Martin "The Great Swindler" O'Malley proposing sales tax ON TOP of gas tax (home, purchases)

[HurricaneDC]

O'Malley wants 6 percent sales tax added to gasoline - Maryland Politics - The Washington Post

Truly a scoundrel if ever there was one.

[North Beach Person]

Here's what will happen:

O'Malley saw the $.15/gal increase was real unpopular. He decided to double down by proposing the 6% sales tax.

The Legislators will then approve one and reject one (I have no call on which right now) and they'll be able to go home and tell their constituents how they saved them from even more taxes.

It's called The Maryland Way.

Either way gas prices get taxed more.

[HurricaneDC]

I mean, a sales tax does make sense to a degree. I just can't accept a flat tax on top of it.

If it wasn't for my general distaste of the field I'd go into politics just to try and rescue this state. I could never resort to some of the dirty underhanded tactics that certain pols on both sides of the aisle use though... just ain't an honest man's game.

[HurricaneDC]

Oh yes, and this gem. I gotta be honest it's quite clever.

O’Malley defends online sales tax proposal - Maryland Politics - The Washington Post

[North Beach Person]

Actually the on-line sales tax/mail order sales tax has been law in many states including MD for years, it just is almost impossible to collect. You're supposed to list the value of your purchases on your MD Income Tax form and pay the appropriate sales tax on your purchases.

Gov. Schaffer tried this years ago and wasn't successful. That was pre-online, or in its infancy, he was going after mail order.

[Henry Bowman]

It would be far easier for them to just take 100% of our income and give us back what they think we should be allowed to keep.

It's no wonder that the productive citizens are leaving Maryland and being replaced by those that consume more than they produce.

[HurricaneDC]

Not to mention all the major businesses choosing to go to VA...

[PhenomenalAJ]

I'm fine with the tax if it all goes to transportation and infrastructure. We need a Purple Line sooner rather than later.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by PhenomenalAJ

I'm fine with the tax if it all goes to transportation and infrastructure. We need a Purple Line sooner rather than later.

And that's part of the reason for a lot of the opposition, aside from increasing cost. Those of us in rural areas will be building your mass transit projects while you get your ride subsidy both in construction and a fare structure that only covers about 1/3 of the cost. At the same time the highway infrastructure in rural areas is left to crumble.

If the various Governors and the Legislature would stop raiding the HTF to balance the General Fund most of the underfunding issue would go away. It's not set up to be a pay as you go system but to pay off bonded debt to do the construction.

Something interesting that came out today is that the 6% sales tax on gas will bring in more revenue than a simple $.15/gal increase in the gas tax.

[uggabugga]

Originally Posted by HurricaneDC

Oh yes, and this gem. I gotta be honest it's quite clever.

O’Malley defends online sales tax proposal - Maryland Politics - The Washington Post

piling on:

Governor's proposal to raise tobacco sales tax ruffles sellers - WTOP.com

is there nothing M'OM won't tax?