- Some Democrats believe pushing through the Legislature to collect hundreds of millions of dollars worth of taxes and fees could sway voters toward Republicans, enough to help former Gov. Larry Hogan win a Senate seat. Some people are concerned that it has a sexual nature.
- “If you go back to 2014 and 2018, I don’t think it’s brain science to know what happened in Maryland and how the former governor was successful. So the background is very real. And we have to be honest about it,” Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson told The Associated Press.
- Hogan, a moderate who was one of the most popular governors in the country when he left office, could face U.S. Rep. David Tron or Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks in the November general election. expensive.
As the Maryland General Assembly seeks to levy hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes and fees, some Democrats say the policy will strengthen former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan’s Senate campaign, which is already close to a narrow margin. There are concerns that the party could lose its majority.
That concern is further amplified by the need for federal aid to rebuild Baltimore’s collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge.
A Republican hasn’t won a Senate race in Maryland since 1980, but Hogan is widely believed to be the party’s best chance in decades. Mr. Hogan’s political advantage is largely due to his criticism of tax increases during his upset victory in 2014, which resonated with tax-weary voters.
Republican Senate candidate Larry Hogan begins bus tour of Maryland as he faces Democratic challenger
“If you go back to 2014 and 2018, I don’t think it’s brain science to know what happened in Maryland and how the former governor was successful. So the background is very real. And we have to be honest about it,” Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore) said in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Hogan began building popularity early in his first term by cutting rates across the state in 2015, but he has been quick to criticize revenue measures that led to a budget showdown between the two chambers. He said Wednesday that the original $1.3 billion proposal in the Maryland House of Delegates would “cost jobs and hurt Maryland families already strained by historic inflation.” did.
“Enough is enough,” Hogan wrote on X. “Let’s send a message that it’s time to refuse to raise taxes and end politics as usual,” he said.
Democrats hold a slim majority in the U.S. Senate, 51-49. And although Mr. Hogan was originally elected governor because he opposed tax increases supported by the Legislature, Maryland’s race is unusually competitive in a state that is already heavily Democratic.
Late last month, a Washington Post University of Maryland poll showed Hogan remained the overwhelmingly popular politician in Maryland, making the normally solid blue state a competitive choice for Republicans. It has become clear that there is a possibility of changing the state. But while his potential opponents are still relatively unknown, polls also show that Maryland voters are still likely to prefer a Democratic Senate.
Democratic Rep. Ben Burns, chairman of the Maryland House Appropriations Committee, said the issue of state transportation funding cannot wait a year and is asking why the Legislature, with Democratic majorities in both chambers, should wait. I have doubts whether it is necessary.
“I’m not afraid of Larry Hogan,” Burns said. “I don’t think any of us should be afraid of Larry Hogan. I think voters will vote in this U.S. Senate race based on national issues. I think the main thing we’re looking forward to is solving it.”It was created by Larry Hogan, and his eight years of neglect of the Transportation Trust Fund caused the shortage. ”
Then-Maryland Governor Larry Hogan speaks at the Maryland State Capitol on January 10, 2023 in Annapolis, Maryland. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
Still, some Democrats say now is the time to pass the state House of Delegates’ proposed transportation and K-12 education funding, when lawmakers can wait a year and postpone potential political headwinds. I’m wondering if it’s time to propose a package of tax and fee increases to help pay for it.
“This will be a factor in our decision-making process next year,” Ferguson said. “The composition of the U.S. Senate is critical to the future of long-term investment in Maryland.”
Maryland Democrats typically don’t have to worry too much about Republicans in the state capital, as they hold strong majorities in both the state House and Senate and have a 2-1 advantage in voter registration statewide. But Mr. Hogan is unusual for a Maryland Republican, having won two statewide elections. That’s something none of his potential Democratic opponents have done, including U.S. Rep. David Trone and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks.
Democratic Gov. Wes Moore proposed a balanced $63 billion budget for next year with no tax increases in January, but he said raising taxes this year would face “very high hurdles.”
The Maryland Senate kept its budget plan largely intact this month despite lower revenue estimates released after the governor submitted his plan. But the House of Representatives has amended the budget law to include new revenue, much of it from various transportation-related user fees and corporate tax reform. The Senate has largely accepted the House version, with Ferguson excluding the corporate tax component. He also ruled out legalizing internet gambling this year, another part of the House plan.
Senators negotiating with House members have said they hope to raise about $250 million in revenue, but House negotiators say that’s not enough. With the differences still unresolved and less than a week left in the session, Moore announced on Monday night that the president would extend the session by 10 days beyond the scheduled adjournment at midnight Monday if necessary. issued an order.
In December, the state transportation secretary proposed cuts of about $3.3 billion to Maryland’s six-year transportation spending plan, as inflationary pressures compound the problem and the fact that traditional funding sources are not keeping up with costs. That’s the reason.
Ferguson said the Senate-approved budget invests in the state’s priorities without raising taxes and leaves enough money in the rainy day fund to avoid rushing revenue. He said that He also noted that the bridge collapse only emphasized the need to maintain a Democratic majority in the Senate.
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“This is about the long-term future of the nation, and that’s the political reality within which we have to operate,” Ferguson said.
