Friday, March 29, 2013
The bill that increases the gasoline tax by as much as 20 cents by 2016 now heads to Gov. Martin O'Malley for his signature.
A tax that will increase the cost of gas by as much as 20 cents by 2016 was given final approval Friday by the Maryland Senate. The bill passed largely along party lines by a vote of 27-20. Eight Democrats joined all 12 Republicans in opposing the tax increase measure. The bill now goes to the desk of Gov. Martin O'Malley, who is expected to sign the tax into law. The final vote came after legislators suspended the rules, allowing them to take both a preliminary and final vote in the same day and allow many lawmakers to leave the capital to observe Good Friday. The bill increases the state's tax on gas by more than 20 cents to 43.7 cents per gallon on July 2016. The tax would increase to 44.6 cents per gallon if the federal government …
Thursday, March 28, 2013
A preliminary vote in the full Maryland Senate could be scheduled as early as Friday.
The Senate Budget and Tax Committee Thursday approved a bill that would increase the gas tax by as much as 20 cents by 2016. Sen. Ed DeGrange, an Anne Arundel County Democrat, joined Republican Sens. David Brinkley, Richard Colburn and George Edwards in voting against the bill. The nine remaining Democrats on the committee voted in favor of the bill as approved last week by the House of Delegates. With the committee's approval, the bill could be scheduled for a preliminary vote by the full 47-member Senate as early as Friday. The bill would increase the state's tax on gas by more than 20 cents to 43.7 cents per gallon on July 2016. The tax would increase to 44.6 cents per gallon if the federal government fails to pass an Internet sales tax…
Friday, March 22, 2013
The final debate on the bill turns contentious amidst accusations that House Speaker Michael Busch cut short the debate and opportunity to vote.
Tempers flared Friday afternoon following the debate and final vote by the House of Delegates on a proposal to raise the gas tax in Maryland. When the final vote was taken, the House approved the bill 78-56 but the actual outcome, and roll call vote, remains a matter of contention amidst accusations from Republicans that the debate and final vote were ended too quickly. The bill would increase the state's tax on gas by more than 20 cents to 43.7 cents per gallon on July 2016. The tax would increase to 44.6 cents per gallon if the federal government fails to pass an Internet sales tax. The tax is also tied to the consumer price index, which would allow for automatic increases without any additional legislative action. Those increases are …
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Senate President's plan would raise $300 million through a sales tax on gasoline and would allow local governments to impose a 5 cent tax.
UPDATED (5:39 p.m.)—Maryland could raise $300 million for transportation projects under a plan proposed by Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller. Miller's plan calls for a 3 percent tax on the wholesale price of gas. That tax would be in addition to the 23.5 cents per gallon drivers already pay in Maryland. "Everybody is going to pay a gas tax," Miller said of his proposal. The additional tax would raise up to $300 million in additional funds, Miller said. The proposal would allow local jurisdictions to impose up to a 5 cents per gallon tax for local transportation projects. Miller said the idea is to let counties with specific transportation needs assess a tax to pay for those needs. "They would be able to meet the needs by the votes of …
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Wednesday, January 23, 2013
A new poll by Annapolis-Based Gonzales Research shows support for banning assault weapons while only 25 percent of those polled want to see Gov. Martin O'Malley run for President.
Nearly two-thirds of Marylanders surveyed say a sentence of life without parole is an acceptable alternative to the death penalty. The results are part of a survey released early Wednesday morning by Annapolis-based Gonzales Research. The poll 801 state residents found that support for the death penalty in the state has slipped to 49 percent. In 2011, that same poll found that 56 percent of those polled favored the death penalty. Opposition to the death penalty comes from Democrats and blacks at nearly 60 percent each. Republicans, independents and whites all favor the retention of capital punishment, according to the poll. Gov. Martin O'Malley has made the repeal of the death penalty one of his legislative priorities for the 2013 Maryland…
Monday, April 9, 2012
Budget bill must be passed by midnight or General Assembly will extend its session.
Gov. Martin O'Malley and House Speaker Michael Busch called on the Senate to compromise on a state budget in time for the General Assembly to end its session at midnight. "The one constitutional obligation we have is to pass a balanced budget," said Busch, adding that House members assigned to the conference committee were prepared to complete negotiations. "Because one chamber has an obsession with a certain issue, that they do not want to concur on the budget until that issue is resolved does not initiate any responsible stand for us not to deal with the budget that is in front of us," said Busch, speaking of a Senate effort to expand gambling to include table games and a sixth casino location in Prince George's County. "They have 11 …
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Petition effort continues despite uncertain future of the proposal in the Maryland General Assembly.
Opponents of a proposed tax on gas continue their efforts to defeat the bill in the court of public opinion. Protesters gathered along Route 40 and Winters Lane to wave signs at passing motorists and collect signatures on petitions at three gas stations along the intersection. The gathering Saturday morning in Catonsville was the latest in a number of such rallies this year organized by the Baltimore County chapter of Americans for Prosperity. The group advocates for smaller government. Hafiz Habib, owner of the BP and Gulf stations at the intersection, said he supports Gov. Martin O'Malley but opposes the gas tax. "He does a good job for Maryland but this bill is not good for Maryland," Habib said. O'Malley has proposed a 6 percent sales …
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Residents of Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Montgomery and Prince George's counties would pay more in either sales or gas taxes to fund transit projects.
Residents of five jurisdictions in Maryland would pay more in sales or gas taxes to fund transit projects under dueling proposals sponsored by two rural Republican state senators. Sens. Richard Colburn and George Edwards are each proposing increases to the sales tax of between one-half to one penny. Edwards has also proposed a more than 2 percent sales tax on gasoline. All of the proposed taxes would affect only residents of Baltimore City and of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Montgomery and Prince George's counties. The money would go to fund transit projects in the respective jurisdictions. Colburn, a five-term Republican from the Eastern Shore, is proposing increasing the sales tax a full penny to 7 percent in those jurisdictions. The money …
The expansion of gambling to BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport would provide money to highway projects, according to the Perry Hall Democrat.
Del. Eric Bromwell is gambling that this is the year the General Assembly passes his bill expanding slot machines to BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. This is the fifth year the Perry Hall Democrat has proposed placing machines at the airport. Bromwell said his plan is an alternative to Gov. Martin O'Malley's proposed increase in the gas tax. If approved, the machines would be housed in a room inside the airport. "It was never the intent to have machines lining the walls at the airport," he said. Bromwell said the idea is to "capture dollars from travelers who pass through the airport before they take off." "Every month BWI records record travelers," said Bromwell. "They have money to spend." Bromwell is the lead sponsor on two bills that …
Christine
4:15 pm on Friday, May 17, 2013
I'm sorry, but I could hardly read your comment. Did you forget all your punctuation? It does not support your point of view when you don't even use simple sentences. It makes you sound like you can't write correctly and therefore may not be that bright, regardless of whether you an Einstein or developmentally disabled. more ›