Del. Szeliga: We Are Back in Annapolis

Del. Kathy Szeliga represents Legislative District 7, which covers parts of Baltimore and Harford counties.

Well folks, we are back in Annapolis for the 2012 General Assembly. As much as I want to begin this message to you with good news, I remain very concerned about the direction Maryland is taking. The leadership in Annapolis has been waging a war on family budgets for the last five years, and I expect this year to be worse.

You may recall that in 2007 when the governor passed the largest tax increase in Maryland's history, we were assured that this would solve our structural deficit. It did not. (The structural deficit is the ongoing difference between the money the government takes in and the money they spend, i.e. government spending is more than the taxes they get.)

If the leadership in Annapolis is not willing to address government spending, they must increase taxes. There are a number of taxes and fees under consideration.

• Increasing sales tax to 7%
• Gas tax, up 35.7% to 15 cents/gallon increase
• Flush tax, triple the annual fee for everyone—even septic users
• Increase corporate taxes
• New sales taxes on services not taxed
• Car registration, a 50% increase is proposed (this fee was doubled not too long ago)

This war against middle class family budgets and small businesses has been going on for too long. Your family budget has not grown, nor have the revenues of the businesses that employ us. Yet taxes and fees continue to increase, putting huge pressure on all of us, especially the already stressed budgets of middle class families and small business owners.

The next 90 days are going to be tough and I am committed to fighting against the proposed increases in taxes and fees.  Working families simply cannot continue to absorb more taxes and fees.  I've heard you loud and clear—no more taxes—and I will carry your message to Annapolis.

I am humbled by the honor to represent you and take very seriously the job before me. You can expect weekly updates from Annapolis as I keep you informed about the Maryland General Assembly.