Important Hearing In Annapolis on February 10 – and Reimbursements Available

The Senate Budget & Taxation Committee will be holding a hearing on SB 190, Senior Tax Relief Act on Wednesday, February 10, 2010.  The hearing starts at 1:00 pm.  This bill, introduced by Sen. Mike Lenett, is our bill to increase the special tax exemption for elderly taxpayers from $1,000 to $3,200, matching the current special exemption for elderly dependents.  (Elderly = age 65 and over).  When the increase is fully in effect, the value to individual taxpayers will be about $170 each year.

Because 2010 is an election year, this the best opportunity we will have for getting this bill passed. It is most important that NARFE make a large showing of personal support for the bill at the February 10 hearing. Plan to attend.  Get with your neighbors and form a car pool.   After the hearing, the MD Federation will reimburse members who attend the $5 parking fee for the Navy Stadium lot, upon presentation of receipt.  Also, the Federation will reimburse each chapter $35 which has 3 or more members in attendance to help defray their transportation costs. 

Parking is available for $5 at the Navy Stadium, off Rowe Blvd, take exit 24 off US 50.  There is a free shuttle to State Circle.  Get off at Legislative Services.  The entrance to the Senate Office Bldg is down Rowe Blvd on the left.  You will go through Security, so have picture ID and leave all the sharp objects at home or in your car.  Be at Navy Stadium by noon.  Wear NARFE shirts, name badges, etc.

The companion bill in the House of Delegates is sponsored by Del. Jim Gilchrist.  It has more than 50 cosponsors.  No hearing date has been set yet.  There must be a similar large turnout for that hearing.

Contact Bill Ferguson (301-776-6993),  Dave Roseman ( 301-424-5652), or Dick Strombotne (240-632-9881) for more information.

SPECIAL NOTES:

The reimbursements discussed in the 2^nd paragraph above apply to member attendance at all other MD NARFE-backed hearings for the 2010 General Assembly.

Information relating to those hearings and/or bill status will be released on a flow basis via e-mail and/or posted at http://www. mdnarfe.org.    See http://mlis.state.md.us to get bill status, summary and text, find your legislators, etc.