With a looming budget deficit in Maryland, our schools, transit services, health care and other essential services are on the line this year. Despite strong public support for policies that close corporate tax loopholes and end tax breaks that only benefit the wealthy few, some leaders in Annapolis are still saying we should cut our public services more instead of enacting these policies.

The Fair Share for Maryland Act (HB 1014/SB 859) would reform Maryland's tax system to make sure everyone pays their fair share so our communities have what they need, without raising taxes on working families or small businesses. In fact, more than a million Marylanders would benefit from a tax cut if this bill were to pass. With only several more weeks left in the legislative session, your legislators need to hear from you!

Critical budget hearings are happening this week and next week, including the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee having a hearing on SB 859 next week, and we want to flood the Senate offices with calls of support from constituents urging them to pass this critical revenue raising measures. You can learn more about the Fair Share for Maryland Act here.

Please sign up for only ONE 10 minute slot and make all your calls during that timeframe on Thursday, 2/27. If you are not able to make a call in one of the remaining empty timeslots, please call whenever you can - but, if possible, prioritize filling an empty timeslot. Read below for additional instructions on how to call your electeds.

INSTRUCTIONS

Use the phone numbers and script below as a guide, but feel free to share any personal reasons for why you support the Fair Share for Maryland Act. If someone from the office does not pick up, please leave a message.

We ask that you sign up for a timeslot and make three calls: Senate President Ferguson, Budget & Taxation Committee Chair Guy Guzzone, and your own Senator. You can find your State Senator and their phone number here.

Senate President Bill Ferguson: 410-841-3600
Budget & Tax Committee Chair Guy Guzzone: 410-841-3572
Your Senator

*If your senator is Ferguson, Guzzone, or Hettleman, you will only make two calls: one to President Ferguson and one to Chair Guzzone. If your senator is Benson, Rosapepe, Lewis Young, or M. Washington, thank them for co-sponsoring the bill and ask for their support moving it through the Senate.

*If you are a JUFJ member: after you make your calls, please fill out this form: https://jufj.org/mdga-outreach/. This will help us know if you talked to staff or left a voicemail, and any other important information from your call that we can share with coalition partners as we continue to strategize about how to pass this legislation.

Remember to thank the staff you talk to - they work hard and have fielded a lot of our calls!

CALL GUIDE

Please note that legislators' staff have told constituents that it sounds like they are reading from a script. We want you to be aware that this is a possible response you may receive, that you should feel free to personalize the script, and that the most important thing is to use your voice and make a call, regardless of whether you use the script or your own words!

Hi - my name is YOUR NAME, and I'm calling to urge Senator NAME to pass the Fair Share for Maryland Act, SB 859. I'm very concerned about plans to close Maryland's budget gap through drastic cuts to critical programs and services, while the state continues to give away millions in business tax breaks through corporate loopholes and an upside down tax system that benefits the wealthy, despite overwhelming evidence that this doesn't boost our economy. Over a third of large corporations don't pay any income taxes in Maryland, while working families and small businesses pay more than their fair share. The Fair Share for Maryland Act is a comprehensive proposal of smart reforms to close corporate loopholes, ensure the wealthiest residents pay their fair share, adequately fund our public services, help our state thrive and be competitive, and deliver tax relief to over 1 million working families. I urge the Senator to vote YES on SB 859. Thank you.