AFSA's Efforts to Exempt Foreign Service Retirement Income from Maryland State Taxation

AFSA's Efforts to Exempt Foreign Service Retirement Income
from Maryland State Taxation

IMPORTANT UPDATE (3/29/05)

AFSA is closely following developments inside the Maryland General Assembly with regard to two bills, House Bill 245 and Senate Bill 211, which would exempt military retirement income from Maryland state taxes. AFSA would like to amend those bills to include retired members of the U.S. Foreign Service.

AFSA has already submitted testimony to the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. We are in contact with Senator John Astle (D-District 30) and Delegates Herb McMillan (R-District 30), Terry R. Gilleland Jr. (R-District 32), and David G. Boschert (R-District 33A), all of whom have been sympathetic to our cause. While we need the support of many more Maryland delegates and senators to help amend and pass this legislation, we especially need a delegate and/or a senator, preferably on the right committees, to offer an amendment to these bills to include the Foreign Service. This is where you can help make a difference.

Write, call, or e-mail your delegates and senators in the Maryland General Assembly urging them to include retired members of the Foreign Service in HB 245 and SB 211. If they are members of the House Ways and Means Committee or the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, urge them to offer an amendment to these bills to include the Foreign Service. If you are willing and able, AFSA also encourages you to visit your elected state officials in Annapolis as they consider the fate of this legislation.

To find out who represents you in the Maryland General Assembly, please visit http://mdelect.net/electedofficials/. After entering your address, this Web site will list your elected state delegates and senator as well as their contact information (click on the official's name).

BACKGROUND INFO & TALKING POINTS
To read more background information and talking points, please click here...

SAMPLE LETTER
To view a sample letter to send to your State delegates and senator, please click here...

READ AFSA'S SUBMITTED TESTIMONY
To view testimony AFSA submitted to the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, please click "2-22-05 Written Testimony to amend HB 245" and "2-23-05 Written Testimony to amend SB 211".