Maryland Military Coalition - HB554-SB553-Keep-Our-Heroes-Home-Act

HB554 SB553 Keep Our Heroes Home Act

The Maryland Military Coalition (MMC) has asked the Commissioned Officers Association to send out this urgent ACTION ALERT on increasing the Maryland Income Tax Subtraction. They know that Legislators pay attention to emails and letters, especially from their constituents.

GOV. Wes Moore, a combat veteran, has proposed legislation that would over two years substantially reduce Maryland's tax on Uniformed Services' retired pay and eliminate the age 55 requirement in current law. Your PERSONAL engagement on this issue is needed to secure favorable votes in the Maryland General Assembly.

Below this message are two suggested emails for you to send to your respective State Delegate(s) and Senator. Here's how you can make a big impact on an issue that will affect you and your family's pocketbook:

Follow these simple steps.

Determine your state representative. Use this link; Enter your address and Zip code. RECORD THIS INFO. Or, when your state representatives' names appear, click on the lawmaker's email address and proceed to Step 2.

Send the email, BELOW, to YOUR Delegate(s). (You may have more than one). Cut and paste the email template below into your email. (Remember to use your personal email). Copy the Maryland Military Coalition at MDMilCoalition@gmail.com. This will help the MMC tally the numbers of emails sent.

Insert the needed info at the [XXX] and change to black. Feel free to modify the email as needed.

Send the SECOND email, BELOW, to your State Senator. Cut and paste the second email template into your email. Change the color of the email to black.

Share the Action Alerts with your Spouse, if applicable, and friends

Help Maryland Veterans, which INCLUDE the PHS, get a larger income tax exemption by sending your letters today.

#1 For DELEGATES

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Dear Delegate [xxx]

As a [30 year retiree] of the Public Health Service and YOUR CONSTITUENT, I write to urge your support and vote on HB 554, the “Keep Our Heroes Home Act”. This legislation would increase the income tax subtraction for military retirees from $15K to $20K in 2023 and $40K in 2024, while eliminating the current age restriction of 55.

The purpose of the bill is to keep highly trained and skilled leaders, who are leaving the military IN Maryland, where they might: become entrepreneurs who start small businesses that drive our economy; fill vacancies in the private sector, like the 20,000 cyber vacancies in and around Fort Meade; join the ranks of healthcare providers in Maryland, where we are experiencing critical shortages; or, take advantage of the Troops to Teachers program, helping with teacher shortages. These 2nd career jobs, which often continue 20 or more years, are FULLY taxable. That means that the bills could pay for themselves when more military retirees stay in or relocate to Maryland.

[Insert anything personal here]

Maryland needs to be more competitive. We don’t need to lose out on the contributions of this talented and attractive workforce can make as well as the $$$ they will spend in our local economies. Therefore, I urge your support of HB 554, and ask for your vote on this important issue.

Sincerely,

Name

Rank, Branch of Service

Address

[Life member, Member of XXX COA Chapter]

[Insert your District here]

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#2 For Senators

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Dear Senator [xxx]

As a [30 year retiree] of the Public Health Service and YOUR CONSTITUENT, I write to urge your support and vote on SB 553, the “Keep Our Heroes Home Act”. This legislation would increase the income tax subtraction for military retirees from $15K to $20K in 2023 and $40K in 2024, while eliminating the current age restriction of 55.

[Insert anything personal here]

Maryland needs to be more competitive. We don’t need to lose out on the contributions of this talented and attractive workforce can make as well as the $$$ they will spend in our local economies. Therefore, I urge your support of Senate Bill 553, and ask for your vote on this important issue.

Sincerely,

Name

Rank, Branch of Service

Address

[Life member, Member of XXX COA Chapter]

[Insert your District here]

Extra Credit

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Are you an over achiever? Send the Delegate letter to members of the House Ways and Means Committee. Change the salutation to the line below, and remove the phrase “and YOUR CONSTITUENT”. Copy the entire list of emails or send individual emails to each member.

