Response to Governor Moore’s FY2026 Budget

For Immediate Release
January 29th, 2025

Governor Wes Moore's FY 2026 budget proposal falls short of addressing the pressing needs of Marylanders. While I appreciate the virtue signalling to finally address Maryland’s regressive taxation system, I strongly believe that the proposal does not go far enough in implementing a truly progressive tax system. Moore’s proposals are too little too late, and all Marylanders will pay the price.

Moore’s modest tax increases only kick in for individuals making over $500,000 per year and households making over $600,000 per year. This “wealth tax” only affects about 1% of Marylanders and does not solve our revenue problems, still leaving a deficit of billions of dollars in future years. This budget still keeps us in a deficit now and makes our state's finances vulnerable to future shocks.

And there will be further shocks: Governor Moore's budget proposal is woefully inadequate to deal with the devastating impact of the Trump administration's policies on our state. In his first week in office Trump has completely frozen (and then unfrozen) federal hiring and funding, suspended NIH research, ordered a halt to all federal grant spending, and begun his plan for mass deportations. Each of these policies will heavily damage Maryland’s communities and significantly weaken our economy. With Republicans in D.C. signaling their full support, and Democrats putting up minimal resistance, it will only get worse for Maryland. 

Beyond these direct attacks on Maryland’s communities, workforce and tax base, D.C.  Republicans promise cuts to federal funding for education, health, and transportation. This will pose significant threats to Maryland’s economy and Moore’s budget – and Maryland’s economy won’t be strong enough to stand up to it.

Moreover, the timing of these tax increases is years late. In 2019 – when the Kirwan commission recommendations came out, proposing a nearly 40 billion dollar investment in Maryland’s public education system over a decade – the nonpartisan Office of Management and  Budget advised the state would need to significantly raise taxes to pay for it. In 2020 – when the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future passed, implementing the Kirwan Commission recommendations – Democrats refused to pass progressive taxation legislation to pay for it. Instead, they chose to nibble around the edges by applying new sales and vice taxes, raising fees, and transferring costs to counties. Year after year budget professionals advised that taxes would need to increase and year after year Democrats in Annapolis refused to seriously take up progressive tax reforms, because to their leaders it was politically inconvenient. 

Now we all are paying the price. Key investments in education, healthcare, and other vital services are being cut in this budget. The cuts, especially to the Blueprint funding for the most impoverished schools, are forcing our most vulnerable young people and communities to bear the brunt of the Democrats' delays in paying for their progressive education program. 

But what's even more concerning than the too little, too late tax policies is that the proposal continues to use Annapolis budget tricks to pass costs on to taxpayers through increased fees and local taxes. This is a regressive approach that raises the cost of living significantly and disproportionately places financial burdens on working families and individuals. It is also just dishonest. On the one hand, Governor Moore and the Democratic leadership tell us most Marylanders will get tax breaks of $150-$300; on the other hand, they continue to pass increased fees, taxes and unfunded mandates on to the counties, which are then passed on to taxpayers.

Perhaps most telling, however, is that the stability of Moore’s future projections in this budget proposal are based entirely on flimsy corporate tax giveaway policies designed to lure corporations to Maryland. These policies are not likely to succeed and even less likely to be sustainable. This is especially true given their heavy reliance on a speculative and volatile  technology sector which seldom delivers meaningful benefits for local and state workforces and tax bases, all the while, taking money away from programs that counties have used to establish existing businesses. This pro-corporate tax giveaway policy is the type of bipartisan economic growth that has led Maryland to one of the worst post-COVID-lockdown recoveries in the nation, while increasing the cost of living each and every year. 

Not to be outdone, Annapolis Republicans took a break from cheering on President Trump’s plans to destroy Maryland’s economy in order to comment on Moore’s budget.  They have rightly called out the reliance on hidden taxes and fees and the speculative economic growth plan. Unfortunately their counter proposal seems to be: maintain (or worsen) Maryland’s regressive income tax system;  cut much needed funds for education, transportation, and environmental programs; and form a “Freedom Caucus” to argue on social media. We know by now that these kinds of trickle-down policies won’t work in Maryland.

The Democrats’ approach to the Maryland economy is progressive programs and regressive taxation; the Republican’s approach is bootstraps and austerity, cutting taxes and eliminating services. Of course, there is one thing they do agree on: they both are eager to give tax breaks and lower taxes to corporations. None of this is sufficient to create an economy that works for everybody and leaves no one behind.

As a candidate for the Green Party’s nomination for Governor, I'm committed to building a solidarity economy that puts people and the planet at its core. Our vision is rooted in the principles of local worker ownership, equitable access to capital, community repair, and reinvestment. To achieve this, I'll fight for a budget that truly serves all the people of Maryland, not just the interests of the wealthy and well-connected, with a focus on progressive, equitable, and just investments in our future. At the heart of this vision is a commitment to transparent and simple taxation, where every Marylander can easily understand their share of the tax burden and how their tax dollars are being spent, and where corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share without exploiting loopholes and deductions. By simplifying our tax code and shining a light on the budget, we can create a more just and sustainable economy that works for everyone, not just the privileged few.