Gov. Martin O?Malley on Wednesday withdrew ? on the same day a Republican senator blasted the proposal in a news release ? a little-noticed plan by his Motor Vehicle Administration to raise fees on most driver?s licenses by $10 July 1.
O?Malley spokesman Steve Kearney in turn blamed former Gov. Robert Ehrlich and Republican legislators for supporting the increased charges in the first place and “now reversing course and opposing their own fees,” accusing them of “G-O-Fee flip-flops.”
“What a bunch of bureaucratic bull,” said Sen. E.J. Pipkin, R-Queen Anne?s. “The brainwashing continues that the only way to get out of this budget deficit is by raising taxes and fees.
“It hurts working families right in the pocketbook. They tried to sneak [the fees] in without a hearing by the committee.”
The increase in fees by 22 percent and up for driver?s licenses, along with other charges, would have raised $31 million. MVA must recover 95 percent of its operating and capital costs by fees. MVA head John Kuo submitted increases initially in March and a revised proposal May 10.
Senate Republican Leader David Brinkley, R-Frederick and Carroll, requested a hearing by the Administrative Executive and Legislative Review Committee “to have them justify them in a public setting.”
Del. Anne Healey, D-Prince George?s, co-chairwoman of AELR, said she met in May with the MVA and a member of the governor?s staff, and O?Malley was later quoted as saying he didn?t favor the fees.
Transportation Department spokesman Jack Cahallan said the fee-increase plan was moving ahead on “parallel tracks,” with the knowledge the governor could overrule the increases that were mandated in law.
In a statement Wednesday, Kearney said, “Constantly raising these hidden fees and taxes is not consistent with Gov. O?Malley?s beliefs, and they are not going forward.”