Dear Chair Atterbeary and Honorable Members of the House Ways and Means Committee:

Vanessa Atterbeary	D 13 (Howard)	Vanessa.Atterbeary@house.state.md.us
Jheanelle Wilkins	D22 (MOCO)	jheanelle.wilkins@house.state.md.us
Dayla Attar	D 41 (Balt. City)	dalya.attar@house.state.md.us
Darryl Barnes	D 25 (PG)	Darryl.Barnes@house.state.md.us
Jason Buckel	D1B (Allegany)	Jason.Buckel@house.state.md.us
Nick Charles	D25 (PG)	nick.charles@house.state.md.us
Eric Ebersole	D 44A (Balt. Cty)	Eric.Ebersole@house.state.md.us
Kris Fair	D3 (Frederick)	kris.fair@house.state.md.us
Jessica Feldmark	D12A (Howard)	jessica.feldmark@house.state.md.us
Mike Griffith	D 35B (Cecil & Harford)	mike.griffith@house.state.md.us
Brooke Grossman	D-2B (Washington)	brooke.grossman@house.state.md.us
Wayne Hartman	D 38C (Wicomico & Worcester)	wayne.hartman@house.state.md.us
Kevin Hornberger	D35B (Cecil)	Kevin.Hornberger@house.state.md.us
Julian Ivey	D 47A (PG)	julian.ivey@house.state.md.us
Dana Jones	D 30A ( Anne Arundel)	dana.jones@house.state.md.us
Robert Long	D 6 (Balt. County)	Bob.Long@house.state.md.us
April Miller	D4 (Frederick)	april.miller@house.state.md.us
Bernice Mireku-North	D14 (MOCO)	bernice.mireku-north@house.state.md.us
Julie Palokovich-Carr	D 17 (MOCO)	julie.palakovichcarr@house.state.md.us
Edith Patterson	D 28 (Charles)	Edith.Patterson@house.state.md.us
Joe Vogel	D17 (MOCO)	joe.vogel@house.state.md.us
Melissa Wells	D40 (Baltimore)	melissa.wells@house.state.md.us
Chao Wu	D9A (Howard & MOCO)	chao.wu@house.state.md.us

Do the same things, send the SENATOR letter to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. Change the salutation to the line below, and remove the phrase “and YOUR CONSTITUENT”. Copy the entire list of emails or send individual emails to each member.

Dear Chair Guzzone and Honorable Members of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee:

Guy Guzzone	D-14	guy.guzzone@senate.state.md.us
Jim Rosapepe	D-21	jim.rosapepe@senate.state.md.us
John D. (Jack) Bailey	R-29	jack.bailey@senate.state.md.us
Joanne C. Benson	D-23	joanne.benson@senate.state.md.us
Paul Corderman	R-2	paul.corderman@senate.state.md.us
Sarah K. Elfreth	D-30	sarah.elfreth@senate.state.md.us
Shelly L. Hettleman	D-41	shelly.hettleman@senate.state.md.us
Michael A. Jackson	D-27	michael.jackson@senate.state.md.us
J. B. Jennings	R-7	jb.jennings@senate.state.md.us
Nancy J. King	D-39	nancy.king@senate.state.md.us
Cory V. McCray	D-45	cory.mccray@senate.state.md.us
Johnny Ray Salling	R-6	johnnyray.salling@senate.state.md.us
Craig J. Zucker	D-14	craig.zucker@senate.state.md.us

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Thank you for helping Maryland Veterans! Feel free to contact the MMC for questions or assistance with a Maryland legislative issue.

Lynn A. Nash, PhD, RN, PHCNS-BC, FAAN

CAPT (Ret.) U.S. Public Health Service

Communications Director

MDMilCoalition@gmail.com

Lynn.Slepski@outlook.com

_________________________

Maryland Military Coalition

Largo, Maryland

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