Special Session Information
Senator David Brinkley, Minority Leader
Senator Allan Kittleman, Minority Whip
October 31, 2007
Trick or Treat –O'Malley
Transportation Bill Contains Immediate Gas Tax Increase: Gas tax
indexing appears to be "slam-dunk" Ordinary citizens absent from
legislative hearing
- After promising to oppose a gas tax increase, the Governor
flip-flopped and included an immediate half-cent increase in the
gas tax in his transportation proposal (Senate Bill 5).
- Senate Bill 5 would also mandate an annual gas tax increase
(capped at one-cent) in the gasoline tax through indexing to the
CCI (Construction Cost Index). While each annual increase is
capped at one cent, there is no limit in the bill meaning that
annual increases will last from now until eternity.
- These transportation tax increases pose a double-whammy to
Maryland's citizens. Over 90% of Maryland's communities are
solely dependent upon trucks for the transport of goods.
Therefore, citizens will face increased cost of goods due to the
additional transportation costs in addition to their direct
costs of high fuel for their cars.
- While public opinion polls indicate strong opposition to a
gas tax increase, the hearing lacked ordinary citizens that
oppose the gas tax. (Washington Post Poll – 63% opposed;
Alliance for Tax Fairness – 71% opposed gas tax increase). Most
of the testimony presented today was from Administration
officials and transportation lobbyists in support of Governor
O'Malley's gas tax increase proposal.
- As citizens face the highest fuel prices ever and gird for
the most expensive electricity and fuel oil costs for this
winter, Democrat legislators in Annapolis appear oblivious to
the angst of the working citizens of Maryland.
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