Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Md Troopers Assoc #20 & Westminster Md Fire Dept Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Showing posts with label Governance Taxes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Governance Taxes. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Who Pays the Highest Property Taxes?

Who Pays the Highest Property Taxes?

The average median property tax rate across the nation is 1.31 percent. That means a home owner with a home valued at $200,000, on average, pays an annual amount of $2,620 in property taxes, according to an analysis by CoreLogic’s data team.
Illinois has the highest median property tax rate at 2.67 percent. Hawaii, on the other hand, has the lowest at 0.31 percent.
“While higher median tax rates are seen primarily among states in the northeast, a notable exception is Texas, which has a median property tax rate of 2.17 percent,” CoreLogic reports. “Typically, the states with the highest property tax rates, with the exception of Illinois, have multiple levels of tax collection. Conversely, the majority of states with low median tax rates have a single level of collection at the county level. Other than Hawaii, the lowest median property tax rates are primarily in the Rocky Mountain region and southeastern states.”
+++++++++++++++++++++
TAXES:

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
Capital Gains Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Court Fines (indirect taxes)
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Interest expense (tax on the money)
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Local Income Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Septic Permit Tax
Service Charge Taxes
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Taxes (Truckers)
Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Road Toll Booth Taxes
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone federal excise Tax
Telephone federal universal service fee Tax
Telephone federal, state and local surcharge Taxes
Telephone minimum usage surcharge Tax
Telephone recurring and non-recurring charges Tax
Telephone state and local Taxes
Telephone usage charge Tax
Toll Bridge Taxes
Toll Tunnel Taxes
Traffic Fines (indirect taxation)
Trailer Registration Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

COMMENTS:  Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago and our
nation was  the most prosperous in the world, had absolutely no national
debt, had the largest middle class in the world and Mom stayed home to
raise the kids.

What the heck happened?
*****

Monday, September 28, 2015

MarylandReporter.com Sept. 2, 2015: IRS data again shows taxpayers leaving Maryland

Over the past weekend, I was reminded of a piece written in MarylandReporter.com on September 2, 2015. 

Long disputed as a political talking point, many of us who are older Marylanders have too many friends who have left the state once they retired because of Maryland's tax policies - especially because Maryland taxes pensions.

MartlandReporter.com: IRS data again shows taxpayers leaving Maryland


Recently released data from the IRS shows that about 5,500 more taxpayers left Maryland in 2012 than moved to the state. Long-cited by tax critics as annual data that show the migration of taxpayers to lower-taxed states, some experts caution that not too much should be read into year-to-year changes....

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

A record 3,415 Americans ditch their passports - Feb. 12, 2015

A record 3,415 Americans ditch their passports - Feb. 12, 2015:

"Goodbye, sayonara, ciao, Uncle Sam!

The number of Americans choosing to give up their passports hit a record 3,415 last year, up 14% from 2013, and 15 times more than in 2008, when only 231 people renounced their citizenship.

Experts say the recent surge is coming from expats who no longer want to deal with complicated tax paperwork, a burden that has only gotten worse in recent years.

Unlike most countries, the U.S. taxes all citizens on income, no matter where it is earned or where they live. The mountain of paperwork can be so complicated that expats are often forced to fork over high fees to hire an accountant -- some say they pay as much as $1,000.

Related: Giving up your U.S. passport? It's going to cost you" Read more:

http://money.cnn.com/2015/02/12/pf/americans-expat-citizenship-passports/index.html?iid=EL

'via Blog this'
*****

Monday, March 31, 2014

News from The Hill Caterpillar avoided $2.4B in taxes, charges Sen. Levin By Peter Schroeder

News from The Hill

Caterpillar avoided $2.4B in taxes, charges Sen. Levin By Peter Schroeder

Caterpillar avoided $2.4 billion in taxes thanks to a reorganization that housed its most profitable business in Switzerland, according to a Senate report.

While the report, from the Senate Permanent subcommittee on Investigations, said Caterpillar had done nothing illegal, it criticized the manufacturing giant for trying to avoid paying U.S. taxes.

“Caterpillar is an American success story that produces tremendous industrial machines,” Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), the head of the investigatory panel, said Monday. “But it’s also a member of the corporate profit-shifting club that has shifted billions of dollars in profits offshore to avoid paying U.S. taxes."


