilities of the same.
The revenue “pie” is only so big, and every time one sub group of pie makers are exempted, it places additional financial burden on the non- exempted!
Why should someone who spent a 20 years fixing auto engines in the military then retires and gets another job doing the same thing for the government get a tax break? Are they more special than my mechanic?
YES ! Your mechanic didn’t fix engines while ghouls were at the wire chomping at the chance to slit his throat. Your mechanic didn’t tolerate what the military has to tolerate.
I bet y’all are the same people who have “support our troops” bumper stickers and get mad when a player kneels for the anthem. You care about our vets in speech only…. If MD can put out $3B in tax incentives for one corporation, surely we can extend a pittance to the hundreds of thousands of vets who live here already, and encourage more to retire/ live in MD.
You would be wrong
Piss off.
Has Jerry Scarborough killed any dogs lately?
When you have lived your job/career on a 24/7 schedule and put your life on the line which means you go out and serve the duty and may not come home…then you too can wreak the benefits..until then and only then, go ahead and hate but you should appreciate.
The overwhelming majority of military employees pay no state taxes. They claim residency in Florida, Texas, Tennessee, etc. even when they may be stationed at apg for years.
Taxation is theft
Stop using my screen name. Taxation is a combination of crimes because our rights have been infringed upon. It is theft because the Constitution is a covenant and the government has broken that covenant. Taxation is a power granted to the government because it observes our rights and since many of our rights have been defecated upon by the treasonous government, taxation is constitutionally forfeit. Taxation is extortion because if you don’t pay the taxes the government will steal your property and harm you in a multitude of different ways. Taxation is terrorism because if you mislead or lie about your income that the taxes are calculated they put you in jail for tax evasion. The government can not guarantee your safety in jail and has placed you there against the Supreme Law of the Land due to taxation being constitutionally forfeit. If WE THE PEOPLE don’t have the rights guaranteed to us in the Constitution, WE THE PEOPLE don’t owe a tax to the federal or state governments because taxation is a power granted in the Constitution. I can’t believe that the entire country can’t see this. It is so obvious that he government has become void of constitutional regard that the forfeiture of taxation should be just as obvious…..
Is anyone else here tired of this loon SoulCrusher?
Ted, you responded to someone using my screen name and I probably would never have commented in this article. However, the false crusher of heads, holes and souls did state the truth and I elaborated on it in my reply. If you’re tired of me, then don’t read what I type. If you think I’m a loon, I want you to know that I think every person in this country is a loon because they are paying a tax to a government that has no claim to the tax it levies on the people. My question to you is why do you think the government is entitled to a tax when it has desecrated the Constitution? Is Federal taxation not a power listed in the Constitution? Is State taxation not a power listed in the Maryland Constitution? Does not the Maryland Constitution state that the US Constitution is the Supreme Law of the Land? You really need to think about this….