While gas prices have been lower since Hurricane Sandy, a Blue Ribbon Commission has recommended increasing taxes on gas to help raise $800 million in annual funding for the Maryland Transportation Trust Fund, according to a recent WTOP story.
Each gallon of gasoline carries a $0.235 state tax, a figure that has been level since 1992, but with the transportation fund being raided to help balance the state's budget, lawmakers may consider raising it during the 2013 General Assembly, according to the report.
Gus Bauman, who chaired the commission that recommended the increased tax (in addition to upping roads tolls and fares, fees to trains and busses, as well as vehicle registration licensing and titling) told WTOP: "I'm absolutely convinced that people would be willing to pay another nickel as long as they know it will go to pay to fix this road in this county."
WTOP also interviewed AAA Mid-Atlantic's Lon Anderson, who predicted the tax would encourage drivers to "fill up in Virginia."
It is unclear how much a potential gas tax increase would actually raise prices at the pump.
My point is, this administration will raise whatever tax they want, lie about it, and do what they want with it. I see no different outcome with an increase in the gas tax, another regressive tax, which O'Malley has made his living on.
Maryland Tax and Fee Increases Since 2007 Prior to the May 2012 Special Session-2012 2012 Bay Restoration "Flush Tax" - Doubles fee $53 million 2011 2011 Alcoholic beverages - sales tax increase 6% to 9%- $84.8 million 2011 Hospital assessment - $390 million 2011 Vehicle titling tax - $52.4 million 2011 Vehicle dealer processing charge - $5.3 million 2011 Vanity plate fee - $25 to $50 $2.5 million 2011 Birth certificate fee - $12 to $24- $4 million 2011 Toll increases MDTA $90 million 2009 2009 Speed monitoring system $11.6 million 2008 2008 Millionaire's tax - top marginal rate 5.5% to 6.25% $154.6 million 2007 2007 special session Income tax rates - new marginal rates ranging from 4.75% to 5.5% $191.3 million 2007 special session State corporate income tax - 7% to 8.25% $118.6 million 2007 special Computer services tax 5 SB-2 N/A 2007 special session Sales tax - 5% to 6% $603.4 million 2007 special session Tobacco tax - $1 to $2 per pack cigarettes $133 million 2007 special session Vehicle titling tax - $23 to $50 $23 million 2007 special session Vehicle excise tax increase 2011 $36.9 million 2007 special session Electronic bingo / tip jar tax - 20% admissions/amusement tax $8 million 2007 special session Real property transfer tax $14.1 million 2007 Captive Real Estate Investment Trusts $10 million Its JUST another nickel! Its JUST another penny!
By Aaron C. Davis,September 01, 2012 Three months after Maryland lawmakers raised taxes on the wealthy, saying the money was urgently needed for classrooms, surging revenue from other areas has left the state with a surplus, prompting a fight about whether the tax increase was needed at all. Maryland ended its budget year with over a half-billion dollars in the bank — or more than twice as much as expected, Comptroller Peter Franchot (D) announced late last week. http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-09-01/local/35496205_1_tax-increases-income-tax-hike-budget-gap
Do you want some to know where you are at any given time of day? Really?
They need to give up their ideas on "mass transportation". I will not take any form of public transportation because it's often used by worthless street thrugs who have nothing better to do than ride the rails or bus lines and mug people. Anyone see that news story where 8 teens brutally beat up some poor guy and shoved him under a bus stop bench and people didn't call for help because they didn't know he was injured (they thought he was just some homeless guy sleeping under the bench). THAT kinda garbage is why I won't ride public transportation. Trolley lines, purple lines, etc are all just pipe dreams. How about raising the alcohol tax? That hasn't been touched in half a century or longer! You had no problems raising the tobacco tax in the name of public health...why not booze as well? Charge a extra dollar per six pack, or a extra dollar per bottle at Redskin and Ravens games. NFL fans alone could fund these politicians pet projects all day long.
We're going to see prices and costs climb across the board. It will be insidious (that means bad) and it will destroy many families. Interest rates will have to rise, bringing about another recession. You've been warned.
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