Double or triple the booze taxes, bring back the dreaded snack tax, add casino gambling, slap the sales tax on 31 additional services, including car repair and haircuts, and toss them in with scores of other proposals legislators have thrown in the hopper for consideration during the special session and see what happens.
Most of the new tax hikes come from Democratic delegates and senators ? adding to or replacing the tax hikes and gambling measures Gov. Martin O?Malley is proposing.
Republicans are introducing bills about taxpayer rights and protections, and putting limits on spending.
Dels. Curt Anderson, D-Balto. City, and Ana Sol Gutierrez, D-Montgomery, have sponsored each other?s bills that would more than double and come close to quadrupling Maryland?s alcohol taxes, some of the lowest in the nation.
A quart of vodka or whiskey, for instance, would cost 75 cents to $1 more under the bills.
Anderson, a strong opponent of slot machine gambling, told the Examiner that he wanted to find an alternative revenue source to replace some of the slots money. He asked bill drafters to raise the rates on distilled spirits, beer and wine so that they would generate $100 million dollars.
Del. Shane Pendergrass, D-Howard, has introduced the same constitutional amendment on slot machine she has introduced in the five previous sessions. Pendergrass wants any county that votes to approve slot machines to agree to accept them in their own jurisdiction. “It?s only fair,” she said. She has also proposed reinstituting the tax on snack food in vending machines, a tax that was passed and then repealed in the 1990s. “It?s a health tax,” said Pendergrass, new vice chair of the Health Committee.
Del. Luis Simmons, a fierce foe of gambling, would ban campaign contributions from people affiliated with the gaming industry. He also has one of several bills that sets the top state income tax rate at 5 percent, rather than the 6.5 percent O?Malley has proposed.
The three delegates from the Dundalk area also would “allow expanded or additional locations for casino-style gaming” in addition to the 15,000 slot machines at five locations the governor already has proposed.
Del. Jim Gilchrist and Craig Rice, Montgomery County Democrats, would raise hundreds of millions by taxing 31 new services.
There is even a perennial bill from Prince George?s County that would eliminate funding for construction of the Intercounty Connector highway from Rockville to Laurel.
