Luedtke's Latest Handout to Unions

Majority Leader wants union membership to be tax-deductible

House Majority Leader Eric Luedtke has introduced legislation that would allow union members to deduct their union dues from their Maryland state income taxes.

House Bill 179 would allow “a subtraction modification under the Maryland income tax for certain union dues paid by an individual during the taxable year; and applying the Act to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2020.”

The bill is, of course, exactly what it looks like; it’s a political handout to union leadership. and tool to encourage more people to join unions. Since union membership across the country is down, saying that membership is basically “free” to new members is an incentive to join. Since union leaders like to parrot about how many members they represent, this will increase their perceived power in state and local government. And since Maryland Democrats are beholden to unions for their power, it benefits Democrats who will have a larger pool of union volunteers and resources with which to get re-elected.

Luedtke’s bill of course gives preferential treatment to unions and unions only. Membership in other business, professional, or civic organizations will not be affected. Your membership in the Rotary Club or Business Roundtable will be treated different than a union membership.

It’s not the first time Luedtke, the internet troll turned Majority Leader, has created a bill preferential to unions. A radical sales tax bill Luedtke proposed last year also gave special treatment to unions at the expense of the rest of us.

It’s a classical example of the symbiotic relationship between unions and Maryland Democrats.

Luedtke’s bill, which has no other sponsors, will be heard by the House Ways and Means Committee at 1:30 pm on Thursday. It might behoove you to use the MyMGA website to submit written testimony or sign up to testify on the bill.