Go. Just do it. Head to the anti-tax rally in Annapolis on Monday and let our legislators know raising taxes is not the answer to fixing the state?s projected $1.7 billion budget deficit.
Gov. Martin O?Malley?s doom-and-gloom projections for how cutting the state budget will affect government services are a scare tactic, not reality. Not included among his worst-case scenarios were how the budget would look after slicing all the money-losing projects and mismanaged agencies from the public trough as outlined in the state?s own Department of Legislative Services audits. We?d start with the Maryland Stadium Authority, which fulfilled its mission years ago by attracting the Ravens and negotiating a long-term lease with the Orioles and now perpetually loses millions each year.
Go to SmartGov.net to download the schedule of events, which start at noon at Lawyers Mall and end at the State House Gallery following the opening ceremony of the special session.
As Mark Twain said, “No man?s life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature isin session.”
The tax hikes will affect everyone, not just the so-called “rich.” Hiking the sales tax 20 percent and extending it to new services; doubling the cigarette tax; increasing the gas tax; and increasing the vehicle titling tax mean less money for every resident in a state where electricity prices have skyrocketed in the past year and in an economy where gas prices keep rising and mortgage debt for many cripples their ability to pay for basics. Tell legislators to spend the special session cutting waste. It?s premature to even contemplate taxes without first eliminating fat from current operations ? and having a budget to analyze.
