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Maryland Legislative Session Opens, Hogan Lays Out Agenda

msa.maryland.gov

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Maryland lawmakers are gathering for their annual 90-day legislative session.

The General Assembly convenes at noon on Wednesday.

Democratic leaders who have majorities in the Senate and House say they will be working to maintain funding priorities, particularly in education.

Gov. Larry Hogan battled with Democrats over the state budget last year, the governor's first session after winning office in 2014. Hogan wanted more tax relief, and Democrats pushed for more education funding.

The governor decided against spending $68 million for education Democrats fenced off in the budget, and the standoff is fresh in the minds of legislators.

House Speaker Michael Busch says Democrats want to work with Hogan, but he says they won't simply be a rubber stamp. Hogan says he is continuing his push for more tax relief.

Hogan Tax Cut Plan 

Hogan put forward his five year plan for $480 million in tax cuts during a news conference yesterday.  

Governor Larry Hogan (R-Md)
Credit Governor's Office
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Governor's Office
Governor Larry Hogan (D-Md)

The Maryland Republican said he wanted to eliminate the state’s 8.2 percent corporate income tax for 10 years on new manufacturing to create jobs in rural areas like the Eastern Shore.

In addition, the governor wants to phase in over a four year period a personal tax exemption for seniors who are 65 and older to $5-thousand.

That would be above the $1-thousand exemption already in place.

The governor also wants to speed up the increase in the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit.

His office says that would $27 million over the next two years for those earning less than $53-thousand a year.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.