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 Politics Democrats Taxes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics Democrats Taxes. Show all posts

Monday, May 14, 2012

Peter Franchot's commentary on the Special Taxing Session


Comptroller Peter Franchot

Today, the Maryland General Assembly will reconvene in a special session, and is expected to pass a Fiscal Year 2013 budget by raising income taxes on middle-class families throughout the State. I have high personal regard for my former colleagues in the legislature, and I sincerely appreciate their desire to sustain our state’s longstanding commitment to priorities such as education and health care. As Maryland’s Chief Fiscal Officer, however, I respectfully believe this is simply the wrong approach at the wrong time, for the following reasons.


First and foremost, Marylanders are still struggling to balance their personal household budgets, provide for their families and build a secure future in an economy that remains exceedingly fragile, and which has yet to truly recover from our nation’s financial crisis.


According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, for example, Maryland ranked 47th in the nation in average private sector weekly earnings during that period, and was just one of nine states to experience a decline. Finally, despite recent report of job growth, we must still create nearly 150,000 additional jobs in Maryland just to return to pre-recessionary levels. While we can share optimism that Maryland’s job figures will continue to trend in the right direction, so too must we acknowledge that far too many people remain unemployed or underemployed, have settled for lower-paying jobs and are therefore taking home smaller paychecks.


At the same time, Marylanders have seen the value of their homes – for many, their primary source of personal equity and mobility – continue to decline. According to the Maryland Association of Realtors, the median price of existing homes in this state has fallen from $323,838 to $225,601 – a drop of about 30 percent.


None of this bodes well for an economy that is powered by consumer activity. Needless to say, people who have lost jobs, are underwater on their mortgages or feel as if they are barely making ends meet simply will not be putting money back into the Maryland economy. It should also go without saying that the worst thing we can do to a struggling, consumer-powered economy is dig deeper into the pockets of consumers who are already strained financially. We cannot afford to jeopardize the long-term health of our economy for the sake of a questionable, short-term budget fix.


Second, this will serve as merely the latest in a long and seemingly endless line of changes to the State of Maryland’s tax code. Over the past five years, Marylanders have seen an increase in the State’s personal income tax rate, a reduction in the amount of personal exemptions for individual filers, an 18 percent increase of the corporate income tax rate, a 20 percent increase to the motor vehicle excise tax, a 20 percent increase to the sales tax, a 50 percent increase of the sales tax on alcohol beverages, the adoption and subsequent repeal of a computer services tax, the adoption and sunset of a special tax bracket on high income earners, and the adoption and sunset of an unprecedented set of new filing guidelines for Maryland corporations.


In my travels throughout the State, the one thing I hear above all else is a desire for a stable tax climate – one that allows both businesses and families to budget responsibly and to engage in sound, long-term financial planning. By comparison, the process by which we adopt changes to our tax laws appears, far too often, to be arbitrary, improperly vetted and highly politicized. This does little to reinforce Maryland’s hard-earned reputation as a desirable place to live and conduct business, and it does even less to inspire public confidence in our state government.


My final objection to this strategy of resolving our fiscal challenges through tax increases – as well as through slots, which I understand could be the topic of yet another special session – is that it simply won’t work. Most will recall that the legislature convened for a special session in 2007. That special session led to the largest tax increase in history, which was intended to resolve our state’s structural budget deficit, and the adoption of a statewide slots program that was designed to generate $600 million for education.


As we all know, neither of those outcomes occurred. We still have a structural budget deficit and, more than three years after slots were legalized in Maryland, we have still spent far more taxpayer dollars to buy the slot machines than we’ve actually raised for our public schools. I simply do not believe it would be wise to repeat history and expect a different outcome this time around.


In closing, I would respectfully ask that in the future, you expect better from your state government. I would ask that you reject this patently false choice between destructive tax increases and thoughtless cuts to education, health care and public safety.