Read the story here.
*****

Saturday, March 22, 2014

News from The Hill: Wall Street’s warning shot to Ryan - By Peter Schroeder and Bernie Becker

News from The Hill: Wall Street’s warning shot to Ryan - By Peter Schroeder and Bernie Becker

The banking industry's vigorous pushback against Rep. Dave Camp's tax reform plan is a warning shot for his likely successor, Rep. Paul Ryan.

Like most industries, Wall Street isn’t worried that Camp’s (R-Mich.) plan could move through Congress in an election year. Plus, Camp is scheduled to be in his last year with the gavel of the powerful Ways and Means Committee.

But the financial industry fears that Camp’s proposal to tax the nation’s biggest banks could someday make a comeback when lawmakers seek revenue generators for legislation.

Read the story here.

March 22, 2014: The Hill's E-news
The Hill: Why not run? The pluses and pitfalls for 2016 GOP hopefuls
By Alexandra Jaffe
Many Republicans with an eye on the White House in 2016 may be asking themselves “Why not run?” when pondering a presidential bid.
The Hill: Leveling the playing field Obama's way
By Mike Lillis
President Obama intensified pressure on Congress to bolster economic opportunities for women in his much touted "year of action."
The Hill: GOP governors leading economic comeback?
By Rebecca Shabad
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) touted the economic successes Republican governors have achieved in their states during the party’s weekly address Saturday.
The Hill: Marco Rubio's Reagan moment?
By Cameron Joseph
If the Cold War is back, Marco Rubio wants to be Ronald Reagan.
The Hill: House to consider Ryan budget in April
By Russell Berman
House Republicans in April will consider a budget authored by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) that sticks to a bipartisan spending level for 2015 but balances within a decade, Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) told lawmakers on Friday.
The Hill: Obama signs flood insurance bill
By Erik Wasson
President Obama on Friday signed a bill that rolls back flood insurance rate increases on coastal properties called for in a 2012 reform of the trouble National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
The Hill: Michigan gay marriage ban overturned
By Rebecca Shabad
A federal judge on Friday struck down Michigan’s 2004 ban on same-sex marriage.
The Hill: House offers new Ukraine bill
By Erik Wasson
House lawmakers on Friday introduced a new Ukraine aid and Russia sanctions bill that does not contain controversial International Monetary Fund (IMF) reforms opposed by GOP leaders.
The Hill: ObamaCare drug savings touted
By Elise Viebeck
The Obama administration is out with new numbers touting consumer savings under the healthcare law, a move that will help boost Democrats' effort to go on offense on ObamaCare.
The Hill: GOP wishes Dems an unhappy O-Care anniversary
By Cameron Joseph
Republicans are wishing Democrats an unhappy fourth anniversary on ObamaCare.
The Hill: ‘Hip-hop’ caucus tries to excite blacks
By Tim Devaney
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus are trying to get young African-Americans excited about fighting climate change.
The Hill: Obama's move to relieve snooping fears
By Justin Sink
President Obama and senior administration officials huddled with top technology executives Friday to discuss progress on the president's proposed reforms to electronic government surveillance program, amid growing concerns voiced by some of Silicon Valley's biggest names over government surveillance.
The Hill: Sen. Feinstein 'open to changes' on NSA spying
By Kate Tummarello
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said Friday she will consider forthcoming recommendations to change the National Security Agency's (NSA) controversial phone surveillance program.
Bloomberg: Caterpillar said to be focus of Senate overseas tax probe
By Richard Rubin and Jesse Drucker
A U.S. Senate investigative panel is examining Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) and whether the company improperly avoided U.S. taxes by moving profits outside the country, said three people familiar with the inquiry.
Reuters: Rhode Island House speaker's home, office searched in federal probe
By Fausto Giovanny Pinto
U.S. federal law-enforcement officials searched the office and home of the speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, Gordon Fox, on Friday, according to his spokesman.
*****

Monday, March 10, 2014

Taxing Marylanders until they flee - By Ellen Sauerbrey and Dee Hodges Friday, March 7, 2014

SAUERBREY: Taxing Marylanders until they flee

Squeezing high earners to fill state coffers has opposite effect

By Ellen Sauerbrey and Dee Hodges Friday, March 7, 2014


Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter

Maryland, one of the bluest of blue states, is the poster child demonstrating that taxing the rich fails to balance the state budget.

Yet Democrats, who have complete monopoly control on all branches of state government, continue to think that doing the same thing over and over will lead to a different result.

