Maryland House Republican Caucus

09/18/2026

This week, the Department of Housing & Community Development outlined to members of the House Economic Matters Committee the factors causing Maryland’s housing crisis. The state has a shortage of 100,000 units and our housing costs are some of the highest in the nation.

One of the factors, which Republicans have pointed out for years, is that housing costs are high due to lack of supply caused by excessive regulation. “And the reason we’re not making money in this state is because we have a tremendous amount of regulations that it’s just crushing business … MDH, MDE — they’re crushing us as far as what we can and can’t do at the local level,” stated Del. Steve Arentz.

Earlier this year, a report issued by the Department showed the state is falling far behind on new construction: Maryland currently permits about 18,000 new housing units per year, but the state needs nearly 39,000 new homes annually by 2030 just to keep up with demand. This shortage is driving higher home prices and rents, making Marylanders spend a larger share of their income on housing and forcing residents to move out of state all of which contribute to less revenue for the state. The state needs to ease regulatory burdens to lower the risk for developers so they will invest and build the homes that we need.

Developers say that having to navigate the “complex web” of federal, state and local regulations contributes to the rising cost of housing and rent, which winds up pricing more and more Marylanders out of housing options. And state officials largely agree.

09/17/2026

Audit after audit continues to uncover serious problems in Maryland agencies. State departments have neglected to collect over a BILLION dollars due to the state while Marylanders get hit with new taxes, fees and payroll deductions courtesy of Gov. Moore and the Democratic-controlled General Assembly.

A few weeks ago it was $818 million in unpaid tolls and penalties from out of state drivers, now it is $600 million in delinquent taxes that the Comptroller’s Office has failed to pursue. As we noted with the tolls, these offices have the tools and authority to collect, they just aren’t.

Before Democrats ask Marylanders to pay another cent to help balance the budget, maybe our government should collect the billions it is owed.

The Maryland comptroller’s office failed to use available enforcement measures to pursue hundreds of millions of dollars in delinquent taxes from individuals an

09/17/2026

It is pretty rich hearing Gov. Moore lecture anyone about fiscal responsibility.

The same governor who raised almost $2 billion in taxes and fees in one year alone, has wildly increased spending over the years and has put his state in a projected $3 BILLION structural deficit.

The irony is hard to miss. Maybe Gov Moore should start balancing his own books before lecturing the federal government, of which he overly relies on and blames for Maryland’s budget woes every chance he gets.

09/15/2026

It should not come as a surprise that Maryland Democrats are finally facing the spending crisis they created.

Over the years, House Republicans have consistently pushed for curbing wasteful agency spending, only to have the Democrats push back every time. Even when Gov. Hogan proposed targeted agency rollbacks and spending caps, the Democratic-controlled General Assembly restored and spent even more money. Now, facing the consequences, they are finally admitting cuts are necessary.

However, sweeping across the board cuts aren’t necessarily the answer. As we have recommended: go after the waste and eliminate unnecessary spending, make agencies live within in their means and fix the issues that the audits keep finding, end low-performing programs and target the major spending driver – the Blueprint.

State agencies are being asked to tighten their belts ahead of a coming difficult fiscal year. Administration emails told agency heads to include reductions of roughly 3% in their fiscal 2028 requests, with two dozen agencies told to outline reductions up to 10%.

09/14/2026

Hate to say we told you so, but…

We told you in 2020 when they passed the Blueprint.

We told you in 2024 and 2025 when they raised a bunch a taxes and fees.

Tax and fee hikes are coming. And now, Democrats admitting it.

While we are certain they will blame the federal government and shirk their own responsibility, these tax hikes were coming long before Trump was President.

These hikes are the result of years of over spending by Maryland’s Democratic majority, an over reliance on the proximity to and aid from the Federal Government, and tax policies that have driven businesses and families out of our state.

The GOP alleged Democrats avoided tax hikes ahead of the upcoming November election. But, Maryland’s post-election reality much more expensive.

09/11/2026

Even twenty-five years on, the memory of 9-11 is as fresh in our hearts as it has ever been.

09/10/2026

Of the 12 findings identified in the latest audit, six were repeat findings that had been raised in previous audits — a point that drew frustration from members of the committee.

“These to me are, they’re embarrassing for the department to come in with repeat findings of this magnitude,” Del. Steve Arentz said during the hearing.

Among the most significant findings, auditors identified $6.4 million in Medicaid payments associated with roughly 2,400 incarcerated recipients. About 1,000 of those recipients had also been identified during the previous audit.

Auditors also identified another $2.8 million in claims for services reportedly provided after recipients had died.

“We keep seeing the same thing every audit,” Arentz said, “We aren’t managing money. We’re not following up. We’re not doing certain things that a department should be doing. Do you have any idea or any explanation on how this continues to happen?”

Maryland lawmakers pressed state health officials Wednesday over millions of dollars in questionable Medicaid payments and other repeat problems flagged by state auditors.

09/09/2026

The budget shortfall is NO surprise.

When the Democrats passed $1.6 Billion in new taxes and fees onto Marylanders in 2025, we knew they’d come back for more after the 2026 election because what they haven’t done is address their spending problem, including the ever-growing cost of the Blueprint.

Gov. Moore and the Democratic leaders can’t keep spending more without fixing what is broken. And they definitely need to stop raiding Marylander’s wallets.

Gov. Wes Moore declined to rule out additional tax or fee increases next year as Maryland confronts another multibillion-dollar budget gap.Pressed by Spotlight

09/03/2026

Last year, the Democratic supermajority increased the cost of driving in Maryland, from registration and titling fees to emission and new tires costs, and now we learn (from another bad audit) the state agency in charge of transportation has failed to collect over $800 million in unpaid tolls and penalties from o̳u̳t̳-̳o̳f̳-̳s̳t̳a̳t̳e̳ drivers.

Even worse, is that half of that has been outstanding for 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘 years and the agency failed to take available steps to collect the money. They have the legal authority and tools to do so – they just didn’t.

MDTA operates on toll revenue, which is critical to maintaining and improving our infrastructure, yet they let $800 million in unpaid tolls go uncollected? Before asking Maryland drivers to pay more, Gov. Moore and state Democratic leaders should demand that MDTA collects the money owed by using the tools available to them as soon as possible. That is basic fiscal responsibility and accountability.

Out-of-state drivers are getting off from paying tolls and penalties. According to a new report, almost half of the tolls and penalties owned by out-of-state drivers have been outstanding for more than three years.

09/02/2026

Marylanders, are once again handing over more of their paycheck to the state for a benefit they may or may not use.

In 2022, the Democratic super-majority passed a bill to establish a family and medical leave insurance program.

Starting Jan. 1, 2027, Maryland employees will see up to .45% of their wages deducted for the state’s FMLAI program.

This is another mandatory payroll deduction at a time where Marylanders are dealing with high housing costs, energy bills, and the ever-growing cost of living here due to increased taxes and fees. Calling it a “contribution” instead of a tax doesn’t change the reality for a working Marylander watching another deduction come out of their paycheck

Maryland residents are reacting to the new Family and Medical Leave Insurance program or FAMLI, which will soon take money out of their paychecks.FOX45 News has