As we navigate the uncertainty of this global pandemic, Marylanders are counting on their state and local governments more than ever. We are counting on our public services to help keep everyone safe and healthy, and to ensure that families don’t go hungry or lose their housing as their paychecks shrink or disappear. Hundreds of thousands of jobs depend on the continued delivery of state and local services and so do the local businesses those workers support. This means that significant public investment is necessary to prevent further deepening of the wealth gap and to get our economy going again, once this public health crisis has passed. To date, our state-level policymakers have passed legislation, promulgated rules, and issued executive orders to “flatten the curve,” rescue small businesses, and most importantly, protect Marylanders, during these unprecedented and volatile times. However, one thing is clear – the economic effects of COVID-19…

Photo via Creative Commons Maryland legislators took one very important step to address Maryland’s housing crisis by ensuring that people using government assistance to fund a portion of their rent have the same choices of where to live as other Marylanders. Other significant reforms to housing were under consideration, but with the legislature adjourning early due to COVID-19, they did not pass. After decades of trying, Maryland finally passed the HOME Act, barring discrimination against renters based on their source of income. The bill adds source of income protections to the current list of prohibited forms of housing discrimination and will ban landlords from not accepting Housing Choice Vouchers. Maryland now joins 15 other states plus the District of Columbia with effectively banning this type of discrimination against renters. Additionally, the Homes for All package included three new bills that would have lifted zoning restrictions on new housing, generated a…

Photo by Anna Shvets While there is enormous uncertainty about the severity, duration, and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is increasingly clear that the crisis is causing deep economic harm to Maryland communities, in addition to the severe public health impacts. Our state and federal governments have taken a number of positive steps to support workers, families, and businesses amid the growing economic upheaval. However, the work needed to prevent widespread hardship in the coming months and years is far from complete. As Maryland’s experiences during and after the Great Recession made clear, the state and federal governments must take bold action and resist the temptation to return prematurely to business as usual. We have already seen a historic spike in unemployment insurance claims, and experts predict Maryland could lose nearly 350,000 jobs by July—costing about one in seven private-sector workers their jobs. It is impossible to know…

Photo by Miguel Montejano As policymakers take increasingly aggressive steps to slow the spread of coronavirus, business closures and layoffs have amplified fears of an economic downturn. While policymakers’ immediate focus must be to protect Marylanders’ health, it is also vital to take effective steps to minimize the economic damage—and to avoid harmful missteps. Swift action to protect Marylanders who face the greatest health and economic risks can minimize the immediate damage, while protecting basic investments like education and transportation is essential to a strong recovery. As working families struggle to pay bills and local businesses watch sales plummet, the most prudent way to support needed investments is by asking large corporations and wealthy individuals to pay their share. It doesn’t require any special expertise to know that the coronavirus pandemic threatens Maryland’s economy. Business and school closures, furloughs and layoffs, and a plunge in consumer spending all naturally lead…

As you enjoy time with friends and family between now and the end of the year, you may be considering a donation to your favorite nonprofit. If you usually give to nonprofits that provide essential services directly to those in need, a donation to a research and advocacy organization like the Maryland Center on Economic Policy is a great way to complement that generosity. Together, we can work to advance state policies that help Maryland families make ends meet, reducing the need for thinly stretched nonprofit resources to fill in the gaps. With the help of our supporters, MDCEP has made significant progress for every Marylander over the last six years. As an independent, nonpartisan nonprofit, we rely on funding from foundations, partner organizations, and generous individuals to keep doing this important work.   The Cause Our donors help us advance policies that support struggling low- and moderate-income families and…

The Trump Administration has proposed yet another rule that could potentially roll back civil rights laws that help fight discrimination in housing, education and many other areas of American life. The rule would significantly change the standards by which a person or entity can sue to end discriminatory practices through what is now known as the “disparate impact” claim. If the proposed rule is passed, it would potentially weaken many civil rights laws that currently protect people who have historically experienced racism and discrimination. Disparate impact refers to policies or practices that seem neutral or fair on the surface, but they have many consequences that can negatively and disproportionately affect certain groups or people. While the dismantling of the disparate impact claim causes many concerns for advocates in education, transportation and environmental organizations, there is a larger concern for housing advocates as they were roughly 29,000 reported housing discrimination complaints…

Continuing its attacks on immigrant communities, the Trump Administration recently attempted to do away with the ban on keeping children detained indefinitely and discontinue deferred deportation for immigrants receiving medical treatment. The administration’s new public charge rule, which will make it more difficult for immigrants to qualify for visas and permanent residency if they access safety net programs that they are legally eligible for or don’t meet stringent income requirements, was scheduled to take effect October 15 but was delayed due to a pending court case. Regardless of the ultimate outcome of the public charge case, Maryland policymakers should double down on policies that help to remove barriers to success for immigrants and their families. Maryland can foster community well-being and strengthen its economy by adopting policies that afford all residents, regardless of their immigration status, the opportunity to thrive. Maryland is home to about 250,000 residents who are undocumented.…

For the third year in a row, major reforms to Maryland’s education system will be on the agenda when the General Assembly convenes for its 2020 session less than four months from now. Lawmakers will have to choose whether to commit to the investments necessary to create a world-class education system in Maryland, or to instead continue to prioritize tax breaks that benefit powerful special interests but do nothing to help our economy. Despite over-the-top rhetoric from Governor Hogan and others, strengthening our investments in public schools is the right choice to build broadly shared prosperity in Maryland for decades to come. Maryland’s history of school funding choices since the turn of the century tells a story of progress and retreat. After lawmakers passed the Bridge to Excellence in Public Schools Act of 2002, the state and counties ramped up their investments in education for six years straight. These investments…

Labor Day is a time to honor workers’ contributions to our communities and our country. Unfortunately, too many workers in our state don’t earn enough to make ends meet, have little control over their work schedules, and have little or no paid time off. Working people deserve better. A recent federal proposal offers a promising path forward. The bill — known as the Working Families Tax Relief Act — would help 46 million households across the country pay the bills while boosting their children’s opportunities to succeed. The proposal would strengthen the highly successful Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), putting more money back in the pockets of working people at tax time. And, it would increase the Child Tax Credit, helping millions more kids in low- and middle-income families get a good start in life. The Working Families Tax Relief Act would support working people across Maryland who help drive…

Among the funding Gov. Hogan may withhold is $127 million for school repairs.Photograph by Eli Pousson/Creative Commons Public Domain Marylanders may once again see schools and other services essential for broad prosperity funded at levels below what meets public needs due to an ongoing disagreement between the governor and legislature about the budgeting process. Funding for school construction, public safety programs, and other priorities remains in limbo as Governor Hogan decides whether to spend $182 million the legislature designated for a variety of needs. Maryland’s budget is largely controlled by the governor. Unlike most states, the Maryland legislature has limited powers to adjust the governor’s budget. Legislators can reduce allocations, but not increase or move funding, unless they convince the governor to go along with them. In the process of reviewing the governor’s proposed budget during this year’s legislative session, the General Assembly identified some areas that needed additional funding.…