Because of its proximity to Washington, D.C., Maryland is one of the wealthiest states in America. Still, it is plagued by fiscal woes. In a vain attempt to eliminate Maryland’s structural deficit, the administration of Gov. Martin O'Malley and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown has raised taxes, tolls and fees more than 80 times since 2007, while increasing overall government spending by $9.6 billion, or 32 percent, over the same period.

This oppressive tax-and-spend climate is hurting Maryland’s families and forcing many of them to leave the state.

Wealthy and middle-class citizens have been fleeing Maryland, thus denying the state the ability to tax any of their income. Small businesses are moving their jobs to friendlier states.

Between 2000 and 2010, 66,000 people left the state, taking $5.5 billion with them. Maryland has also lost at least 6,500 small businesses.


*****

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Attorney General Gansler to Sue Carroll Co Md Over Implementation of "Rain Tax"

Attorney General Gansler to Sue Carroll County
 Legal Action Threatened Over Implementation of "Rain Tax"
Marylanders for Joe GettyNovember 14, 2013

Attorney General Douglas Gansler has threatened to sue the County Commissioners of Carroll County for their failure to implement the so-called "rain tax" passed by the Maryland General Assembly in 2012.

Gansler is also one of three Democrat candidates for Governor of Maryland in the June 24, 2014, primary election.

In a letter to the County Commissioners, the Attorney General's office threatens enforcement by "injunctive relief in a civil action or issue an order requiring the County to take corrective actions."  The enforcement action also could subject Carroll County to "civil penalties of up to $10,000 for each day of violation." (The entire letter from Assistant Attorney General Paul N. De Santis is posted on the website of the Carroll County Times click here.)

The threat of fines and legal action has also been covered by national organizations that research tax policy. The following commentary appeared in the blog American Legislator (for full article, click here):

"Maryland is no stranger to tax increases. In fact, since Governor O'Malley took office in 2007, there have been 40 tax, fee, and toll increases. The rain tax is another burden to add to the list. Given Maryland's dismal economic outlook rank of 35th in Rich States, Poor States, the Governor and legislators would be wise to re-think this destructive tax-and-spend approach to policymaking."

2013 Elections & Campaign Calendar

Wed. Nov. 13
Union Bridge "Meet & Greet" - Buttersburg Inn
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Thurs. Nov. 14
Senator Getty speaks to the Nat'l Assn. of Retired Federal Employees
11:30 a.m. - Bullocks, Westminster

Tues. Nov. 19
Taneytown "Meet & Greet" - Gunners Grille
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Wed. Nov. 20
Eldersburg "Meet & Greet" - Salerno's
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Wed. Dec. 4
Manchester "Meet & Greet" - Dutch Corner Restaurant
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Wed. Dec. 11
Westminster "Meet & Greet" - Harry's Main Street Grille
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

 Tues. Dec. 17
"Maryland's Business Climate" - Fundraiser Luncheon Hosted by
Marylanders for Joe Getty
12 noon - Best Western, 451 WMC Drive, Westminster
For information: www.senatorgetty.com or contact Russ Vriezen at (443) 536-4700 orruss@senatorgetty.com
*****

Monday, August 26, 2013

Tax liability sacks the NFL's top players | The Daily Caller

Tax liability sacks the NFL's top players | The Daily Caller:

Matt Blumenfeld, Freelance Writer

http://dailycaller.com/2013/08/26/tax-liability-sacks-the-nfls-top-players/

"With the NFL’s regular season set to begin next week, players around the league anxiously await the arrival of their first big game check of the season. For many rookies, who collect signing bonuses well before the season begins, their first check signifies what they hope to be a profitable and prosperous career on and off the field. This season’s NFL rookies, however, will be shocked to find out that the earnings for their first few games might as well be handed over to tax collectors – a fact of which veteran players are all too aware." ... http://dailycaller.com/2013/08/26/tax-liability-sacks-the-nfls-top-players/

'via Blog this'

*****

Wednesday, July 03, 2013

Got my #CarrollCo #MD property #tax in mail yesterday #Unbelievable


Got my #CarrollCo #MD property #tax in mail yesterday #Unbelievable It took my breath away When are all the taxes going 2 get under control?


