Dear MMC Member (and Friends of MMC),

It's time to give the Ways and Means Committee a gentle nudge. The HB554 "Keep Our Heroes Home Act" was first heard on February 16th. According to the General Assembly website this bill is on the agenda for their meeting this Thursday.  This is the first of two action alerts. Watch sometime in the next few days for an alert to the Budget and Taxation Committee on the companion bill SB553.

Follow these steps.

1. Determine your representatives. Use this link; click on lookup and type in your address. RECORD THIS INFO...you'll continue to need this. Let your Organization's Director know so we can better target emails in the future.
2. Send the first email to your Delegate(s)
3. Insert the needed info at the [XXX- ] and feel free to modify the email as needed. If your Delegate isn't on the Committee ask him/her to support the bill when it comes up for vote. Remember to change the color back to black.
4. Use the 2nd email to send a separate email to Chair Atterbeary and the delegates on the House Ways and Means. Use the emails below.
5. Copy MDMilCoalition@gmail.com (The MMC will be recording the number of letters by organization).

That's it! It's pretty simple and shouldn't take you more than a minute or so for each letter.

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#1 For DELEGATES
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Dear Delegate [xxx]
 
As a [Pick ONE: retired or former] member of the [branch of service], a member of [insert your organization and chapter] and YOUR CONSTITUENT, I write to urge your support and vote on HB 554, the “Keep Our Heroes Home Act”. This bill is the MMC's top goal this session.

This legislation would increase the income tax subtraction for military retirees from $15K to $25K this year, and $40K next year. More importantly it removes the age restriction, making Maryland a more attractive state to retire in. 
 
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 that 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 when it comes to the floor.

Thank you for all you do for constituents in District [xxx].
 
Sincerely,
 
Name
Rank, Branch of Service
Address
[Life member, Member of XXX your organization]
[Insert your District here]
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#2 FOR MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS
 

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Dear [Madam Chair /Vice-Chair/Delegate XXXXXX];

As a [Pick ONE: retired or former] member of the [branch of service], a member of [insert your organization and chapter] [if applicable, and a resident of your district], I write to urge your support as [Chairwoman; Vice Chair; a member] of the Maryland House Ways and Means Committee for the Governor's bill HB0554, the "Keep Our Heroes Home Act". This bill is the MMC's top goal this session.

This legislation would increase the income tax subtraction for military retirees from $15K to $25K this year, and $40K next year. More importantly it removes the age restriction, making Maryland a more attractive state to retire in. 

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.

Maryland needs to be more competitive than our neighboring states to attract second career retirees. We don’t need to lose out on the contributions that this talented and attractive workforce can make as well as the $$$ they will spend in our local economies. The Governor's bill is a good first step.Therefore, I urge your support of House Bill 554, and ask for your vote  and a favorable report on this important issue.

Thank you [if applicable, for all you do for constituents in District and] for your [leadership as Chairwoman; leadership as Vice Chair of; service on] the Ways and Means Committee in the House of Delegates.
 
Sincerely,
 
Your Name
Your Rank/ Service
Your Address
Your District