Gunpowder Chronicle posted on August 26, 2007 8:23 AM | Rating:
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Guvnah O'Malley's plan to raise the gasoline tax from its current level of 23.5 cents per gallon to 35.5 cents a gallon is a VERY bad idea, and will hurt the state more than help it.
If this plan goes through, you can kiss tourism goodbye in the short term. All the state investments in Ocean City and Western Maryland will be flushed down the proverbial drain. The gas tax will hit disposable income first and foremost. Places like Deep Creek Lake, Rocky Gap, New Germany, Ocean City, St. Michaels, and Chestertown will feel that pinch first as disposable income gets pinched to the point that making the drive is no longer affordable.
It will devastate small business next. Small businesses will pay that tax too in shipping fees for their products. If you think the gas surcharge from UPS is bad now, just wait until O'Malley Taxation kicks in. That tax will kick in and hurt employees at small businesses fast... it will prevent business owners from paying better salaries, providing basic benefits, and maintaining their properties.
And let's not forget the impact on Baltimore-- where tourism is a major part of the local economy. Does Guvnah O'Malley really want to choke off the lifeblood of Baltimore?
The simple fact is that the Guvnah, in his typically knee-jerk liberal manner, wants the so-called "easy fix". Everyone needs to buy gasoline. And not everyone can afford to drive to Pennsylvania, Delaware, or Virginia to buy it. So he wants to use a geographical monopoly to shakedown the citizens of Maryland.
Too bad for you Guvnah, that I live a mile from PA, and 2 miles from the closest PA gas station. I already do most of my shopping in PA. I already buy most of my gas in PA. Now I will just do all of my shopping and gas purchasing in PA. Think of all that tax revenue your liberal greed is losing because you are, well, stupid.
What's next, a poop tax? Oh wait, we already have that! Guvnah Ehrlich in his little bit of sleight of hand decided to charge every household in Maryland a $30 "flush tax" in order to fund improvements in municipal wasterwater treatment systems. But wait-- I have a septic system! And I (through my rent) pay for its maintenance, installation, and upkeep. When tree roots get in the line, does the Baltimore County Department of Public Works show up with a Roto-Rooter? No. Of course not.
In preparation for where this fight is headed, I have sent Del. A Wade Kach (District 5B) a request for information on trasportation project expenditures. When I get the information, I will post it here. I think Guvnah O'Malley is despicable for trying to play on the fears of the I35 bridge collapse in order to justify a bigger money grab. Especially now that we know that billions of dollars in transportation funds in Minnesota were diverted from things like bridge inspection and repair to stuff like bike trails.
Meanwhile, I encourage all of you in northern Maryland to consider Shrewsbury and New Freedom for your gasonline purchases. The Rutters stores in both towns sell good gas a great prices... although New Freedom is generally about a nickel cheaper than Shrewsbury.