News from Annapolis

Whether democrat, republican or independent, one thing on which most Marylanders agree, is that the previous administration imposed a battery of taxes, fee increases and toll hikes. As a democrat, I refused to vote for Governor O’Malley’s tax and fee increases, just as I had fought fee increases under Governor Ehrlich. Toll increases however, were imposed by the Department of Transportation and the O’Malley administration without a vote of the Maryland General Assembly.

To his credit, Governor Hogan has already reduced the sky-high tolls on many of Maryland’s roads, bridges and tunnels. And recently, he announced the elimination or reduction of unnecessarily high fees on anything and everything one can imagine.

By cutting or eliminating 100 excessive fees, Governor Hogan has put $10.2 million back in our pockets annually. Fee elimination and reduction at the Maryland Department of Transportation accounts for a savings of $6.27 million. That savings includes reductions of:

• $4 in vehicle emissions test fees for self-service kiosk customers
• 10% in numerous business license fees for the sale and registration of new and used motor vehicles
• $10 in MVA’s title correction fees

The EZ Pass Account Fee was already eliminated and became effective in July.

In addition, the $24 fee for homeless adults and the $15 fee for homeless children seeking an MVA-issued ID card have been reduced to $1, the smallest amount allowed by law for an ID.

I support also support Governor Hogan’s eliminating a $725 fee for adopted persons seeking access to birth records in order to find a biological parent and a $25 fee for child support income tax interception. Also eliminated is the $10 to $20 boat launching fee in state parks for seniors with a Golden Age Pass.

Professional license fees have been reduced for veterinarians, real estate brokers, home appraisers, pharmacies and professional asbestos removal contractors.

To me, an unreasonable tax is the same as an unreasonable fee. They both take money out of our pockets. As for most fees, they do not represent the cost of the service for which they are paid. They are usually much more expensive than the cost of the service and represent only the tangible evidence of the state’s insatiable appetite for more revenue.

The Hogan administration has assured us that none of the fee eliminations or cuts will reduce the delivery of services to Maryland citizens or Maryland businesses. I am sure that taking an axe to the state’s excessive fees is good news for Marylanders no matter which political party they support.