Issues
August 31, 2011 JTaxes
Already hundreds of millions of dollars have been stolen out of the Transportation Trust Fund to balance the budget because Annapolis spends too much every year. Some politicians still want you to pay again for the same road repairs and transportation projects that haven't been completed because of their fiscal mismanagement of your tax dollars!
Talk of raising the gasoline tax is still in the air.
The Maryland gasoline tax rate is currently tied with Massachusetts for the 25th highest at 23.5 cents per gallon (CPG). Virgina's gasoline tax rate is the 12th lowest at 19.5 CPG.
If the Maryland gasoline tax was increased by 10 CPG, as was
proposed
during the 2011 General Assembly, Maryland would overtake Pennsylvania (32.3 CPG) as having the 39th highest gas tax rate in the Country at 33.5 CPG.
August 26, 2011 JTaxes
On August 22nd The Baltimore Sun printed an editorial "
Md. tax increases should be on the table Our view: An all-cuts approach to balancing the budget would be harmful"
The Sun ran
my response
opposing the Sun's position. However they omitted a few points worth sharing.
These quotes are from the original submitted response that every Marylander should consider.
1. "The costs of goods and services will significantly rise if transportation costs increase, both from proposed toll increases and an increase to the gasoline tax, with an expansion of the sales and use tax levied on top."
August 15, 2011 JTaxes
[img_assist|nid=24562|title=|desc=|link=none|align=center|width=225|height=300]
Local County AFP Chapters made a strong push advocating against another round a taxes that may be brought up in this year's "special session" which will begin around October 17th.
Members from the Mid Shore chapter gathered over 200 petitions urging State Officials not to raise the gasoline tax at the
Caroline-Dorchester 4H Fair.
In just two hours Carroll County AFP members gathered over 60 signatures in opposition to raising the gasoline tax during a local sign wave at a gas station!
In 5 days Queen Anne's AFP got over 600 petitions signed urging state leaders not to pass any taxes during the special session. This local petition also let the 5 Republican County Commissioners know that Queen Anne's County residents wanted to repeal the income and property taxes that were passed.
August 01, 2011 JTaxes
[img_assist|nid=23856|title=|desc=|link=none|align=center|width=297|height=300]
"The final product will be different from what we initially put out," said Maryland Transportation Secretary Beverley Swaim-Staley.
What will the final product look like we still do not know as the MDTA has not presented a final product and a delay in implementing the proposal will most likely happen.
What we do know is that your activism, phone calls, emails, public testimony, and educating your neighbors paid off!
Without your efforts these proposals would have sailed right on through without consideration.
July 20, 2011 JTaxes
[img_assist|nid=24315|title=|desc=Councilman George Leventhall|link=none|align=center|width=300|height=214]
A year ago the Montgomery County Council, led by Councilman George Leventhal, passed the first ever "carbon tax."
Big government has finished last on this issue as the 4th Circuit Court of appeals ruled that the tax is punitive in nature. The Council will be repealing the law.
Leventhal was a politician gone wild during and after the public hearing making numerous comments about those who he said "knew nothing."
