Issue Position: Taxes

Issue Position

In Jeff's first term as Commissioner he expressed his stark contrast to the ideology in Annapolis. His position and record is quite different than the current leadership in Annapolis. In his first year Jeff was quoted in a meeting's minutes by saying,

"Commissioner Ghrist expressed his discontent over an article appearing in the October 29, 2007 edition of the Star-Democrat newspaper entitled "Counties urge lawmakers to pass O'Malley's plan." Mr. Ghrist stated that the Maryland Association of Counties' support of Governor Martin O'Malley's plan for raising many taxes, including the sales tax, corporate income tax, and taxes on various services, is disappointing to him. He stated, "the notion that the only way to preserve our so-called 'quality of life,' is to raise just about every tax and fee imaginable, is ridiculous, all in the name of helping those less fortunate."...Taxing Maryland residents into submission is not the answer to the State's $1.7 billion structural deficit, stated Mr. Ghrist. He expressed his concern for Caroline County's business community, as consumers will be inclined to travel to Delaware to avoid the higher sales tax."

According to the Washington Examiner, Maryland state government has passed 40 new and increased taxes and fees since 2007. These new taxes have helped fund an increase of over $9 billion in new spending.

The new/increased fees include:

* Handgun licensing fees and other firearm registration fee
* Electricity rate increase due to higher expense of power produced by offshore wind farm
* Vehicle registration surcharge (Transportation package)
* Maryland Transit Authority fare increase (Transportation package)
* Indexing gas tax to increase with the consumer price index (Transportation package)
* Applying wholesale tax to gasoline sales (Transportation package)
* Income tax increase on Marylanders earning more than $100,000
* Reduction of personal income exemption for Marylanders earning more than $100,000
* Recordation tax applied to indemnity mortgages
* Increase tobacco tax rate from 15 to 70 percent for certain products
* Double death certificate fee
* Repeal of the sales tax exemption on penalty charges assessed on the late return of gas cylinders
* Double Bay Restoration fee ("Flush tax")
* Require counties to collect Storm Water Management Fee ("Rain tax")
* Increase Weights and Measures Registration fee
* Double Lead Poisoning Prevention Fund Fee
* New fee for major modifications under the Wetland Water Way Program
* Hospital assessment
* Alcoholic beverage sales tax increase from 6 to 9 percent
* Vehicle dealer processing charge
* Double vanity plate fee
* Double vehicle certificate of title fee
* Out of State Attorney Admission fee
* Increase in contractor licensing and renewal fees
* Double birth certificate fee
* Eliminates exemption of premium tax on worker's compensation
* Bridge and tunnel toll increases
* Fishing license and registration fees
* Speed cameras in school and work zones
* Increase the top marginal tax rate from 5.5 to 6.25 percent ("Millionaire's tax"), since expired
* Computer services tax
* New income tax marginal rates from 4.75 to 5.5 percent
* Increase sales tax from 5 to 6 percent
* Increase state corporate income tax from 7 to 8.25 percent
* Increase cigarette tax from $1 to $2 per pack
* Increase vehicle titling tax from $23 to $25
* Vehicle excise tax increase
* Electronic gambling tip jar tax
* Real property transfer tax
* Elimination of Captive Real Estate Investment Trusts (1)

Not only has the state government created and raised so many fees and taxes they have also confiscated revenues and shifted state expenditures on to local government. This has forced local governments to raise tax their own taxes against their will. When we hear that the state government has cut their budget we all scratch our heads. Those statements are disingenuous and misleading. The redistribution of wealth ideology here in Maryland is hurting everyone.
Marylanders pay more out of our paychecks to the state government than ever before. Jeff believes that this money is better spent by the people rather than by self-serving politicians in Annapolis. He believes that lower taxes combined with reducing regulations are essential to stimulating economic growth and forcing government to remain small and efficient.

Jeff will work to cut taxes so that we can keep more of their hard earned dollars.

"It is a paradoxical truth that tax rates are too high and tax revenues are too low, and the soundest way to raise the revenues in the long run is to cut the rates now." John F. Kennedy

(1) Brownfield, Andy. June 11, 2013. Gov. Martin O'Malley rings up $9.5 billion in new taxes. Washington Examiner. Retrieved from http://washingtonexaminer.com/gov.-martin-omalley-rings-up-9.5-billion-in-new-taxes/article/2531665

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