Legislative Digest

State proposes hiking boat fees

The Capital - The Department of Natural Resources is proposing drastic increases in boat registration fees to raise money for dredging, buoy maintenance, ice-breaking and other water projects. Read more ...

O’Malley elaborates on gas tax proposal

Daily Record - Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposal to phase in a 6 percent sales tax on gasoline includes money for local road repairs, rules to make it harder to shift transportation dollars to other purposes and a mechanism to delay implementing the tax if gas prices spike. Read more ...

In State of the State Address, Governor concedes tax proposals won't be popular

Baltimore Sun - Governor O'Malley cast his proposals to raise a series of taxes and fees as necessary "public investments" in the state. To help close a $1 billion budget gap, he has proposed raising taxes on the top 20 percent of earners – including two-salary families earning $100,000 – by reducing deductions and exemptions. Read more ...

Bill in Congress to boost small business contracting

Washington Post - The GET (Government Efficiency Through) Small Business Contracting Act would increase the small business contracting goal for government agencies from 23 percent to 25 percent for primary contracts, which, if met, would amount to roughly $11 billion in additional federal spending allocated to small businesses each year. The bill also lifts the minimum subcontracting goal from 35.9 percent to 40 percent for each agency. Read more ...