Friday, March 29, 2013
The bill that increases the gasoline tax by as much as 20 cents by 2016 now heads to Gov. Martin O'Malley for his signature.
A tax that will increase the cost of gas by as much as 20 cents by 2016 was given final approval Friday by the Maryland Senate. The bill passed largely along party lines by a vote of 27-20. Eight Democrats joined all 12 Republicans in opposing the tax increase measure. The bill now goes to the desk of Gov. Martin O'Malley, who is expected to sign the tax into law. The final vote came after legislators suspended the rules, allowing them to take both a preliminary and final vote in the same day and allow many lawmakers to leave the capital to observe Good Friday. The bill increases the state's tax on gas by more than 20 cents to 43.7 cents per gallon on July 2016. The tax would increase to 44.6 cents per gallon if the federal government …
Thursday, March 28, 2013
A preliminary vote in the full Maryland Senate could be scheduled as early as Friday.
The Senate Budget and Tax Committee Thursday approved a bill that would increase the gas tax by as much as 20 cents by 2016. Sen. Ed DeGrange, an Anne Arundel County Democrat, joined Republican Sens. David Brinkley, Richard Colburn and George Edwards in voting against the bill. The nine remaining Democrats on the committee voted in favor of the bill as approved last week by the House of Delegates. With the committee's approval, the bill could be scheduled for a preliminary vote by the full 47-member Senate as early as Friday. The bill would increase the state's tax on gas by more than 20 cents to 43.7 cents per gallon on July 2016. The tax would increase to 44.6 cents per gallon if the federal government fails to pass an Internet sales tax…
Friday, March 22, 2013
The final debate on the bill turns contentious amidst accusations that House Speaker Michael Busch cut short the debate and opportunity to vote.
Tempers flared Friday afternoon following the debate and final vote by the House of Delegates on a proposal to raise the gas tax in Maryland. When the final vote was taken, the House approved the bill 78-56 but the actual outcome, and roll call vote, remains a matter of contention amidst accusations from Republicans that the debate and final vote were ended too quickly. The bill would increase the state's tax on gas by more than 20 cents to 43.7 cents per gallon on July 2016. The tax would increase to 44.6 cents per gallon if the federal government fails to pass an Internet sales tax. The tax is also tied to the consumer price index, which would allow for automatic increases without any additional legislative action. Those increases are …
Thursday, April 12, 2012
In a letter to the Baltimore Sun, Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D-21) urges for a constitutional amendment to let voters decide how to fund a "major traffic-busting transportation plan."
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
The General Assembly was unable to reach a broad deal on issues affecting the Odenton and Severn area, including transportation funding, or for table games at casinos in the state.
- GOVERNMENT
- Tim Lemke
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Wednesday, April 11, 2012
The Maryland legislature ended its 90-day session Monday, and the bills that did not get passed received as much attention as those that did. Lawmakers ended the session without a broad deal on the budget, forcing the legislature to approve a so-called "doomsday" budget that called for more than $500 million in cuts. The big issues in the Odenton and Severn area involved transportation and schools, while residents were also keeping an eye on legislation that might have impacted the casino at Arundel Mills. Here's a summary of what the General Assembly did or didn't pass, and how it might impact us locally. Transportation and Taxes Business leaders in the state, including those west Anne Arundel County, pushed for an increase in the flat …
Friday, February 17, 2012
In remarks before a local Democratic club, Maryland's chief financial officer railed against proposed spending and tax increases, and called for greater fiscal discipline.
- GOVERNMENT
- Tim Lemke
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Friday, February 17, 2012
Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot on Thursday called for a two-year ban on any tax increases, and offered pointed criticism of local business leaders who have supported a rise in the gas tax. During remarks at a stop in Odenton, the state’s chief financial officer said he disagreed with much of the proposals in Gov. Martin O’Malley’s fiscal year 2013 budget. In particular, he railed against the proposed addition of sales tax to the price of gasoline, and called on the state government to restore “fiscal discipline” in order to inject life into what he called a “feeble” economic recovery. “All of these taxes pass some basic tests, but in the aggregate, they are a crippling burden,” Franchot said. The Democrat spoke during a visit with the…
Thursday, February 2, 2012
The head of the West Anne Arundel Chamber of Commerce said she would like to hear more about Gov. Martin O'Malley's plan to add sales tax to the price of gasoline.
- GOVERNMENT
- Tim Lemke
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Thursday, February 2, 2012
The head of the local chamber of commerce expressed mixed feelings toward Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposal to add a sales tax to the cost of gasoline, but said she would reserve full judgment until he presents a bill to the legislature. Claire Louder, the President and CEO of the West Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce in Odenton, said she was pleased to see the governor consider raising new money for transportation, but wanted to see specific details on how it could be used. A broad coalition of business groups, including the chamber, has endorsed a 15-cent increase on the gas tax to help raise more than $800 million for transportation improvements in the state. It has been a particularly hot local issue due to the recent expansion of…
Monday, January 30, 2012
The Maryland governor said he will explore adding a 6 percent sales tax to the current 23-cent flat tax on gas, in order to pay for transportation upgrades.
Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley said he will propose adding a 6-percent sales tax to the existing tax on gasoline, as a way to help pay for road improvements in the state. In an interview with WTOP radio on Monday, O'Malley said he wants to end the sales tax exemption on gasoline and called the current method of taxing gasoline "outdated." Currently, gas is tax at 23-cents per gallon and is exempt from the state sales tax. "We haven't had any increase in our primary source of transportation funding since the early 1990s," he said. "The best option, it would seem to me, would be to get away from the flat tax and move toward a percentage." O'Malley said he'd recommend phasing in a 6-percent sales tax in addition to the 23-cent flat tax. The …
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
There appears to be growing support for an increase in the gas tax to help pay for transportation improvements in the state. Is this a good idea?
- GOVERNMENT
- Tim Lemke
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Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Later this week, business leaders will rally in Annapolis to push for the legislature to raise more money for transportation improvements around the state. They have taken the somewhat unusual position of supporting a 15-cent increase in the gas tax over three years to help raise as much as $800 million annually. The tax would increase from 23.5 cents to 38.5 cents per gallon. Gov. Martin O'Malley has indicated he will support a gas tax increase in his budget proposal for fiscal year 2013 on Wednesday. Business leaders also are insistent that the state's Transportation Trust Fund be protected. New money for transportation upgrades is an especially hot issue in the Odenton-Severn area, as new growth at Fort Meade has brought additional …
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
With lawmakers set to meet in Annapolis, the West Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce will call for an increase in the gas tax and protection of the state's Transportation Trust Fund.
- GOVERNMENT
- Tim Lemke
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Tuesday, January 10, 2012
With Maryland’s legislative session set to start this week, I sat down on Monday afternoon with Claire Louder, the president and CEO of the West Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce. Louder, who works out of offices in Odenton, spends a lot of time in Annapolis while also serving on the legislative committee for the Maryland Chamber of Commerce. With lawmakers set to meet, Louder said there are seven issues that the West County Chamber is focused on, with transportation funding at the top of the list. (I will give a rundown of the other six issues later this week, but the transportation issue deserves an article all to itself.) The bottom line, Louder said, is that with all of the new people moving into Fort Meade and the surrounding …
Christine
4:15 pm on Friday, May 17, 2013
I'm sorry, but I could hardly read your comment. Did you forget all your punctuation? It does not support your point of view when you don't even use simple sentences. It makes you sound like you can't write correctly and therefore may not be that bright, regardless of whether you an Einstein or developmentally disabled. more ›