A summary of Lara's stance:

We are all feeling the effects of the rise in costs during the last year and the state needs to do more to: 

• Lower the cost of essentials such as food, housing, healthcare, and medications,

• Lower utility costs by putting limits on data center development and requiring utilities to update existing lines and use alternative energy sources, instead of building new power lines in our green spaces,

• Invest in housing for middle income earners,

• Lower property, income, and sales taxes for everyday residents, and

• Restore funding to Maryland’s farming, rural legacy, and agriculture preservation programs.

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How’s it going with paying your bills, getting to work, finding housing, and covering your healthcare expenses?  We are all feeling the effects of the rise in costs during the last year, much of it driven by state and federal decisions.

 

This is not a theoretical issue in my household.  My husband has been unemployed and actively looking for a job for over a year.  Our new college graduate has yet to get a full time job.  We are not alone.  

 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a significant slowdown in job growth for 2025, with only about 584,000 nonfarm payroll jobs added for the entire year - the slowest hiring year since 2009 (excluding the 2020's pandemic). This contrasted sharply with the Two (2) Million new jobs created in 2024.

 

The Maryland job market was significantly impacted by the 25,000 residents that were fired from the Federal Government in 2025.  We felt that decision statewide - with a loss in local and state income tax revenue to the tune of $200 million.

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And then there was the 2025 shutdown.  The White House Council of Economic Advisors estimated that combining the loss in federal contracts with federal employees going unpaid, Maryland would experience a loss in consumer spending of roughly $2.4 billion each month the government was closed.  The shutdown went on for 43 days, bringing Maryland’s losses to $3.4 Billion.

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But why is the cost of essentials such as food, energy, healthcare and medications, and housing going up?

 

To start, MAGA’s tariffs created a $1,400 tax on all households in 2026.  The tariffs increased the price of everything from food and clothing to building materials and household appliances.  This created the perfect storm with a loss in family spending power at the same time prices were increasing. 

 

Look to pay up to 12% more in heating expenses over 2025, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA).  Several things are driving up utility costs.  

• The construction costs of data centers are being passed onto us average folk as higher utilities rates.  

• Operational Data Centers use huge amounts of power and water - the costs of this increase in demand is passed onto the rest of us.

• During the 2025 shutdown Maryland covered federal payments of $10 million for the energy assistance program (LIHEAP) to heat 13,000 homes.  During 2025, MAGA fired all the federal staff that ran LIHEAP, expecting the States to now run the program with no federal training or guidance.  Thus, creating uncertainty in delayed payments to the utility companies, the state budget, and federal unmandated costs to the state.

 

This is why it is so important that we fully understand the costs and benefits of allowing data centers in Maryland.  We also should consider putting limits on data center development.  In addition we should require utilities to update existing lines and use alternative energy sources, instead of building new power lines in our green spaces.  I signed the Data Center Referendum, for these reasons and to protect Frederick’s agriculture and rural legacy areas.

 

And then there was the increase in healthcare and medication costs.  Recent estimates believe we will see a 7% increase in health care costs.  One major reason for the increase was MAGA’s One Big Beautiful Bill, (H.R. 1).  The bill eliminates the Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies used by 90% of adults ages 50 to 64.   

 

MAGA’s H.R.1 also removed over 50% of people currently covered by the State’s Medicaid expansion.  Maryland is one of 40 states that opted to increase Medicaid coverage through the Affordable Care Act expansion to households earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level income.  All the costs of this expansion now rests on state taxpayers.

 

And finally, transportation costs.  The increase in gas prices can be tied directly to MAGA’s invasions in Venezuela and Iran.  The Iran conflict has the additional impact of closing one of the major shipping lines in the world for oil, further driving up the price.  But it's not just higher prices at the gas pump - higher oil prices drive up the price of everyday items - food, medications, clothing - because they all have to be transported to you by plane, truck, or boat.

 

In short, because of MAGA policies Maryland is struggling to maintain its quality of life.  The Maryland General Assembly will need to update state laws governing utilities, develop new areas of job growth and emerging markets, and protect our scarce natural resources.  

 

If the current MAGA members representing us in Annapolis wanted to seriously help with rising costs, they should have introduced legislation that:

• Stops supporting tax exemptions for data centers and utility companies.  

• Reverses their earlier position, and forces data centers to meet the same requirements as all other companies when installing backup energy systems.

• Requires data centers to be self-sufficient in their water and power consumption, as required in other countries around the world.

• Provides counties with data center taxing options to cover the costs of water usage, road maintenance, pollution monitoring, and fire safety equipment and training.

• Insists that power companies use existing rights of way for upgrades and limit the option of expanding into new spaces.

• Requires additional protections for state rural legacy designations.

• Requires everyone, including corporations, pay their fair share of taxes. 

• Brings state bond money back to Frederick to upgrade our fire and rescue equipment to be able to handle problems at data centers.

• Push back against MAGA policies that are hurting Maryland’s economy and families.

 

Frederick County needs leaders in Annapolis that work to help families, small businesses, farmers, and our rural communities. I have been an employee, volunteer, or community advocate, at all levels of government - county, state, and federal - across a host of program areas.  I bring the experience necessary to be an effective voice for Legislative District 4 in the Maryland General Assembly.

 

As your next Senator, my promise is to use my experience to push for legislation that benefits all Frederick residents and communities.