April 9, 2008 -

Tech tax is repealed; GBC was active participant in repeal efforts

Maryland's tech advocates breathed a collective sigh of relief as the House of Delegates on April 5 officially killed the 6 percent sales tax on computer services that the General Assembly had hastily enacted during last November's special session. Read more

March 20, 2008 -

Computer tax repeal hinges on replacing 'phantom' revenue

Lawmakers reacted sympathetically to the strong case made at recent General Assembly hearings by the GBC and other business advocates who urged the repeal of the computer services tax. Read more

March 10, 2008 -

Fiscal note confirms Maryland's disadvantage with computer tax

With committee hearings on repealing the state's computer services tax scheduled for March 12, an analysis of information in the fiscal note recently issued by the Maryland Department of Legislative Services confirms that the tax would put Maryland at a significant competitive disadvantage. Read more

Feb. 27, 2008 -

Data illustrates significance of Maryland's computer services industry

Following up on my thoughts last week regarding the need to repeal the pending 6 percent sales tax on computer services, we thought we would check the data regarding the importance of the computer services industry sector to Maryland's economy. Read more

Feb. 21, 2008 -

Maryland's new computer tax defies realities of 'business physics'

There's a term that some Maryland lawmakers use to explain why they supported legislation passed during the 2007 special session to expand the state's 6 percent sales tax to include computer services. Read more

Feb. 13, 2008 -

House committee sets March 12 hearing on computer tax repeal

On March 12 the House Ways and Means Committee will hear testimony on 10 bills that either repeal the sales tax on computer services or amend the tax in a number of ways. The hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Read more

Feb. 1, 2008 -

Key Senate, House committee chairs discuss key issues during 2008 General Assembly session

Despite tax increases and savings enacted by the November special session, there remains a "desperate need" for revenue sources, Lisa A. Gladden, senate majority whip and vice chair of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, told GBC members at the GBC's Legislative Forum on January 28. Read more

Jan. 28, 2008 -

Computer services tax repeal bill draws 72 sponsors in House

A House bill that would effectively repeal the computer services tax has drawn 72 co-sponsors -- a majority of the 141-member House of Delegates. The bill, HB196, whose primary sponsor is Howard County Delegate Shane E. Pendergrass, is one of more than a dozen bills filed so far in the General Assembly this year that would either repeal or alter the sales tax on computer services that was enacted during the special session. Read more

Jan. 28, 2008 -

Unfinished business looms for "tax-fatigued" lawmakers

After enacting more than $1 billion in added taxes and other new revenues during the 2007 special session, "tax-fatigued" lawmakers are anxious to move on to other issues in the 2008 session of the Maryland General Assembly. Read more

Jan. 8, 2008 -

Computer services tax repeal, strong business incentives, protecting transportation funding among GBC 2008 priorities

Repealing the recently-enacted sales tax on computer services, strengthening incentives for business investment, and protecting state funding for roads, transit, port and airport resources will be among the Greater Baltimore Committee's priorities as lawmakers convene on January 9 for the 2008 Maryland General Assembly session. Read more

Jan. 4, 2008 -

Computer services tax repeal, stronger business incentives, protecting transportation funding among GBC priorities for 2008 legislative session

Repealing the recently-enacted sales tax on computer services, strengthening incentives for business investment, and protecting state funding for roads, transit, port and airport resources will be among the Greater Baltimore Committee's top priorities as lawmakers convene on January 9 for the 2008 Maryland General Assembly session. Read more

Dec. 11, 2007 -

GBC urges repeal of newly-enacted computer services tax

The Greater Baltimore Committee will urge state lawmakers during the 2008 regular session of the General Assembly to repeal legislation passed during the recent special session that extends Maryland's sales tax to a wide range of computer services, GBC president & CEO Donald C. Fry announced today. Read more