Del. McDonough: Taxes and Jobs Don't Mix
Del. Pat McDonough expresses his concerns over the impact higher taxes will have on Maryland's economy
Gov. Martin O'Malley and the Maryland General Assembly leaders are preparing to pass a 15 cent gasoline tax hike.
This tax increase will cost $800 million and has a huge negative impact on the family budget. Not only will gas prices go up, but the cost of food and other products will increase.
The truckers who haul the food have estimated that each individual driver will have additional costs of about $2,000 per truck. This is a regressive tax and a great burden on working and middle class families.
Recently, the bureaucrats in the Department of Transportation passed a toll tax hike that will cost $500 million. The combined cost of these two taxes will amount to $1.3 trillion. This is an amazing amount of money that will be confiscated from taxpayers, the family budget and the private economy.
Politicians in Annapolis have been robbing the transportation trust fund blind. Over the past five years, they have stolen more than $800 million to finance non-transportation projects and create a phony balanced budget.
Their theft is now being "covered up" by another act of thievery masquerading as a gas tax increase. The costs overruns on the Washington,D.C. super highway known as the ICC and other projects is another reason for the lack of current funding needs.
Another problem that is creating havoc with the transportation budget is the mass transit welfare system. Our gas taxes are paying to subsidize the "fare box" costs on the subway, light rail, and bus system. Most of the riders are "free riders."
Now, here is where the story gets interesting. The governor is attempting to claim that his two tax hikes are really a "job stimulus plan." Of course, President Obama made the same claim.
Building and repairing bridges, roads and other infrastructure will create a bonanza of jobs, according to O'Malley. Calculating the rough math, $1.3 billion will create 5,000 jobs, if you follow the Obama stimulus ratio. At best, these are temporary construction jobs, not permanent career positions.
I have introduced legislation called, "The Jobs Fairness Act" which will mandate that all jobs created as a result of these tax increases must go to American citizens.
All contractors, sub-contractors and new workers would need to submit to the E-Verify program which will guarantee they all have lawful presence in this country. All Marylanders are suffering through the most difficult economic hardships.
Not one job, if any are really created, should be allowed to go to an illegal alien. We know that in the construction industry, in particular, the hiring of illegals is rampant.
I predict the governor and other politicians in Annapolis will resist this common sense and fair approach with phony excuses when their support for illegal aliens is the real agenda.
Del. Pat McDonough, a Middle River Republican, represents District 7, which includes parts of Baltimore and Harford counties.
Scott Sewell
7:01 am on Monday, February 13, 2012
Keep fighting the good fight Pat. Hopefully the taxpayers in Maryland will get the message before we all are forced to pickup and move out!
Dennis Gilpin
8:35 am on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Pat, As the price of gasoline goes up people will travel less,buy less and this will affect the sales tax we normally bring in..Commercial carriers will fill up outside our borders along with private individuals. I see the necessity to bring in additional revenue but this will cost us rather than be a help.
Any contractor who gets caught hiring an illegal immigrant should have his license
automatically revolked and his equipment confiscated....along with a fine. Got to take away the incentive to use them. All in favor of everyone supporting their families but do it legally.Some politicians look for additional revenue but want to put the burden on those who "already" support the state.
Adrian Stone
5:45 pm on Sunday, February 19, 2012
Indeed! If anyone should work for sub-par wages, it should be Americans!
Pat, you have a magical, almost beautiful way of bypassing the actual problems so you may slip-in a slap towards illegal immigrants. Well, Hoss, they are not the problem which needs fixing, but I doubt you know how to fix a damned thing. You run on one issue, and it's boring and flat, and it's obvious you are a man held aloft by pandering and B.S.
You have long been the blind man leading the blind. And until you actually do something, anything in that office which you have held far too long, you always will be.
Dennis Gilpin
8:22 pm on Sunday, February 19, 2012
Pat, I don't see illegal immigrants contributing to our state.Some may say you bring that up too often but any drain on our "suffering" economy has to be addressed. I have heard that the "illegals" only take the jobs that our workers refuse to do. I have trouble with that .A person will work any job to feed their family.You just happen to address matters that are controversial and stand up for what is right. If every working person pays their taxes it would be a step in the right direction. If that was the case it may not have been necessary to add all the fees at the toll facilities and the DMV. You stand for much more than illegal immigration but this subject just draws more attention...and it should.
Adrian Stone
3:55 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
It's not that at all, Mr. Gilpin. It's Mr. McDonough hammering on the same, tired, ripped old drum which bothers me. His voting record is a long line of "nays," and the man hardly introduces bills which are sane, reasonable or passable. He introduces pointless bills (his Speak English bill as an example), which will not nor should be passed, and then stands on the corner screaming about the insanity of others.
If he took the time to deflate his head and float on down to earth, he might not need to shout down out off his ass so often. Until then, he's not helping, he's hindering. And I'd like for him or you or anyone to supply a record of, say, five things he has actually done to change a damn thing in this county. I mean, aside from leaving his campaign signs up beyond the legally allotted time post-election.
Dennis Gilpin
10:18 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Adrian, Rather than comment on that I would just say his record is publc, How you feel about his stance on certain issues is to be appreciated. We all have a right to voice our views. The abuse of our laws is my concern. Politicians leaning toward a fast growing population to gain favoritism in an upcoming election.We all know their intention is to get re-elected but create laws that are fair to everyone and legal.
How can anyone justify illegal immigration which puts a strain on our justice system and our ability to balance our budget ? If we infringe on other countries borders there ia a probability to do serious jail time. Many people here feel it is better to look the "other way". Why ? The economic problems we are having will not go away and we all have to pull together to make it work.I respect the rights of everyone to hold a job but contribute to our economy and do it legally. I know the issues go beyond the "illegal" issue but it is a growing problem. As far as signs are concerned,many are not taken down.Still see some left up where candidates have lost the election.
Pointless bills.........There are many that protect the criminals rights by making it
harder to gain access to their idenity. In the days before 911 no one thought how dangerous that thinking could be......It is now !
There must be something to Pats stand if he is still in office. Many must agree with him.
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