Lawmakers Meet While Chamber Eyes Taxation, Regulation

On Tuesday, I outlined the push by the to get in the state of Maryland. It was the group’s top priority as the legislative session begins in Annapolis this week.

The chamber has six other legislative priorities, and I spoke with President and CEO Claire Louder to get the skinny on each. She said she is prepared to testify to lawmakers on each issue, but that the chamber is also working to attract everyday business owners to speak to members of the General Assembly when necessary.

Economic Development
With thousands of new workers in the area due to the growth at Fort Meade, the chamber said it wants to see development projects in the area move along faster. So, it is pushing to allow developers to build without as much red tape.

“We’re still not taking advantage of [the growth] the way that we should,” Louder said. “We’re advocating for any way that we can expedite action on development projects in the area around Fort Meade … it’s not that developers don’t want to comply with regulations, it’s that working their way through that bureaucracy is incredibly difficult.”

Workplace Regulation
In addition to seeking less burdensome regulation on development, business groups would like to see an easing of regulations governing workplaces in general. The chamber will focus on legislation impacting wage and benefit programs, unemployment insurance and the employer’s right to manage their workforce.

“[Businesses] spend an enormous amount of time trying to comply with regulations,” Louder said. “Maryland has a tendency to want to micromanage these things, and that causes significant hardships on small businesses.”

Education
The chamber said it wants to make sure local students are qualified to take advantage of the thousands of new jobs coming to the area. It will push for an expansion of STEM and International Baccalaureate programs at local schools, more programs at and more money to recruit qualified teachers.

Taxation
Though the chamber has supported an increase in the gas tax to help pay for transportation upgrades, leaders said they will oppose most other efforts to raise taxes on businesses. Of particular concern is a proposed sales tax on business services, and increases to taxes on corporations and higher earners. The issue of taxes will be a big one as the state seeks to find ways to close any budget shortfalls in 2012.

“Though our economy is in better shape than the rest of the United States, that’s not saying much,” Louder said. “Businesses are still struggling, and there are still plenty of people unemployed, and raising taxes right now—whether you call it a tax or a fee—now is not the right time.”

Health Insurance
The chamber did not weigh in on the issue of health insurance last year, because the new federal health care law was brand new. Now, chamber officials said they will push for the state to comply with federal statutes in a way that keeps competition alive and allows companies to control their health care costs. Specifically, the chamber will advocate that the mandates for state health care insurance be limited to those required by federal law, and that any Health Insurance Exchange operate in fair competition to the private health care market.

Government Procurement
Chamber officials want to make sure businesses have easy access to opportunities to work with the federal government and other contractors. It is pushing for more outreach at the county, state and federal level and better sharing of information. The chamber said it will form a Government Contractors’ Guild in 2012 to help local businesses get work.