Thank you for your newspaper's efforts to help keep Maryland citizens and businesses aware of the status of proposed tax increases our legislators are dealing with. This is important and I only wish the newspaper had a higher readership.
I'm really taken aback by the rhetoric of Gov.Martin O'Malleyand his advisors who have demonstrated how oblivious and disconnected they are to the financial stresses and realities of the citizenry. Almost like a bad scary movie. Our citizens and private sector small businesses carry the 5th highest tax burden in the United States.
It is the job of state legislators to be responsible for the state government's finances and represent the interests of the citizens, but it seems they are focused other things and not the citizens.
Their job should be to hold the line on spending, adjust priorities and internal budget allocations so that government can make do with current revenues and set a gas tax that makes Maryland competitive with surrounding states (lowering it might even increase revenues as Maryland becomes the place to gas up).
Perhaps Maryland roads have become more congested because our state's excessive regulations have contributed to the loss of private sector jobs and citizens have to drive to neighboring states and the District of Columbia to work. Or maybe they are congested because property, water and sewer taxes and fees are causing more families to leave urban areas for more affordable rural communities.
I'd like to see Maryland legislators attend town meetings in their districts and get in touch with the working class and just ask why people are moving to York, Pa. or wherever and commuting to jobs near D.C.
My company moved out of Maryland in 1994 to end up in Texas and Virginia. The company had originated in Maryland in the 1930s and had a payroll of $72 million, employing as many as 2,000 with good salaries. But executives wanted to lower the cost of doing business, avoid Maryland's high taxes and regulations, and move to a "right to work" state with an enhanced supply of professional engineers.
Drastic cuts or increase in taxes are not a solution. Even small increases in taxes can cause companies to find Maryland an undesirable place to do business.
So keep up the good reporting. Too bad the readership of newspapers has fallen off. Hope television and Internet sites and blogs pick it up.
George Spencer, Ellicott City