In the News - 2009

Despite state's wealth, working families struggle

Maryland remains the wealthiest state in the nation, but income and health gaps are still a concern for blue-collar families here, a new report suggests. MBTPI Director, Neil Bergsman provides comments on the 2009 State of Working Maryland report findings. The Capital: Hometown Annapolis 12/20/09

Maryland's small business tax credit’s $20M cost comes with strings attached

State legislative leaders will advocate cutting the state’s budget to make room for a proposed job creation tax credit, but it’s uncertain whether the program will offset its $20 million price tag by stimulating the economy.  MBTPI Director, Neil Bergsman provides his view on the job tax credit. The Baltimore Business Journal 12/18/09

When Being $77 Million Short is Good News

After a series of revenue write downs in the hundreds of millions, Maryland Revenue short fall for FY 2010 and FY 2011 is $77 million. Does this mean Maryland's budget is on its way to recovery? MBTPI Director, Neil Bergsman weighs in on what this means and ways to balance the budget. Maryland Morning with Sheilah Kast 12/18/09

Neil Bergsman: More tax flight talk without evidence

There is still no evidence that millionaires are fleeing Maryland in significant numbers to avoid state income taxes. MBTPI Director, Neil Bergsman provides commentary in The Gazette 12/11/09

Analysis: Five-and-dime tax talk

As a result of the virtual press conference on the 2009 report, State of Working Maryland, The Maryland Reporter cites some of the report's finding and policy recommendations. 12/7/09

Report finds ‘Working Maryland' floundering

"The standard of living for Maryland's working families is on the decline despite the state having the country's highest median income and a low poverty rate, according to a report released Friday." The Gazette reports on the 2009 State of Working Maryland study.  12/7/09

State richest, but many families struggle

The Cumberland Times News reports on the State of Working Maryland 2009 study. 12/6/09

Study: In Md., working class bears brunt of recession

During a virtual press conference on the 2009 report, State of Working Maryland, Institute Director Neil Bergsman states "...recession-fueled setbacks for workers have ranged from job losses to income reductions as hours are cut back."  The Baltimore Sun 12/5/09

Plug the state's revenue leak

MBTPI Director, Neil Bergsman writes "Recent economic statistics suggest the national recession is at an end. This is certainly good news. But when it comes to Maryland and other states meeting the growing demand for public services, it's not as good as you might think."

Baltimore Sun 11/12/09

Md. Must Consider Tax Increases - In a reader response Bergsman says that budget cuts have already played a role in balancing the budget and is counterproductive in meeting today's needs and positioning the state for future growth. Maryland has within its reach some reasonable revenue options that would help preserve public investments... 11/10/09

Media Advisory - Department of Human Resources Proposed Regulations will Limit Benefits to Adults with Disabilities: Two Upcoming Hearings Have Been Scheduled to Address the Proposal -   These regulations which would would further compromise the stability of medically and socially fragile individuals. 11/5/09

Net Loss: State social services falter, just when state residents need them most - MBTPI and other members of Maryland Alliance for the Poor (MAP) explain how inadequate staff levels at local Departments of Social Services mixed with an increase in newly eligible beneficiaries make it harder to process applications in The City Paper. 11/4/09

Cap levels playing field for homeowners - MBTPI Director, Neil Bergsman comments on the rise of property assessment appeals as a result of the housing market decline in The Gazette. 10/14/09

Allan Lichtman: Déjà vu on Maryland's budget - MBTPI estimates quoted in The Gazette. 9/25/09

Riding the property tax seesaw: State expects to see less revenue soon - MBTPI Director, Neil Bergsman is quoted in the The Gazette. 9/25/09

Simmons wants to leave horse racing in dust  - MBTPI Director, Neil Bergsman is quoted in The Gazette. 9/21/09

Revenue falls again - MBTPI Director, Neil Bergsman is quoted in the The Gazette. 9/18/09

O'Malley Braces For More Cuts - MBTPI Director, Neil Bergsman is interviewed by WBAL TV 11 News. 9/10/09

The Free State is Expensive - Maryland Morning's Sheilah Kast interviews MBTPI Director, Neil Bergsman on WYPR 88.1 on Board of Public Works $450 million cuts from Maryland's budget, which took place at the end of August. 9/9/09

Budget boxing: Board of Public Works takes Round Two - MBTPI Director, Neil Bergsman is quoted in the Business Gazette. 8/28/09

Md. faces bigger challenges when stimulus money runs out- MBTPI Director, Neil Bergsman is quoted in the Maryland Daily Record. 8/27/09

Maryland Budget Cuts Hit Many Depts - MBTPI Director, Neil Bergsman was interviewed by Fox 5 on the impacts of the $454 million cut from the fiscal year 2010 budget presented by the Governor and approved by the Board of Public Works. Fox 5  8/26/09

A Silver Lining for Blue-Collar Job Market - MBTPI Policy Analyst Branden McLeod's study projects in seven years Anne Arundel County will have greatest increase in working-class job opportunities. The Capital 8/16/09

Federal stimulus funding after six months - Maryland Morning's Sheilah Kast interviews

MBTPI director Neil Bergsman on WYPR radio 88.1 FM. 8/14/09

Struggling nonprofits search for money: Groups learn how to find funds in stimulus haystack - MBTPI Director Neil Bergsman among speakers at stimulus workshop, The Capital 7/28/09

Governor Outlines First Round Of Budget Cuts - MBTPI Director Neil Bergsman is quoted in article from WMAR-TV 7/21/09

How Welfare-to-Work Has Worked (MP3 Audio) - Neil Bergsman is interviewed on WYPR's Maryland Morning with Sheilah Kast 7/20/09

Are Millionaires Leaving Maryland to Escape Higher Taxes? Neil Bergsman's column in Maryland Commons 6/22/09

Maryland Still has fair share of millionaires - Neil Bergman's Letter to the Editor in The Washington Times 5/29/09

Readers Respond - MBTPI Director Neil Bergsman's Letter to the Editor in response to Baltimore Sun editorial "Last in Line" 5/13/09

Federal Funding Shows Poverty May be on the Rise in Maryland - MBTPI Director Neil Bergsman is quoted in Capital News Service 5/6/09

Income taxes not such a bad thing after all - MBTPI Policy Analyst Branden McLeod's article published in The Gazette 4/17/09

State addresses teacher shortage trends - MBTPI Director Neil Bergsman is quoted in article from The Capital 4/8/09

New Revenue Estimates Require Additional State Budget Cuts - MBTPI Director Neil Bergsman is interviewed by Maryland Commons online news journal 3/23/09

Unseen victims: The budget crisis is real, but what gets lost in abstract talk about spending and revenues is that the poor are hit hardest by cuts in state agencies - MBTPI statistics cited in Baltimore Sun article 3/4/09

Homelessness: The Family Potrait: Across Region, Economy Pulls Rug From Under More and More 2-Parent Households - MBTPI analysis cited by The Washington Post 2/16/09

Who'll be left there to help? - MBTPI mentioned in article published in The Baltimore Sun 2/13/09

State Budget - MBTPI Director Neil Bergsman's Letter to the Editor is published in The Capital 2/9/09

Nursing Homes Face Reductions In Services - MBTPI cited in Washington Post article exploring the impact of budget cuts being contemplated by elected officials in Maryland 2/8/09

MBTPI Director Neil Bergsman appeared on the Marc Steiner Show to explain what the budget cuts could mean for Marylanders. Click here to listen to the radio podcast>> 1/22/09