maryland chamber of commerce

Maryland's business leaders are pushing efforts to speak with a louder, more unified voice to state officials, seeing in federal budget cuts the necessity — or opportunity — of more attention for the private sector.

Raise Maryland, a campaign supporting the increase in minimum wage, said companies such as Walmart, Yum! Brands, McDonald's and Target are earning at the expense of their workers.

Worker advocates and law enforcement officials say a growing number of employers have violated wage and labor laws enacted 75 years ago in response to mistreatment prevalent during the Depression.

Maryland's second-in-command on economic development matters will step into the top job in January when the current secretary leaves for the private sector, state officials announced Wednesday.

Regardless of whether the president and Congress strike a deal or take the nation headfirst over the "fiscal cliff," federal taxes for some Marylanders will increase next year — and under some scenarios the pain could be worse than in other states.

Business leaders and county officials are urging the governor and General Assembly to increase Maryland's gas tax or find another way to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for road and transit projects — even in the face of public opposition.

Forty percent of Maryland workers — nearly 820,000 people — have no option to take time off with pay if they're ill, according to estimates from the Institute for Women's Policy Research. Now three Baltimore groups that advocate for workers are launching a campaign to make paid leave mandatory in the state, calling it a public health issue as well as a matter of basic fairness.

The court case on contributory negligence could have unintended consequences.

Many Maryland employers will see their per-worker tax for unemployment insurance drop by more than half next year, a sharp improvement after three years of maximum rates forced by recessionary layoffs.

State should go back to considering each substantial issue on its own merits

Maryland shed 6,000 jobs in April, the federal government said Friday — the largest monthly loss in the country as most states in gained, but one that might have been overstated.

A Maryland family making more than $175,000 will pay at least $254 more in income taxes this year under a revenue-raising plan the Maryland General Assembly is expected to take up when they convene for special session on Monday.

A bill passed by the Maryland legislature makes it illegal for employers in the state to ask current or prospective employees for their social media user names and passwords.

Gov. Martin O'Malley says he still hopes to convince the legislature to raise money for highway and transit projects — possibly by adding another penny to Maryland's six-percent sales tax and dedicating the extra revenue to transportation.

Gov. Martin O'Malley is expected to make a personal, perhaps quixotic pitch Wednesday for what could be the least popular proposal in Annapolis this year: raising the tax on gasoline.

Maryland employers added nearly 25,000 jobs last year, according to new estimates, the best performance since 2006 but one that still leaves the state with more than 80,000 jobs to make up from recessionary losses.

Democratic leaders in Annapolis have compiled a "To Do" list for the next 90 days that includes raising taxes, changing the definition of marriage, closing off big chunks of Maryland to development and opening even more casinos in the state.

Comptroller Peter Franchot is sounding like he's joined the tea party.