Help Me Stand Against Irresponsible Tax Policies

Considering the number of families hurting in eastern Baltimore County, we should expect our elected officials to protect our tax dollars with utmost care.

With the closure of Sparrows Point adding thousands to the list of unemployed, we should expect our county and state leaders to implement tax policies with extreme scrutiny.

Unfortunately, we aren’t receiving the representation we deserve. The carelessness of our representatives will have destructive consequences for the families and businesses of our communities.

Starting in July, the state will phase in a 3% per gallon tax increase on top of the current 23.5 cent per gallon tax. The legislature also voted to scale it with the consumer price index, which will automatically increase the tax every year.

Those that spoke out against the tax increases were reminded that they also used the roads. However, the first $1.2 billion of the new taxes has been earmarked and 54% will go to mass transit projects, not roads. Additionally, other counties received special bill language that permits them to spend these new funds on projects totally unrelated to transportation.

We should remember that funds were provided for roads via the transportation trust fund, which the state raided. $1.1 billion in funds intended for county and municipal roads have been diverted to the general fund for other programs since 2004 and have not been repaid.

And now there is the “Rain Tax” which has been thrust on us by both the state and the county. We should remember that we are already taxed for protection of the Chesapeake via the Bay Restoration Fund, which was also raided.

Our State Representative John Olszewski Jr. and County Councilman John Olszewski Sr. both voted for the Rain Tax. Even our own representatives have detached from our communities.

Our struggling families will surely feel the weight of these unnecessary taxes. Yet, no policy has been passed that will prevent future raids on transportation tax dollars or theft of environmental tax dollars.

The most painful of the legislature’s actions is their manipulation of pensions. Pension promises have won elections for the politicians in office. However, instead of insuring that the teacher’s pensions were funded and protected, the state legislature dumped the pensions on the counties.

The weight our representative’s unfulfilled pension promises will fall on the backs of our local communities. Be assured that your legislators will one day tell you that they have to raise taxes to afford pension costs. It is important that we remember their leadership failure.

Protecting the Bay Restoration Fund, protecting our transportation trust fund and protecting pensions – these things are common sense!

We will pass to our children a future of accountable government or a future of endless taxes. I am running for office because I want a better future for my children and I feel obligated to stand up and fight for it. We can achieve better government together – I need to know that you stand with me.

If you believe that we need more accountability and less taxes, please sign my petition at www.HonestyNotTaxes.com