Maryland State Wire

Governor Wes Moore delivered his inaugural State of the State address, drawing attention from Maryland's small business community. In response, Mike O’Halloran, State Director of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), issued a statement expressing concerns about the Governor's proposed policies.

"The Governor laid out a very ambitious agenda in his first State of the State, paying particularly close attention to state government and state service," O'Halloran stated. He highlighted that Maryland’s small businesses are apprehensive about their role in this agenda. The proposal includes an accelerated minimum wage increase tied to inflation and potentially an aggressive climate plan. O'Halloran suggested these measures could disproportionately affect small business owners negatively.

"These policies and others like them continue to squeeze job creators and make it less affordable to do business in Maryland," he continued. According to O'Halloran, small businesses are already burdened by rising costs and regulatory demands. NFIB members remain committed to collaborating with the Moore administration on connecting job seekers with employers but emphasize they cannot risk financial instability in doing so.

The NFIB has been advocating for small and independent businesses across America for nearly 80 years. As a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization founded in 1943, NFIB continues its dedication to supporting these businesses at both national and state levels.