I think Dan Rodricks' suggestion for a new flush tax is a promising alternative to the storm water management fee —one that would hold us all personally responsible for the health of the Chesapeake Bay ("End 'rain tax' ridicule rap, repeal and replace law," Feb. 28).
The way the counties have treated and dodged implementing the management fee is simply government malfeasance at both the state and county levels. The counties should never have been granted options and waivers on implementation, and the county leadership is not leading, but cowering to special interests to preserve their jobs. I think this is representative of a larger problem in America: we elect people to "govern" — make decisions in our best collective interests — and instead elected officials pander to moneyed interest groups to stay in office.
The cynical, shortsighted, but successful effort of Mr. Hogan to turn the management fee into a national joke was a reprehensible and cowardly act to grab power. Now he has power and it appears the Chesapeake Bay and the citizens of Maryland may be the punchline.
One other thought on alternatives to the management fee: As Mr. Rodricks pointed out, much of the problem is from "filthy storm-water that runs across our oil-splattered parking lots and chemically fertilized lawns, down our streets and driveways, into drainage systems." Why don't we assess appropriate (possibly hefty) fees on the sale and use of all the chemicals, oils and other pollutants that find their way to the bay? For example, the homeowner who buys lawn fertilizer at Home Depot might find the price 20 percent higher; the lawn service, 30 percent more costly; a quart of oil doubled in cost, etc.
The agricultural and animal farm pollution still need to be addressed effectively. The flush tax won't work on these major polluters. Significantly higher fees on fertilizers will help.
Yes the agricultural fertilizer fees will get passed along and hit all of our pocketbooks, but that's the way it should be; we should all assume responsibility for the preservation of the bay.
Austin Barry, Eldersburg