Instead, I would ask that you demand that our state government follow the lead of working families throughout Maryland by living within its means. We must seize this opportunity to deliver a better product to the taxpayers of Maryland for less money through technology, sensible priorities, innovative management and a renewed commitment to old-fashioned customer service. We must also remember that Maryland’s fiscal well-being depends entirely on the strength of our economy, and that a true economic recovery cannot be achieved through state government spending, but rather, through meaningful private sector growth.


While I do not believe this special session will yield a positive outcome for the taxpayers of Maryland, I do believe that our best days are still ahead of us. It remains an extraordinary privilege to serve as your Comptroller, and I look forward to working with you in the coming years to build a truly prosperous state and a government that is truly worthy of the people we serve.
Peter
*****

Ire over income tax plan to get louder Monday

Ire over income tax plan to get louder Monday



A Maryland family making more than $175,000 will pay at least $254 more in income taxes this year under a revenue-raising plan theMaryland General Assembly is expected to take up when it convenes for special session on Monday.

The same family of joint tax filers with two children reporting more than $1.1 million in gross income would pay an extra $3,269 — a larger hit to the very rich.

The tax proposal would target the state's more affluent — pleasing liberals because it spares everyone in the lowest tax brackets and ensures that education and other programs won't be cut. Conservatives, however, warn it would turn away wealthy residents and hurt small businesses... http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/breaking/bs-md-session-taxes-20120510,0,185259,full.story


*****

Wednesday, May 02, 2012

Blair Lee: Who won, the House or the Senate? How do you pick a winner when there's no final score yet?


Blair Lee: Who won, the House or the Senate? How do you pick a winner when there's no final score yet?



How do you recap a baseball game that's still in extra innings? How do you pick winners and losers when there's no final score yet?

Right now, the House and Senate teams are tied at the top of the 10th with House Speaker Mike Busch pitching to Senate President Mike Miller who's behind, 0 and 2, with two outs and nobody on. Gov. Martin O'Malley is doing TV interviews in the press box where, asked which team he's backing, replies, “Who's playing?”

In this high-profile, high-stakes showdown the smart money says Miller blinks first. Not because he can't take the heat (which has reached the boiling point), but because the only thing more precious to Mike Miller than gambling legislation is protecting his position as president of the Senate.

The heat on Miller has grown merciless: the media, labor unions, the state employees, Busch, O'Malley, Comptroller Peter Franchot, etc., all blame Miller for triggering the so-called doomsday spending cuts by holding an income tax bill hostage until he gets his gambling bill (a new P.G. County gaming casino and table games for all six gambling venues).

Miller loves playing hardball; he started in the State House as a page back in 1966. So attacking Miller is a waste of time. But attacking his senators is how to make Mike Miller fold… http://www.gazette.net/article/20120420/OPINION/704209696/-1/blair-lee-who-won-the-house-or-the-senate-how-do-you-pick-a-winner&template=gazette

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Gazette - Danielle E. Gaines: With two special sessions possible, groups want their bills considered http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2012/05/gazettenet-with-two-special-sessions.html


Leaders want second gathering to focus on gaming

by Danielle E. Gaines, Staff Writer Friday, April 27, 2012


As the clock struck midnight on Sine Die, many Annapolis insiders were struck by the number of significant bills, most notably the budget, that failed to pass both chambers.

With Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) indicating this week that he could call two special sessions — one in May to pass a revenue bill to accompany the budget and one later in the summer to consider an expansion of gaming in the state -— the door has been opened to lobbyists, interest groups and lawmakers looking to reintroduce old measures or new legislation altogether… http://www.gazette.net/article/20120427/NEWS/704279642/1122/blizzard-of-beats/With-two-special-sessions-possible-groups-want-their-bills-considered&template=gazette

*****

Tuesday, May 01, 2012

Gazette.Net: With two special sessions possible, groups want their bills considered

Gazette - Danielle E. Gaines: With two special sessions possible, groups want their bills considered

Leaders want second gathering to focus on gaming

by Danielle E. Gaines, Staff Writer Friday, April 27, 2012


As the clock struck midnight on Sine Die, many Annapolis insiders were struck by the number of significant bills, most notably the budget, that failed to pass both chambers.

With Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) indicating this week that he could call two special sessions — one in May to pass a revenue bill to accompany the budget and one later in the summer to consider an expansion of gaming in the state -— the door has been opened to lobbyists, interest groups and lawmakers looking to reintroduce old measures or new legislation altogether… http://www.gazette.net/article/20120427/NEWS/704279642/1122/blizzard-of-beats/With-two-special-sessions-possible-groups-want-their-bills-considered&template=gazette


More News

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Jay Hancock: O'Malley gets publicity savvy about tax hikes

O'Malley gets publicity savvy about tax hikes

[....]

There had been discussion about reviving Maryland's millionaire tax, which would have raised the state's rates and hurt its rankings on lists compiled by the Tax Foundation, corporate site-location consultants and others. By proposing to eliminate income-tax deductions and exemptions for households over a certain threshold, however, the governor is proposing a tax hike withiout hurting Maryland's tax-rate rankings. Instead of a rate increase it'll be an effective tax increase on a fifth of Maryland households, many of which aren't close to the millionaire category.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

President Obama Should Not Use Oil Spill Crisis To Push For Job-Killing Nat’l Energy Tax

Obama Administration Seeks Political Advantage On Backs Of Gulf Coasters When Both Parties Should Be Working Together To Address This Crisis

http://republicanleader.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=190549


President Obama Should Not Use Oil Spill Crisis To Push For Job-Killing Nat’l Energy Tax

Washington, Jun 15 -

In his address to the nation tonight, President Obama will reportedly use the Gulf oil spill crisis as a rationale to impose a job-killing national energy tax. To be sure, a feeding frenzy of liberal special interests is chomping at the bit, hoping the president will seize on his chief of staff’s philosophy that you “never let a good crisis go to waste.”

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) offered the following comment in advance of tonight’s Oval Office address:

“President Obama should not use this crisis as an excuse to impose a job-killing national energy tax on struggling families and small businesses. Americans want the President focused on stopping the leak and finding out what went wrong, not on twisting lawmakers' arms on Capitol Hill to pass more costly, job-killing legislation.”

President Obama has laid the groundwork for a renewed national energy tax push, even polling the issue in search of a political advantage:

“Obama calls on Congress to heed oil spill’s ‘wake-up call’ for emissions bill. … President Obama implored a reluctant Congress today to pass a comprehensive energy and climate bill this year in response to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.” (E&E News, 5/27/10)

Obama seeks to whip up support for energy legislation on back of spill.” (The Hill, 6/14/10)

“…Obama’s pollster last week gave briefings to key leadership and committee staffers, as well as Democratic chiefs of staff, on the potential wonders a climate change bill could do for the party’s electoral prospects this fall.” (Roll Call, 6/15/10)

“Obama Says He’ll Push For Clean Energy Bill. … Seeking to harness the deepening anger over the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico to the advantage of his legislative agenda, Mr. Obama promised to find the lagging votes in the Senate to get the climate change and energy bill passed this year.” (New York Times, 6/3/10)

“President Obama to seize on Gulf oil crisis to push for climate change legislation.” (The Examiner, 6/14/10)

“Joel Benenson, a pollster for the Democratic National Committee and Obama’s presidential campaign, argues in a new briefing for top Capitol Hill officials that a comprehensive energy bill ‘could give Democrats a potent weapon to wield against Republicans in the fall.’” (Politico, 6/14/10)

In the year since House Democrats forced through their much-maligned national energy tax bill, the nation’s economic situation has only grown more precarious. Americans need real solutions to create jobs, lower energy prices, and clean up the environment, but President Obama’s national energy tax is a recipe for increasing the burden on families and small businesses and shipping more American jobs overseas. The national energy tax was “left for dead” on the merits, and it should stay that way

*****

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Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Monday, February 23, 2009

Massive Tax Increases Loom as Democrats Begin to Talk Fiscal Responsibility

CNSNews Massive Tax Increases Loom as Democrats Begin to Talk Fiscal Responsibility

Monday, Feb. 23, 2009
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Massive Tax Increases Loom as Democrats Begin to Talk Fiscal Responsibility (CNSNews.com) – Part of Monday's "fiscal responsibility" discussion at the White House is sure to include the impending tax increases set to hit every American taxpayer when the Bush tax cuts expire in 2010, unless Congress acts to extend them. During the presidential campaign, then-Sen. Barack Obama pledged to repeal the tax cuts.

