Monday, April 11, 2011

How Liberals "Grow" An Economy....50% TAX INCREASE

  • 50% Tax Increase
  • Observations and Reflections on Legislative Activities
  • By Delegate Mike McDermott
Apr. 11th, 2011


The war on rural Maryland continues with the 50% Tax increase on alcohol passed by the Senate and being fought out on the floor of the House of Delegates. This last minute shot at citizens and our business community carries with it an interesting fiscal note. The Department of Legislative Services states clearly that this bill will cause jobs to be lost in Maryland and result in a decrease in overall sales. In spite of these facts, we are having this rammed down our collective throats.

Interestingly enough, this tax was supported by the Disabilities and Mental Health communities as they shouted on the Lawyer’s Mall in the rain, “Dime a Drink, with a link!” They actually thought their liberal backers would give them this revenue. Well, to use wheel chair bound folks to push your tax, and then turn around and divide up the spoil for another purpose…in a word, “Shameful” even by liberal standards.

State line communities such as Ocean City, Delmar, and Pocomoke City will suffer greatly and lose jobs as Maryland residents simply cross the border to more tax friendly states. The retail loss is bad enough, but this bill will be implemented on July 1st…the very height of our vacation season at the beach. Computers will need to be changed, software purchased, employees trained in the new tiered tax system, and all must be done overnight. Amendments were offered to alter this date to before or after the season to no effect. This will serve to further crush the only area of our regional economy where Maryland is still competitive tax wise.

With a budget already reconciled, here comes the slush fund. We asked, “Who decided, and who divided the spoil in this back room deal?” Well, the big three, (Baltimore City, Montgomery County, and Prince Georges County) made sure that they raked in $27 million for their schools; while they gave $1.25 million to be shared by 8 counties on the Eastern Shore. Divided evenly on the shore, we will receive $156,000.00 for each county…what a deal! It is these “back room deals” that the voters of Maryland have rejected with contempt. It is this “shadow government”, where the blinds are drawn and the shades are pulled that, more often than not, decides the winners and the losers in Annapolis.

Brought up on the 89th day, after the budget was already settled, this tax bill slithered into the House Chamber with no warning. We fought diligently for 6-hours to amend a bill that we were not even prepared to address until the Speaker grew weary and cut off our opportunity to even offer amendments. It was totally out of order, but that does not matter when your government displays tyrannical behavior.

To make matters worse, we began our debate on this tax on Third Reader Monday morning and it was cut off almost before it began. What an outrage for the people of Maryland! Not only did they not have an opportunity to weigh in on the issue, their elected representatives were cut off as well. We were reduced to a two-minute statement to merely “explain” our votes. While business men and women filled the galleries in the House Chamber looking on in dismay, all of the delegates from the urban counties crushed the consumers in Maryland with this draconian tax.

This is not “representative democracy in action”; these are the actions of a banana republic. So while Rome burns, Nero fiddles, and the people of Maryland can name that tune in one collective note: Montgomery County $9 million, Prince George’s County $9 million, Baltimore City $9 million; and the tune for each county on the Eastern Shore: only $156,000.00.

7 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:45:00 PM

    ...It could be worse. You've still got your health.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous9:29:00 PM

    should recognize when something goes up 50%.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous3:30:00 PM

    Mike Mcdermott opposes additional alcohol taxes. What a hypocrit!! He makes a big deal out of not being allowed to pray on demand then lambasts the Democrats for trying to raise the alcohol tax. Christians, take note of this mans stances. He does not represent us.

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  4. Anonymous3:45:00 PM

    I thought Jesus turned water into wine, 3:30? My Christian church teaches being a drunkard or a glutton is the sin not alcohol.

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  5. Maybe you should stop and think about that comment anon 3:30.

    That tax increase could have a not so favorable effect on parts of the Eastern Shore and Pocomoke.

    Virginia businesses don't mind selling beer to Marylanders.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous9:45:00 PM

    again, he should recognize when something goes up 50%. He increased our towns budget this much in one year from 2010 to 2011. What will happen this year? just wait and see.

    by the way, anyone know who is part of the Pocomoke Marketing Partnership that will build that restaurant they've been talking about for years and received several grants for over the past 3 years? Wonder if Butler is in on that one?

    its gonna get interesting in Pocomoke.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous8:22:00 AM

    9:45 you can order though the state of Maryland the Articles of Incorporation for the partnership you mentioned. Those should answer your question. I believe it costs around $1 per page. It's probably less than 20 pages-closer to 10 as it's probably just the standard "generic" type of document.

    ReplyDelete

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