Carozza Stands with Taxpayers during Veto Debate
The Senate of Maryland reconsidered House Bill 1300—Blueprint for Maryland’s Future—Implementation, which was vetoed by Governor Larry Hogan in 2020 given the bill’s fiscal impact.
“We have a blueprint costing nearly $40 billion over 10 years, a Kirwan plan that we simply cannot afford, especially in the midst of an international health pandemic, and which does not provide local flexibility and control which is especially needed during the COVID-19 crisis,” Senator Carozza said on the Senate Floor, noting that she was appointed to the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education (Kirwan Commission) in 2019 and before that made the extra effort to attend Commission meetings in 2018 and 2017.
“Since March of 2020, my primary focus has been assisting my constituents with both their immediate COVID-19 needs and with their long-term recovery,” Senator Carozza said to her colleagues. “I strongly believe our constituents expect us to balance the ideal with the possible when it comes to funding Maryland’s education priorities, which means factoring in the reality of the significant state and local fiscal impacts, and balancing education and non-education priorities, especially during a global health pandemic.”
Carozza also spoke out during the debate on an override of House Bill 732— Taxation – Tobacco Tax, Sales and Use Tax, and Digital Advertising Gross Revenues Tax, which establishes a tax on digital advertising. Carozza voted against the increase and voted to sustain the Governor’s veto.
“Here we are, we have been working together on the COVID-19 emergency relief package and I’m proud of our bipartisan work together …but then we turn around and we’re going to increase taxes during the COVID-19 recovery,” Senator Carozza said during her Floor remarks.
During the debate Senator Carozza read from an email she received from a constituent in Bishopville, Worcester County, who was concerned about the possibility of tax increases.
“I have been a Maryland resident for all 66 years of my life but if taxes are increased I will be forced to flee Maryland and move two miles away (Delaware) where it is far more affordable. Please vote against increasing taxes and vote for a decrease in taxes for senior citizens in my beloved state of Maryland,” the constituent wrote.
Both vetoes were overridden on mostly party lines.
