Anne Arundel County voters are telling their state legislators that they don?t want any new taxes, which could complicate an already tenuous special session next week.
“What voters are saying can be summed up in one, big bold word: furious,” said Del. Don Dwyer, R-District 31. “I?ve been inundated with phone calls and e-mails in opposition of raising taxes. The general public recognizes the government spending is out of control.”
Legislators in four ofthe county?s five districts said they are not completely on board with Gov. Martin O?Malley?s plan to balance a $1 billion ? and growing ? deficit.
The problems ? too many taxes and not enough done to reduce government spending, local lawmakers said. “There?s not a lot of things the state government does well,” said Del. Nicholaus Kipke, R-District 31. “There?s no reason we can?t run a government in a way that uses what we have effectively.”
Even though O?Malley has said most working-class people will not see their income taxes rise, legislators say the gas and sales tax are getting the biggest vocal disdain.
“Most of the tax proposals will hurt middle-income people, and they don?t need another hit,” said state Sen. Janet Greenip, R-District 33. “Gas tax will hurt those who are just making it through the day. Gas is not a luxury, it?s a necessity.”
Of the legislators interviewed, none could support the proposed slots package, whether by moral opposition or flaws in O?Malley?s plan. The only thing most of the delegation can agree on is freezing Thornton funding to schools. “We think we can fix education by throwing dollars at it ? but if you ask the general public if they think the problem with education is funding, they?ll say they no longer believe it,” Dwyer said.
Del. Theodore Sophocleus, D-District 32, said “There are so many unanswered questions, and that?s what you?re hearing out in the public.”
