Dear Friends,
It’s hard to believe that there are so few remaining days of summer. I hope you are enjoying this beautiful weather that is providing some relief from the scorching heat we’ve had.
These are challenging days. We awaken to daily assaults on the due process of law and civic norms, with much uncertainty ahead. Congress recently passed the Reconciliation Act which is likely to have significant impacts on our most vulnerable residents. Many egregious provisions will not be implemented until after the next election, beginning in 2027. Our non-partisan, Department of Legislative Services has reported that significant alterations in how the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Payment (SNAP) and Medicaid are administered will likely result in reductions in food assistance to over 100,000 households and healthcare services to roughly 150,000 individuals.
Some Maryland households may benefit from a rise in the cap on the deduction of state and local taxes from $10,000 to $40,000 which may result in lower revenue to the state, and most of the individual tax provisions benefit the wealthiest among us. It is difficult to predict the full impact to our hospital system and budget. To read an analysis of how we expect the bill to impact Maryland, click here.
We’re about to find out how the President’s mercurial approach to tariffs will impact the economy, as new levies are applied to imports. There is no doubt that the rise in energy costs is also contributing to households’ budget heartaches. These issues are complicated, so I’m including an article here that will shed some light on transmission costs and the impact of the proliferation of data centers (which help to feed our appetite for artificial intelligence), and other factors that drive up costs. Many of you have also written with concerns about a reduction in choice of energy providers, and I’m working with colleagues to seek a fair solution to this issue that also protects consumers from the abuses that had existed under the old system. Rest assured that my colleagues and I continue to seek ways of addressing issues that contribute to rising costs.
On a brighter note, you can shop tax free this week as students prepare to return to school. You can learn more about what’s covered and what’s not here. And, the Baltimore area, including Towson, was recently named as one of the best places in the country for new college grads to get a job.
These are busy days in Baltimore County as the council considers a new redistricting map resulting from voters’ approving an expansion of the council to 9 members. Please review the maps here and consider sharing your views with the councilmembers at their upcoming hearings.
Wishing you an enjoyable end to the summer and I look forward to being in touch soon. As always, if we can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to email us at shelly.hettleman@senate.maryland.gov.
Shelly L. Hettleman
Senator, District 11
Check out the full newsletter here.
Recent Comments