For Immediate Release
Media Inquiries:
(240) 686-3510 | media@mdpolicy.org                                                                   
December 19, 2024     

ROCKVILLE, MD – Today, the Maryland Public Policy Institute called on state lawmakers to consider pausing the implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future as they grapple with the budget gap during the upcoming legislative session.
 

“Based on recent reporting, it seems that our state’s budget shortfall is growing by the day. Lawmakers know they face an unprecedented fiscal challenge when they get to Annapolis next month, and they know future deficits are driven largely by their unfunded education plans. It’s time for them to consider the most obvious solution - pushing the pause button on implementation of the Blueprint,” said Christopher Summers, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Maryland Public Policy Institute.
 

In recent years, Maryland has done a great job of coming up with big ideas and a poor job of managing its finances. Unfortunately, it’s one of the biggest ideas – the Blueprint – that’s creating the biggest problem for the state budget. And the trouble doesn’t stop there – county leaders have spoken up about the difficulties posed by the Blueprint’s unfunded mandates on local budgets as well.
 

Summers continued, “MPPI polling has shown that 63% of Marylanders opposing tax increases to cover Blueprint costs. This aligns with recent polling by UMBC showing that 76% of Marylanders don’t want to pay more taxes in return for more government services. State leaders have said that ‘everything is on the table’ when it comes to fixing the budget deficit. It’s time for lawmakers to listen to their constituents and take a look at their biggest budget-buster.”

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The Maryland Public Policy Institute is a nonpartisan public policy research and education organization that focuses on state policy issues. The Institute’s mission is to formulate and promote public policies at all levels of government based on principles of free enterprise, limited government, and civil society. Learn more at mdpolicy.org.