Friday Five | February 5, 2021

Did you know: Many historic African Americans have called Baltimore home, including Thurgood Marshall, Frederick Douglass, Isaac Myers, Billie Holiday and Cab Calloway.

Each Friday, the Maryland Chamber will bring you the top five news stories from the intersection of business and government. Here are this week’s top five stories.

 1. 2021 Board Nominations – The Maryland Chamber of Commerce

The 2021-2022 nominating committee led by Gracelyn McDermott, incoming chair of the Maryland Chamber Board of Directors, has begun its work and is now accepting nominations for the Maryland Chamber Board of Directors. Maryland Chamber members and Maryland Chamber Federation members should submit quality candidates by Friday, March 5, 2021, to christineross@mdchamber.org. Candidates must meet the following criteria:

• a Maryland Chamber member in good standing
• an executive leadership position in a member organization
• ability to serve a one- to three-year term of service
• residence and/or business operation in Maryland
• ability to attend at least four meetings per year
• ability to vote in a quorum
• willingness to serve without compensation

Learn more in the letter from Gracelyn McDermott, available here.

 2. Help Sustain Governor Hogan’s Veto and Stop the Digital Ad Tax

Over 200 businesses and thousands of Marylanders have joined Marylanders For Tax Fairness in the fight to sustain Governor Larry Hogan’s veto of House Bill 732 – Digital Advertising Gross Revenues Tax. If the bill passes into law, taxes will rise on any business or any person who uses digital advertising to market their services. Act now and support Maryland job creators by contacting your legislators and urging them to STOP the $250 MILLION digital ad tax.

To connect with your legislators, please click here.

Read Maryland Chamber President & CEO Christine Ross’ take on the digital ad tax in an op-ed in Maryland Matters here.

 3. Hogan Expresses Optimism Amid Pandemic in State of the State Address

On Wednesday, February 3, 2021, Governor Larry Hogan held a 19-minute virtual State of the State address where he confidently stated Maryland will ultimately triumph over the hardships associated with the coronavirus pandemic. He gave an overview of the state’s progress in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, noting that 570,000 shots have been administered. He asked Marylanders to be patient and urged the federal government and manufacturers to increase production and speed up the distribution process.

During his speech, Hogan also addressed lawmakers and asked for the expeditious approval of his administration’s $1 billion stimulus package, the RELIEF Act. The Senate is expected to hold a final vote today, February 5, 2021. If it passes, the House of Delegates is expected to consider the bill next week.

To read more, please click here.

We have launched an advocacy campaign to support the passage of the RELIEF Act to support Maryland’s economic recovery. Click here to ACT NOW and urge your legislators to support Maryland businesses.

 4. Build by the Fourth of July

The Maryland Chamber of Commerce has joined more than 200 organizations on the new Build by the Fourth of July initiative, calling on Congress to promptly enact a fiscally and environmentally responsible infrastructure package that stimulates the economy. We invite your organization to join us in reaching out to members of Congress and urge them to make a pledge to Build by the Fourth of July, which will accelerate the economic recovery and build the resilient low-carbon economy of the future.

To join the effort, please click here.

5. Governor Hogan Recognizes February as Black History Month in Maryland 

To celebrate Black History Month, Governor Hogan has partnered with the Banneker-Douglass Museum and Reverend Tamara Wilson, chair of the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture, to highlight the contributions of iconic Black Marylanders to our state’s history and future. Click on the video below to see their inspiring stories.

Check out our Maryland Chamber Events Page for all of our Upcoming Webinars, Briefings, and Sponsored Events!

Upcoming Calendar of Legislative Briefings and Hearings

Wearing a mask in public lets us live life more safely. And it keeps you and everyone around you better protected from coronavirus. The more we mask together, the faster we get back to enjoying life…together. So, just carry on, masks on, Maryland.