Maryland thugs look for more taxes on consumers
Three years ago, Republicans Robert Erlich and Michael Steele left their respective offices of Governor and Lt. Governor and turned over a $12 million surplus to Democrat Marty O’Malley (he hates being called Marty, I hear). Within six months, the O’Malley Administration had spent the $12 million, and was busy raising taxes on Marylanders while handing out 6-figure jobs to his friends.
Still deeply in debt, the Maryland government is seeking alternate taxes they load on the backs of marylanders. The latest is a $.10/ounce tax on alcohol which will drive up the price of a six-pack about $2.40.
“God knows what it will cost by the time it gets to the consumer,” Milani said. “This isn’t a percentage, like a sales tax. People don’t realize — the guy who drinks a low-end case of beer every Friday night is going to have the same price increase as the guy who drinks premium beer.”
The tax would apply to every 8 ounces of alcohol — totaling about 55 cents for a bottle of wine and 75 cents on a handle of liquor.
Maryland government is also looking at mobile traffic cameras since the cash cow of fixed cameras seems to have run dry;
One camera, on Randolph Road near Rock Creek Trail, caught nearly 12,000 speeders during its first month. A year later, the same camera generated only 2,383 tickets in a month, the report found.
Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson recently decided to scrap putting fixed cameras in school zones, partly because of low expected revenues from fixed cameras. Instead, he is considering using six to eight mobile cameras.
Of course, they could have their police officers patrol roads for traffic law violators while the police officers drive from Dunkin’ Donuts to Dunkin’ Donuts – but that’s probably too complex of an idea. I used to drive from one end of Montgomery County to downtown DC every work day and I never in all of those years saw a police officer on patrol. However, I could have written a month’s worth of tickets every day. But, maybe I don’t understand the intricacies of law enforcement – like punishing criminals for bad behavior.
Especially since it’s just easier to look at each driver as government’s own personal ATM.
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Monkey (Montgomery) County is a nightmare for drivers. Keep building houses, townhouses, condos and apartments without an additional inch of street being layed. Gridlock is common during rush hour and idiots abound. Oh and they do the drivers test in a parking lot, no need to actually see if you can handle the real road. Traffic grinds to a complete halt if someone named “Snow” visits the area. Took me 3 hours once to get from Alexandria, VA north when 1/10 of an inch of snow fell.
The last time I criticized O’Malley, the comptroller’s office started an investigation on my tax paying history. Since there were no flaws, they demanded that I prove that I paid state taxes while I didn’t live in Maryland. I refused to provide proof (I asked them if they would next ask me to prove that I didn’t rob any banks). I’m waiting for them to take me to court for that one – more than two years now. O’Malley is an illiterate thug. Now that I’m not a Maryland resident, he can expect a lot more attention from me in this election year.
Jonn, the cops might be busy handling domestics, and other “social service” calls. Or not. Nothing wrong with a stop at a Dunkin Donuts.
But, mostly, governments push for tickets, and the remote camera is a very, very cost-effective way to enhance revenue.
Jonn,
Well….. I have been seriously looking at moving down to Maryland, if the deal in Texas falls through. However, this really bugs me. It’s same craptacular sysetm that has me moving out of Maine later this year. the dems have so screwed the pooch that I just can’t afford to live here anymore.
We, too, once had a surplus. The dems also spent that like trailer trash with a winning lottery ticket. They have funded all sorts of crap and are clueless about the concept of spending within their means.
I was looking at the Frederick area, but with this sort of tax idiocy looming, maybe I ought to just sell everything and live in a RV, motoring from state to state.
respcts,
Ah, MD. The state with the most “piggyback” taxes ever. All residents get fucked! 🙂
And if, like me, you were a VA resident, pulling from a stop light in a 5 speed, you’ll help. I helped with 77 bucks.
Sell the Strathmore in Bethesda! It cost $96 million for that hall where the wealthy listen to their classical music. It cost $48 million from Montgomery County where the food pantrys are empty. It cost $48 million from Maryland which is facing a budget deficit.