The Maryland General Assembly reconvened for a 90-day legislative session in Annapolis this week. Dominating debate will be a nearly three billion dollar projected budget deficit over the next five years. It's the largest gap the state has faced in two decades, and it threatens investment in transportation, education, and health care. House of Delegates Majority Leader David Moon from Montgomery County joined the show to discuss current negotiations, whether tax increases are on the table, and what cuts could be coming.

Plus, Moon shared his concern about the impact of a second Trump administration could have on the state’s economy. With cuts to the federal government on the table, there will likely be less federal funding flowing to states for transit,, climate change goals, and education. In addition, Maryland is home to around 160,000 federal employees whose jobs could be at risk. Moon said the state and localities need to prepare.

“Maryland and Montgomery County are going to have to try to be a lot more self-reliant in the coming years and do everything we can to broaden and expand our local tax base so that whatever happens at the federal level, we are going to be economically competitive in growing our economy," he said. 

The Virginia General Assembly also went back into session, though lawmakers were forced to take a short recess due to a water shutoff issue in Richmond. Potential tax cuts, constitutional amendments, and data centers are among the items on lawmakers' docket. State Senate Majority Whip and Arlington's state senator Barbara Favola got behind the mic to preview the 46-day session.

One of the hottest topics this session is legislation authored Democratic state senator Scott Surovell that could lead to a Tysons Corner casino. Favola said the idea currently does not have the local support in her view, noting the handful of casinos already built around the Commonwealth did.

"All of those jurisdictions had local officials who were completely mobilized and strongly in favor of having the casino," Favola said. "And we know these jurisdictions really did need a different venue to bring in money, to employee people, and to get back on their feet. That's not the case with Fairfax County."

If passed, the bill would give voters in Fairfax the chance to decide on whether or not to build a new casino. Similar bills failed to get out of the General Assembly the last two years.

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