December 1, 2009




I did this piece in September 1994.  The more things change the more they stay the same.  At some point, the entire manner in which local government in Maryland is funded needs to be changed so that all our tax revenue does not get lost in a black hole in Annapolis and gets re-directed to the government that is closest to the citizens.
*****

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

The Republican Study Committee: RSC Update Tax Day & Obama's Budget



April 15, 2013
 The Republican Study Committee: RSC Update Tax Day & Obama's Budget

From the Chairman
Jennifer and I offer our prayers to those impacted by the Boston Marathon bombing today. Trying times test our resolve as Americans.  There is no place in our free society for such an act of violence, and we will not waver in our commitment to liberty and justice.  Those responsible for this horrific attack will be held accountable.

Tax Day

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the federal income tax.  Since its inception in 1913, the income tax has continued to grow in scope and complexity.  A century later, hardworking American taxpayers will send the federal government $2.7 trillion this year alone.

While Americans across the country file their returns and open their checkbooks to pay their taxes today, the President and his liberal lieutenants in the Senate continue to call for another trillion dollars in higher job-killing taxes over the next ten years. It's hard for President Obama to make the case that you don't pay enough in taxes when this year's $2.7 trillion marks the all-time record for the most money the federal government has ever taken in!  Even after adjusting for inflation, this year’s revenue has only been eclipsed four times in our nation’s history. Washington clearly has a serious spending problem, and you can only solve it by controlling Washington spending rather than President Obama's scheme to have the IRS take more of your hard-earned money through even higher taxes.

Obama Finally Presents Budget

Last week the President sent Congress a budget, that includes over $1 trillion in new taxes, over $8 trillion in new debt, and yet NEVER balances.

While our national debt is approaching $17 trillion, our President and his liberal lieutenants continue to ask for additional taxes so they can keep spending more and living beyond their means.  The President got the higher taxes he wanted in the "fiscal cliff" deal, but yet he still refuses to agree to any spending cuts.  More wasteful Washington spending, radical regulations, and costly duplication are not what the American people want or deserve, and that failed agenda is still holding the American economy back. 

The Obama administration refuses to take common-sense steps to rein in Washington spending, while continuing to grow failed welfare programs that jeopardize the future of our country.  Republicans have passed a plan that would balance our nation's budget in ten years by growing the economy with no tax increases, while the President’s budget raises taxes, increases radical regulations, and never achieves balance. This is truly a choice of two completely different directions for our country.

Increased spending and continually high unemployment numbers should not be accepted as the "new normal”.  It is time to for the President to abandon his failed tax, regulate, and spend agenda and finally start working with us to grow the economy, control spending, and balance the federal budget.

God Bless,
Steve Scalise

RSC Member Activity
  • Rep. Scott Perry (PA-04) is building support for H.J. Res. 36, which balance our nation’s budget by implementing many parts of a system known as zero-based budgeting.
  • Rep. Tom Graves (GA-14) is building support on a letter to leadership requesting an open appropriations process.
  • Rep. Trent Franks (AZ-08) and Rep. Ed Royce are building support for the Bipartisan Victim’s Rights Amendment (VRA), which provides public proceedings to crime victims.
  • Rep. Ted Yoho (FL-03) is building support for the TRUST Act, eliminates the taxpayer-funded portion of congressional pensions for Members who have been convicted of a felony.
  • Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03) is building support for the EASY Saving Act, which would incentivize savings by allowing agencies to create an employee suggestion program to include rewards for identifying unused or unnecessary funds.
  • Rep. Phil Roe (TN-01) is building support for an appropriations letter to defund IPAB.
  • Rep. Pete Olson (TX-22) is building support for H.R. 1209, which would award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Doolittle Tokyo Radiers.
  • Rep. Bill Flores (FL-17) is building support on a letter to support abstinence education.
  • Rep. Tom Graves (GA-14) is building support for a bipartisan Agriculture/EPA regulations bill.
  • Rep. Tim Walberg (MI-07) is building support for H.R. 1304, the Flexibility to Farm Act, which would entrust states with the appropriate flexibility to craft environmental policies as they relate to farmers.
  • Rep. Bill Cassidy (LA-06) is building support for the EGO Act, which would prohibit taxpayer dollars from being used to fund official portraits for Members of Congress or federal administration officials.
  • Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-04) talks about the power of the free-market in his Huffington Post Op-Ed.
  • Rep. Peter Roskam (IL-06) sent a bipartisan letter he co-authored to Secretary Kerry and Secretary Lew expressing concern with Turkey’s support for Hamas, Turkey’s state-owned Halkbank’s transactions with Iran, and the recent influx of Iranian-funded companies within Turkey.
  • Rep. Jackie Walorski (IN-02) introduced the Balance Budget Amendment, which would restrict outlays to revenue, allowing Congress to spend no more than it takes in each year.
OFFICE LOCATIONS:
House Republican Study Committee
2338 Rayburn House Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 226-9717
Fax: (202) 226-1633
*****

