The government needs to cut spending instead of raising taxes. None of these career politicians has the guts to say no to special projects that are great to have in good times, but that we cannot afford now. Before they decide to do something, they need to figure out how to pay for it without raising taxes. As long as we keep handing them the credit card, they'll continue to max it out.

The Bag tax and now addtl. taxes on gasoline for road improvements after the crooked politicians have taken the previous taxes and spent it on something not designated.In case these morons in Annapolis haven't noticed most people, excluding politicians, can't afford gasoline now in greater DC. ITS OVER $4.00 a gallon now.
I can only hope that the current MD elected officials , especially in Montgomery County, are thrown out of office in the next election for their complete ignorance of what's going on at the grassroots level and the constant harassment of the poor working schmoe who is paying for their terrible programs of waste.

Maryland could start by cutting out all the unnecessary foof catering at the house every day in Annapolis. Would like to see that budget? How are they spending the lottery money? Isn't the casino's money going to be used for Maryland or special interest groups?Maryland government like our national government, needs to be overhauled. Omally and his government spending is out of control and need to be cut back. It will hurt some Maryland residents and projects, but is very necessary to stop the tax and spend.

Wow you couldn't pick a better time to add a gas tax at four dollars a gallon already. Who comes up with these stupid ideas? Why worry about the roads if we can't afford gas to drive on them.

I agree with all the comments above. Vote O'Malley out! His tax and spend government is way over the top...and now this.

Don't blame me, I voted for Ehrich

How do we pay for the roads when cars are moving to electric? 6k per year car fee, fee on K/hr's, charge people tolls every 5 miles. Don't we give a lot of money to the Ravens/Orioles/Skins and so on to stay in the state. We should stop feeding/housing officials that we are also employing, I agree. Why even pay elected officials, its a privilege to sacrifice to the state. Private corporations have done away with all the extras that make life worth living why should public employees get it. We could get high school kids to pave the roads! Learn a trade while helping the state! Flush tax and toll roads are both pay for usage.

Maryland is the 5th Highest taxed State in the Country: http://money.msn.com/taxes/5-highest-5-lowest-states-for-taxes And Has 5 of the top 15 Richest Counties in the US according to: http://money.msn.com/family-money/the-richest-counties-in-america O'Malley, knows this. O'Malley's New State Signs are popping up all over the place. It Reads: Welcome to Maryland, Whats in your wallet!

Oh look, the evil evil Tea Party shows up to protest against a tax increase. This is the kind of reason I stand behind most of the efforts of the Tea Party. You don't see Democratic or Republican Central Committees organizing activities like this do you?

We all know that the State has a spending problem.

"The problem is not that people are taxed too little, the problem is that government spends too much." Ronald Reagan

Our Senators and Delegates in the Legislature need to get a grip on the spending issue. When slots were voted in, the laws stipulated that the state buy the machines. So now we own and service the machines, which will need to replaced every few years.
A recent communique from the chamber indicated that Maryland's IWIF (Injured Workers Insurance Fund) will be our next source of money transfer to the general budget-just like the transportation fund. Our businesses will more than likely have their premiums increased to pay for this "borrowing".
I spoke with a gentleman who owns a grocery store. His deliveries have an additional gas surcharge for each shipment of food, something he must pass along to the consumer.
O'Malley will be out this year, but we have the power to change the future by voting in a more fiscally responsible Governor. We also have the power to change who our legislators are every election cycle. Be informed on the voting history of your Senator or Delegate.

Isn't it funny whenever you talk about this in public, no one ever admits to voting for O'malley or any of the other socialists who have been in office for years in the state of Maryland. I wonder how they got elected, don't you. They keep raiding the transportation fund to pay for whatever, then use it to balance the budget, then just like before, over and over and over again they raise our taxes. Then some unknown entity votes them back into office. How does this happen????

Term-limits. We have too many career pliticians that simply look towards the next election and are willing to bankrupt us all in exchange for votes. As far as the gas tax goes I think it should be increased until the price of a gallon of gas is $20. Watch how fast technology catches up to other forms of energy. Any increase that alloows us to build more inter-connectors through nature sensitive areas is a good thing. Is the connector even being used or is it moving towards a new era in NASCAR or drag racing?

I'm for the state gas tax but against a sales tax on gas. I'm really against any state/fed gas tax if the Fed/state is also giving an incentive to oil companies to do their business on the backs a tax. Oil/Gas companies are getting paid twice and we the people are paying it out.

