House Republicans began pressuring their Democratic colleagues in Annapolis yesterday to provide tax relief this year and to make it harder to raise taxes in the future.
More than 30 of the 41-member GOP caucus gathered to announce a plan to cut Gov. Parris N. Glendening's budget by more than $330 million to make good on their campaign pledge to slash state income tax revenues by 6 percent.
The tax cut, which would take effect next Jan. 1, would save virtually any Maryland family of four $220, regardless of income. The GOP proposal would eliminate the 2 percent tax on the first $1,000 of taxable income and increase the personal exemption each taxpayer may claim from $1,200 to $2,200.
The GOP announcement was hardly unexpected. Tax cut promises were made during last fall's campaigns, and the bills to carry them out have been introduced.
The question is whether the Democrats who control the General Assembly will go for a tax cut this year and, if so, how big it would be.
Governor Glendening has said he wants to stash millions of dollars away this year to be used for tax relief later when the state's finances are in better shape.
The Republican plan is modeled on the four-year, 24 percent tax cut plan pushed last year by Republican gubernatorial candidate Ellen R. Sauerbrey, although GOP delegates said they are pushing now only for a one-year, 6 percent cut.
The Republicans also are pushing a bill that would require a 60 percent "supermajority" vote to approve any increase in income or sales taxes or any broadening of the sales tax base.
To finance their tax cut, the Republicans would depend largely on giving back to taxpayers nearly half of the $250 million that Mr. Glendening wants to set aside for a financial rainy day or to offset any cuts the Congress may pass through to the states.
Their plan also would eliminate all funds for the proposed Camden Yards football stadium; reduce the "Sunny Day Fund" used to attract businesses to Maryland; abolish an $8 million program to schools with high percentages of students who live in poverty; and eliminate nearly 80 percent of another program aimed at keeping high school students from dropping out.
Speaker Taylor called the Republican plan "anti-business" and was particularly critical of the proposed raid on the Sunny Day Fund, which he called a key tool Maryland can use in competing with other states to attract jobs.
But Mr. Flanagan characterized the fund as "welfare to business" and said Republicans were opposed to such programs.
Mr. Taylor said he also would oppose any attempt to impose a supermajority voting requirement on tax issues.
Frederick W. Puddester, the governor's deputy chief of staff for budget matters, complained that the majority of the GOP cuts were one-time-only reductions, not permanent cuts on which long-term tax relief should be based.