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Cyber Alert: ABC Salivates Over ‘Mutiny’ Against Anti-Tax Pledge

Media Research Center
Tracking Liberal Media Bias Since 1996
Tuesday November 27, 2012 @ 09:42 AM ET

Advertisement
1. ABC Salivates Over ‘Mutiny’ Against Anti-Tax Pledge That’s Been ‘Obstacle to Raising Taxes,’ Hail New ‘Flexibility’
ABC anchor Diane Sawyer and correspondent Jonathan Karl on Monday night salivated over Republicans breaking Grover Norquist’s anti-tax pledge. “We did see a sign the paralysis may be ending,” Sawyer relayed over “Tax Revolt?” on screen, touting “a Republican mutiny against a man who had convinced them to take a pledge.” She soon trumpeted the “new sign of flexibility.” As if that’s a bad thing, Jonathan Karl fretted “the pledge is the biggest obstacle to any deal that would raise taxes.” But he saw hope ahead in how “with a budget crisis on the horizon and a re-elected President insisting on tax increases, some Republicans are now thinking the unthinkable: Ditching the pledge.”


2. NBC Eager to See Republicans 'Peeling Off' from Tax Pledge, Pressures Rest of GOP to Do the Same
Talking to chief White House correspondent Chuck Todd on Monday's NBC Today, co-host Savannah Guthrie enthusiastically touted: "...we've seen a few Republicans peeling off from a pledge they signed to Grover Norquist, who, of course, is a lobbyist, an anti-tax lobbyist, who's been very powerful among conservatives. Is that a significant move?" Todd replied by urging the rest of the GOP to similarly abandon core conservative principles: "I'll be impressed when you start seeing House Republicans do it....where it looks like Republicans are softening, it's Senate Republicans. If this deal could be cut between the Senate Republicans and the White House, we wouldn't even be talking about this...the fiscal cliff wouldn't be an issue."


3. CBS Lobbies Senator Corker to Renege on Anti-Tax Hike Pledge, Raise Capital Gains Tax
Charlie Rose and Norah O'Donnell sung from the same liberal sheet music on Monday's CBS This Morning as they tried to get Republican Senator Bob Corker to commit to higher federal taxes. Rose wondered if the Corker was "prepared, as others are doing, to...say, I'm going to forgo the [anti-tax hike] pledge because it is outdated and the country's problems are too big." O'Donnell asked the Tennessee politician if he was "willing to also raise the capital gains rate." O'Donnell also cited "independent analysis" by the Tax Policy Center, but omitted that it is a project of two liberal organizations - the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution.


4. CNN Pleads With Republicans, 'Don't Fear the Grover'
CNN broke out the pom-poms on Monday and cheered the Republicans who reneged on Grover Norquist's no-tax hike pledge. CNN contributor John Avlon lauded them as "profiles in courage." Avlon quipped that now "people don't fear the Grover. And that's a good thing, you know." Anchor Carol Costello clearly liked the GOP mutiny, asking "how excited should we really be by all of this talk of throwing Grover Norquist under the bust [sic]?" Later in the day, Brooke Baldwin enthused: "'Don't fear the Grover.' Best quote of the day."


5. Wolf Blitzer Badgers House Majority Whip to Raise Taxes
After smiling on Republicans who stepped away from Grover Norquist's no-tax hike pledge, CNN pressured the GOP House Majority Whip to raise income tax rates on Monday's The Situation Room. Anchor Wolf Blitzer suggested a tax hike on those making over $250,000 a year, noting "those families and those small businesses did quite well during the years of the Clinton administration when the rate was 39.6. Why not go back to that?"


