The following is an op-ed piece from Glen Geelhaar, candidate for Maryland House of Delegates District 8.

The dismal financial future of our state continues to come into focus. There are no shortages of bad bills in Annapolis that are leading us into financial ruin.

The latest egregious attempt at hijacking a great Republican concept is against our President Donald J. Trump. The culprits in this caper are a familiar bunch, Delegate (Adrian) Boafo and his merry band of cosponsors which includes our very own District 8 Delegate Nick Allen. These legislators have somehow managed to take a great idea and turn it into something bad.

HB1400 deceptively titled, No Tax on Tips Act is nothing more than a cleverly disguised increase to Maryland’s minimum wage. The bill proposes to increase Maryland’s minimum wage to $20.00 an hour while making tips tax free. Of course, your meal will be so expensive to cover the increased costs, I suspect that tips will become a thing of the past!

How soon they forget that Governor Moore’s SB0555 Fair Wage Act of 2023 accelerated our State Minimum wage to $15.00 an hour. Suddenly, the Governor seems perplexed at the increased costs the state has incurred in providing payments to disability providers. It doesn’t take a M.I.T. scholar to see that the minimum wage increases have strained the expense line on the Governor’s budget.

Governor Moore’s solution to counter the increased expenses is to propose a cut of $200 Million to the Developmental Disabilities Administration! These cuts, along with the complete elimination of the State’s $5.5 million Low Intensity Support Services, will have a devastating effect on the disabled community. Can you imagine the staff shortages that providers will incur if they suddenly have to increase wages to $20 an hour? You can’t make this stuff up.

In addition to stressing our already overtaxed State budget, an increase to $20.00 an hour minimum wage will make Maryland businesses less competitive with our neighbors in Pennsylvania. The State minimum wage in PA is currently $7.25 an hour and clothing is generally tax exempt. Is it any wonder that business is booming at the major clothing bargain outlets there? Yet Pennsylvania is projected to have a $10.6 billion dollar surplus this year!

Sadly, Maryland lawmakers seem intent on inflicting the bad policies of California on us. This past April, that state adopted a $20.00 minimum wage for fast food workers. Reportedly, the owners of Tender Greens and Rubio’s Coastal Grill sited the $20.00 an hour minimum wage increase as factors contributing to their bankruptcy. Other restaurants have increased automation, instituted price hikes, and reduced employee hours along with layoffs.

Gone are the days in Maryland where small business owners could afford to hire a young person for an after school job. Instead of having an opportunity to learn lifelong job skills, they are left to wander on the street corner with their friends. Is it any wonder that we have an epidemic young people who are getting into trouble?

It doesn’t have to be this way. You have the power with your vote to bring real change to Annapolis. We have a strong bench of Republican candidates who are offering solutions to bring financial sanity back to our State budget! Until that time, we are counting on you to place this current bunch on notice!

Please contact the Economic Matters Chair Delegate C.T. Wilson, and the committee members found online here and ask them to vote no on HB1400 Titled, No Tax on Tips Act! The hearing is March 4th at 1pm.

Authority: Friends of Glen Geelhaar, Amanda Geelhaar Treasurer