Maryland lawmakers are wrapping their 2025 legislative session Monday after a tumultuous year, marked by President Donald Trump’s administration’s government layoffs, global tariffs and a $3.3 billion budget hole.
The state is raising taxes on its information technology sector and the state’s wealthiest residents to address the deficit, along with incorporating new initiatives on reparations, criminal record expungement, and price limits on prescription drugs.
The state is also looking at forming a panel to be responsive to developments from the administration, noting the state’s close ties to federal workers and contractors.
Gov. Wes Moore spoke with WTOP’s Shawn Anderson and Anne Kramer to reflect on the session and share more about the tax increases, the Trump administration’s tariffs, the latest updates on Kilmar Abrego Garcia, and bringing more businesses to the state.
Read and listen to the interview below
Wes Moore: Tariffs are an economic tool, but this administration is using them as an ideology, and it’s a disastrous ideology at that, because we are seeing how these tariffs that they are putting on board, these universal and reckless tariffs, are actually essentially going to be a national sales tax. Everyone is going to pay more for everything. That’s the way this is going to show itself.
And so I think how erratic this behavior has been, and how destructive it’s been for the markets, for people’s retirement, for our small businesses, for our farmers. You know, I cannot stress enough what a chaotic environment this is creating for the people of the state of Maryland.
Anne Kramer: Before we get to sine die and the end of the General Assembly, I want to take an opportunity to get your reaction to the Supreme Court and Chief Justice John Roberts pausing the order for the White House to return Kilmar Garcia, the Beltsville man who was mistakenly deported to a prison in El Salvador. What are your thoughts on that?
Wes Moore: Well, I’ve said before, Kilmar needs to come home. There was no due process that made this happen. I come from an immigrant family, so this is a very personal thing for me, and I also know that there is no higher priority for me or anyone else, for any chief executive, than to make sure that your people are safe. So we will always work with our federal authorities to ensure that we’re getting violent offenders off of our streets.
But I also know that believing in public safety just should not curtail believing in the Constitution, and due process is an important is an important thing for us to be able to hold on to. Kilmar needs to come home, and there needs to be a due process around him.
Shawn Anderson: Let’s talk about the General Assembly. Down to the final hours before sine die, you’ve had a lot of work to do this time around with a $3 billion budget hole. Where does the budget stand right now, with the time running down?