6. Chris Matthews Outrageously Links Unhappy Conservatives to Hitler
Chris Matthews on Monday disgustingly connected conservatives unhappy with the 2012 election to Hitler and the 1936 Olympics. After Huffington Post journalist Howard Fineman mocked the GOP for supposedly considering the African American and Hispanic vote to be "extraterrestrial," Matthews spewed, "The last guy to refer to the black auxiliary was Hitler." Matthews, known for his verbal gaffes, prefaced the Nazi comparison by rambling, "...And these references are always dangerous, but I'll take it anyway." Trying to explain his smear, the Hardball anchor expanded, "During the '36 Olympics, we had Jesse Owens and a couple other guys winning the Olympics and they [the Nazis] were saying, "Well, they had their auxiliary out there." As if this made his comments all go away, Matthews added that his comments have "no bearing on the Republican Party."


7. Meet the Press Panelist Ken Burns of PBS Denounces Tea Party 'Vitriol' Motivated By Racism
During a discussion of the new film Lincoln on Sunday's NBC Meet the Press, PBS documentary film maker Ken Burns ranted about one of the supposed lessons he took away from the movie: "Race is always there in America....Do you think we'd have a secession movement in Texas and the other places, faddish secession movement, if this president wasn't African-American?  Do you think the vitriol that came out of some elements of the Tea Party would have been at the same level had this President not been Africa-American?"
*****

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Cross Purposes: Somebody Got Somebody's Attention

Cross Purposes: Somebody Got Somebody's Attention: The Democratic monopoly in Annapolis regards the state’s outgunned Republican Party and its ideological allies as little more than irritant... http://rjc-crosspurposes.blogspot.com/2012/07/somebody-got-somebodys-attention.html


Tuesday, July 10, 2012


Somebody Got Somebody's Attention

The Democratic monopoly in Annapolis regards the state’s outgunned Republican Party and its ideological allies as little more than irritants and convenient scapegoats.

In the rare instance in which Democrats choose to respond to a volley from the other side, it tends to be of the dismissive variety, like a hand lazily swatting at a pesky insect.  

So, when the Democratic establishment actually chooses to engage its ideological foes in a substantive manner, it is a noteworthy development.

That’s what happened recently when the O’Malley Administration returned fire on an organization headed by a frequently mentioned possible 2014 candidate for governor.

ChangeMaryland, which bills itself as “the grassroots movement fighting to bring fiscal responsibility and common sense to Annapolis,” was founded and is chaired by Larry Hogan, a fellow veteran of the Ehrlich Administration.

The organization, which has over 14,000 followers on Facebook, is a burr in the saddle of the O’Malley Administration, frequently criticizing its policies in the areas of taxation, the budget, and the state’s job growth and retention efforts.

Recently, ChangeMaryland released a study in which it maintains that 31,000 high income citizens disaffected by Governor O’Malley’s tax and spend policies fled the state between 2007 and 2010, taking $1.7 billion in lost tax revenue with them... http://rjc-crosspurposes.blogspot.com/2012/07/somebody-got-somebodys-attention.html


*****

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Md Senate GOP Offers Amendments To Stop Tax And Fee Increases



Annapolis - GOP Senators tried to fix the Maryland budget today by keeping spending at last year's level; creating an incentive for state agencies to fix their bad audits; and rejecting any special fund transfers to the general funds. All three amendments were rejected.
 
Senator Pipkin called for the Senate to adopt a "live within your means" budget instead of the current proposal that grows the budget by $1.1 billion and depends on new taxes and fees.
 
Senator Reilly stated from the Senate Floor, "Maryland's budget does not make fiscal sense and is irresponsible."
In the last audit cycle, 38 state agencies had audits with three or more repeat bad findings:
·         DHMH paid $426,000 in Medicaid benefits to dead people;

·         SHA improperly used $11.3 million without BPW approval;

·         MDE mismanaged the Bay Restoration Fund (Flush Tax) -a $300,000 wastewater treatment plant was upgraded with money earmarked for septic systems; MDE also gave almost $60,000 worth of septic system grants on land without any structures.

·         MTA spent hundreds of millions of dollars without verifying bills and had little control over payroll.

 
Senator Pipkin offered an amendment that would decrease funding in these agencies until the agencies fix the egregious audits.
 
Senator Reilly proposed stopping all special fund transfers to the general fund to shore up the budget.  Each year, these funds, like the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF), the Waterway Improvement Fund, and many others are raided.  Consequently taxes and fees are raised to pay the deficit. This year, DNR is trying to raise the boating fees by 400% to fund the depleted Waterway Improvement Fund that was raided by the tune of $48 million since 2002.
 
The Senators will be offering more amendments as the Senate Floor votes on the three other budget bills this afternoon.
 

*****