Category Archives: General Announcements

(REVISED)PRESS RELEASE: 002-2019

Posted on February 7, 2019 | Comments Off on (REVISED)PRESS RELEASE: 002-2019

CONTACT:   EDWARD HOLLAND, Public Relations Chair

hollandnmd@aol.com / #301.848.3476

!!CALL TO ACTION!!

POSSIBLE IMPACT ON YOUR BUDGET

On Wednesday, February 13, 2019, 1:00pm, the Maryland Federation, National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association will throw its support behind House Bill 327: Income Tax – Itemized Deductions. In reviewing HB 327 on the General Assembly’s website – “Allowing an individual to itemize deductions to compute Maryland taxable income whether or not the individual itemizes deductions on the individual’s federal income tax return; providing that, for an individual who does not itemize deductions on the individual’s federal income tax return, Maryland itemized deductions shall be determined as if an individual itemized deductions on the federal income tax return; applying the Act to taxable years after 2018; etc.”

To ensure that you appropriately support HB 327, you need to sign-in to speak before the Ways & Means Committee in Room 131, the House Building. The House Building is located at 6 Bladen Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. The deadline to sign-in is 12:00pm, February 13.

NARFE MD Federation President Dr. Gary Roundtree has approved the reimbursement of your parking and a shuttle ride to the House Building in Annapolis. Should you have questions regarding HB 327, parking, and overall strategy, please contact Maryland Federation State Legislative Committee Chair Paul Schwartz at pksyanks@aol.com.

The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) was founded in 1921 with the mission of protecting the earned rights and benefits of America’s active and retired federal workers. One of the largest federal employee/retiree organizations, NARFE represents the interests of 5 million current and future federal and postal annuitants, spouses and survivors.

Updated: 2019-02-07

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Posted in General Announcements, Legislative - State Blog, MD Federation Board Meeting, Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE: 001-2019

Posted on February 7, 2019 | Comments Off on PRESS RELEASE: 001-2019

CONTACT: EDWARD HOLLAND, Public Relations Chair
hollandnmd@aol.com / #301.848.3476

NARFE MD Federation Board Meeting – Taxes and Public Safety

On Tuesday, February 5, 2019, the Maryland Federation, National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association will hold its Board Meeting at the Comfort Inn – Bowie. Per Federation Secretary Patricia Farmer, registration has reached a respectable number. However, Federation President Dr. Gary Roundtree has cleared off on getting the word out that space is still available for additional NARFE members.

According to the Maryland Federation Program Committee:

Former-IRS Commissioner John Koskinen

“Opening speaker former-IRS Commissioner John Koskinen is looking forward to speaking to many members about his time with the Obama Administration and the nuisances of taxes especially as the tax season is fast approaching. Mr. Koskinen hopes that you have questions.”

Are you kidding me? A chance to pepper someone who had a front seat at the Obama Administration table. You definitely want to show up and zing questions at the Commissioner.

Maryland State Police Secretary Colonel William Pallozzi

“Executive Office of Maryland Secretary of State Police’s Colonel William Pallozzi looks forward to briefing NARFE members.”

To point out the importance of the Colonel’s position, you need to remember that he oversees all of the state police barracks throughout Maryland. From the mountains to the seas/lakes he stays busy checking up on the barracks throughout his empire. Yet, he has found time to speak to us during lunch. Are his helicopters truly on duty or only during certain hours? Show up to find out.

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If you have a member sitting on the fence, please have them contact Federation Secretary Pat Farmer now and let’s pack the room for the Honorable John Koskinen and the Honorable William Pallozzi.

Updated: 2019-02-07

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Posted in General Announcements, MD Federation Board Meeting, Press Releases

Information about New NARFE AMS Computer Software

Posted on January 3, 2019 | Comments Off on Information about New NARFE AMS Computer Software

See New NARFE AMS Computer Software for more information.

Updated: 2019-01-03

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Posted in Future of NARFE, General Announcements

Maryland Income Taxes Again by Dick Strombotne

Posted on December 26, 2018 | Comments Off on Maryland Income Taxes Again by Dick Strombotne

 

If you usually claim the standard deduction on your Maryland income taxes, you can skip this article. It is intended to inform and advise people who usually claim itemized deductions on Maryland income taxes.

What is the problem? The big increase in the standard deduction on Federal tax makes it attractive for people to claim it for 2018. It saves money on federal taxes. If you do that then you cannot claim itemized deductions on your MD taxes. You can estimate how much your MD state and local taxes will increase easily. Look up the amount of itemized deductions on the MD tax return for 2017 Subtract the amount of MD standard deduction: $4,500 for joint filers and $2,250 for single filers. Multiply the result by 8%. That is the amount of the increase in your MD state and local taxes for 2018, roughly. If you don’t like the result, read on.

Let your state legislators know that they need to roll back the increase in MD state and local income taxes on people who claim the Federal standard deduction. The Maryland General Assembly goes into its 90-day session January 9, just two days before our January 11 membership meeting. Call the toll-free number for the General Assembly, 1-800-492-7122, and tell the operator who you want to speak to. When you call a legislator’s office a staff member will usually answer. Say who you are and that you are concerned about not being able to claim itemized deductions on your Maryland taxes.

Key legislators are members of the House Ways and Means Committee (HW&M) and the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee (SB&T.) The Chair of SB&T is Senator Nancy King, District 39. The Chair of HW&M is Del. Anne Kaiser, District 14. Delegate-elect Julie Palakovitch Carr, District 17, will be a new member of HW&M. These senators and delegates have fellow members from their districts who can be called and asked to support legislation to fix the problem.

After legislation is introduced to address the problem there will be hearings by the relevant committees. Usually, there is only about two weeks notice of hearings. It is vitally important that NARFE members be present at those hearings to let the committee members know that the matter is important. You can park at the Navy-Marine stadium lot for $5 and ride a shuttle to the General Assembly area of Annapolis for $1. Hearings usually are scheduled to start at 1:00 pm and there is no telling when the bill of interest will be heard. Look for an email message from Chapter President Charlie Garfinkel to inform you about the key hearings. The website for Maryland General Assembly is at http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frm1st.aspx?tab=home

It is a marvelous source of information about committees, legislators, reports, etc.

Updated: 12/29/2018

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Posted in General Announcements, Legislative - State Blog, MD Federation Event

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VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

Posted on August 22, 2018 | Comments Off on VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

NARFE  Runoff Election

Vote by 11:59 p.m. ET on September 30, 2018

As you know, in the June election of NARFE officers, no presidential candidate received a required majority of votes cast.  Therefore a second round of voting is taking place, and can be done either on line or by paper ballot.  If you don’t quickly delete your emails, check back to August 10 for a NARFE email with subject of NARFE  Runoff Election.  This email provides both your membership number and  a PIN, which you will need to cast an online ballot (so easy!).  The September narfe  magazine gives full election results, profiles of the presidential candidates, and a paper ballot to be mailed.  Perhaps you have received emails and/or letters sent by various candidates to review, but remember to VOTE!

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Posted in General Announcements