Let's just change the name of the state to TAXUS. It's the only strategy O'Malley knows. DioDingo--more than 6 cents?? Have you been to the grocery store or filled up your tank or bought prescriptions at the local CVS or ridden the MARC or Metro or done anything else any time recently? How much have your employers increased your salary???

As a station owner in annapolis I can tell you there is no money being made on are end from gas sales. we have a 7 to 10 cent mark up per gallon which back in the day was good money. But now with the the credit card fees ,taxes, and over head we can hope to break even at the end of the day. when my customers pay cash we make a little money because there is no card fees, but the higher the price per gallon the more credit cards get use because we just dont have money in are pockets,Thanks to the assholes in office who steal money thats for roads and piss it away on shit we dont need.I say NO to the taxes and stop spending money we dont have.November is coming and I will be looking for new faces to replace these jackass in office now. SUPPORT YOUR WORKING CLASS

Anyone remember the "millionaire tax" that was supposed to solve all of our problems!?!?!?

"An analysis of tax data by the Maryland Public Policy Institute finds that the millionaire tax was supposed to raise $330 million, and the politicians spent accordingly. Instead, the tax raised closer to $120 million. Mr. O'Malley, who was celebrated as a progressive hero for sticking it to millionaires in the name of "fairness," now wants to finance his spending ambitions with taxes on Maryland's thousandaires. So goes the liberal tax and spend ratchet."

"Democratic Governor Martin O'Malley has acknowledged another $1.1 billion deficit for 2013 thanks to a $35.9 billion budget with about $400 million for new school construction, roads and transit. To close the budget gap and help plug a $16 billion unfunded liability in public-employee pensions, Mr. O'Malley is seeking to raise $180 million by reducing income-tax deductions and exemptions for those earning more than $100,000. This is Maryland's new definition of "rich."

Mr. O'Malley also wants to raise taxes on tobacco, nursing homes, Internet sales, water and sewers. One of his biggest revenue grabs is a proposal to apply the 6% state sales tax to gasoline, which over three years could raise the tax by 18 to 24 cents a gallon, up from 23.5 cents now."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203806504577181363813056888.html

Could someone point out the projects you are willing to lose to cover the spending problem. We can most all agree that churches and non-profits can start taking care of the poor and infirm. That's a lot of money we can save on unemployment/Food stamps. If we cast all those people out, what else would like to cut? Teachers pay? Police? I bet the zoo animals could be sold as exotic meats! Its easier to complain I understand, but what are you willing to lose to cover the hole? There is some perks that elected officals get that we could lose that would save some money. Its not much but its something. With the Fed putting more on the states the states, the state putting more on the county, the county just stop funding things.

Well, let's see, DioDingo--if you had a sudden reduction in income tomorrow, what would *you* cut out? How about police escorts for county executive parking lot assignations? M&IE and G&A for fancy restaurants and car leases? Lavish society dinners and other perquisites taken by (rather than given to--since they give them to themselves--county officials). Your salary only goes as far as it goes, unless you have a wealthy relative you can tap every time you spend the food money on gambling. O'Malley and company seem to view the citizens of Maryland as rich relatives--but most of our cupboards are bare. If there were no more money coming from rich Aunt Tillie, you would have to learn to live with in your means. So does the Governor--and so does everyone who serves at the pleasure of the people, or they are going to learn Budget 101 on the unemployment line, very soon!

Gas taxes don't need to be raised if Maryland has at least a grade B in the State Integrity report, unfortunately our beloved State has a D- and ranks 40th among 50 States.
http://www.stateintegrity.org/maryland

DioDingo, my point was that, rather than working within the amount of money they have in their budget, O'Malley and Company have been spending well beyond their means, and sticking their hands back into our pockets to make up for their profligacy. That's akin to a spoiled rich brat who spends his money on everything but what it's supposed to cover, and goes back to his rich auntie for more. As long as she keeps giving him money, he keeps spending--but when she says, "That's it! I'm through funding your selfishness and immaturity," and cuts him off, he has to learn to be responsible about the money he has. O'Malley thinks he can keep spending, because we haven't told him he can't keep taxing. Like the kid who has no concern for his aunt's budget, he thinks our money grows on trees. Someone needs to tell him the money trees are dying.

There is a plan to actually cut back and save money. But don't worry - the entrenched democrats won't let it happen.

http://marylandhousegop.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/appendix-page-a-1.pdf
http://marylandhousegop.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/appendix-page-a-2.pdf
http://marylandhousegop.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/appendix-page-a-3.pdf
http://marylandhousegop.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/appendix-page-a-4.pdf