Mayors Seek to Apply Stimulus Money to ‘Wish List’White House (CNSNews.com) – The nation’s mayors expressed confidence Friday that money from the $787-billion stimulus package will go to fund their city projects, even if it does not cover their entire wish list. A U.S. Conference of Mayors’ report, released in early January, asked for a total of $96.6 billion in federal dollars to fund 15,221 different municipal projects called “ready to go” and “shovel ready.”

Obama Administration Opposes Nationalizing Banks – For NowWhite House (CNSNews.com) – The Obama administration opposes nationalizing the banking industry, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Friday, but Gibbs did not absolutely rule out the possibility of nationalization. Free market advocates have expressed concern about the federal government taking over the banking industry ever since the $700 billion Troubled Assets Relief Act was enacted last fall.

White House Supports Burris Investigation to ‘Get the Full Story Out’White House (CNSNews.com) – President Barack Obama supports an investigation into whether Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) told the truth regarding his dealings with former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Friday. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was tepid in addressing the matter Friday, and he did not join the chorus calling for Burris to resign.

Va. Senate Committee to Vote on Bill Overturning State Police Ban on Prayer (CNSNews.com) - Members of a Virginia Senate committee may vote Monday to advance a bill that would re-instate the right of state police chaplains to pray “in Jesus Name, or “in the name of Allah” – or to refer to other religion’s deities in their prayers.

Islamists Kill African ‘Crusader’ Peacekeepers(CNSNews.com) – Jihadists in Somalia responsible for the deaths of 11 African Union peacekeepers on Sunday targeted their victims while they were attending a church service, according to a spokesman for the Islamists. The attack came shortly after the emergence of a new message, purportedly from a fugitive al-Qaeda leader, offering encouragement to Islamic warriors in Somalia and urging them to fight against “crusader invaders.”

Iran Denies It Offered the West A Deal to Continue With Its Nuclear Program (CNSNews.com) – “The Iranians wanted to be able to strike a deal whereby they stopped killing our forces in Iraq in return for them being allowed to carry on with their nuclear program,” says Sir John Sawers, Britain’s ambassador to the United Nations. His comments were included in a BBC documentary on Iran’s relations with the West, broadcast over the weekend.
CNSNEWS.COM VIDEO:
James Earl Jones Hopes His ‘God’ Voice Helped Obama Win
(CNSNews.com) - A Jan. 15, 2009, Time magazine online story discussed how “the voice of God” helped Barack Obama win the presidential election. Time said that in today's culture, God’s voice belongs to actor James Earl Jones, and “when God turned into an African American, it became less unthinkable that the president might be African American as well.” Jones, who is famous for his recording of the King James version of the Bible, told CNSNews.com he “hopes” his God-voice helped Obama win the presidency.
OTHER
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NEWSPAPER ROUNDUP:
Report: U.S. military unit secretly in Pakistan lends ally support
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COMMENTARY
Atlas Raged
By Rich Galen
Atlas is done with merely shrugging. Atlas is raging. Take the absolutely fantastic rant on CNBC the other morning by on-air editor Rick Santelli. This episode is another in a string of bad days for the Obama Administration. And now, on top of everything else, Obama has irritated John Galt.

Stop the CO2 Madness
By Alan Caruba
On March 8-10, more than 500 scientists who dispute the vast global warming hoax will meet in New York for a second international conference on climate change sponsored by The Heartland Institute, a non-profit, free market think tank. You can be sure of one thing. They will continue to be attacked as crazies for denying the “consensus” that Al Gore is always braying about. Science is not about “consensus,” it is about reproducible facts. All the “facts” about melting glaciers, dramatically rising sea levels, and other claims by the global warming crowd have been refuted.

20090223 CNSNews Tax Increases Loom as Dems Talk Fiscal Responsibility
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