From Sen. Nancy Jacobs:
Maryland drivers are getting ready to head to the emergency room for a transfusion, as Governor O’Malley is sucking their life’s blood out of them, or should I say the few dollars they have left in their wallets.
With all the legislation that was passed in the recently ended legislative session, we should all be thankful that it only lasts for 90 days. Otherwise we might be finding ourselves at the local soup kitchen for what this Governor is costing us.
On July 1, Martin O’Malley’s sticky fingers will plunge deep in our pockets to pull out an additional $2 dollars in toll fees for the Bay Bridge, the Harry W. Nice Bridge, the JFK Highway (I-95) and Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge. Oh, that hand’s not finished yet – grab an additional dollar for the Harbor and Ft. McHenry tunnels and the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Next year when the Express Toll Lanes open on Interstate 95 we’ll have even more toll hikes with the variable toll rates lanes. All for the sake of cutting time off on our work commute. This gives whole new meaning to the phrase “time is money” with Governor Martin O’Malley in charge of your wallet.
Until this year Governor O’Malley should have been forced to buy malpractice insurance to cover what his administration had not been doing – going after those who breeze through the E-Z pass tolls without paying. In the last five years these toll-runners have chalked up nearly $6.7 million in unpaid tolls – and they want to dip into the pockets again of the law-bidding motorists. Botched operation – get me a lawyer!
Now you take the surrounding states, Delaware has $10 in tolls for the entire state. West Virginia has only one toll road (take me home country roads). Our good friends in Virginia only pay $27.10 and that’s including the Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel at $12.00. Only the state of Pennsylvania equals our current total of $33.00 … and they have 15 toll roads compared to our 8 soon to be 9. Really? I think I’m going to faint – grab the smelling salts.
The public is still choking on the Gas Tax we’re going to start paying on July 1, 2013, the same day that the tolls increase. If the feds don’t add to our misery, you’ll be paying at least 62.5 cents per gallon in taxes by 2016. My suggestion to you — learn the Heimlich maneuver before then!
In just the past two years alone we’ve see car registration double (don’t forget to add the additional $3.50 the gas tax bill has included in raising the registration fee once again), titling a vehicle doubled, and car dealers processing fees doubled. For those of you who found a car or truck too expensive to use – even moped and motor scooters owners found the “Tax Man” waiting like the Grim Reaper. The addition of a $20 titling fee and an excise tax of 6 percent, requirement of insurance and the additional cost to purchase a helmet and protective eye wear… We always have the option of riding a bike, rollerblades or a skateboard – oh wait, give’em time — they’ll tax that too!
Wait a dog gone minute – the intake from toll fees collected minus expenses for the fiscal years 2011 and 2012 is a whopping $621,460,763. Oh my gosh — the heart is beating double time, I’m having a hard time breathing! Didn’t the MDTA say in 2011 that costs for repairs involving all these toll roads AND the expense of addressing traffic congestion along I-95 (the express toll lanes) and the Inter-county Connector in the DC area totaled $909,000,000. Oh hon, one more year without another toll increase and the funds for all that work will have given us $130,000,000 to spare – the cost of gold-plated pacemakers for everyone in the state.
The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Maryland in 2012 reports that the standard for a three-person family has increased by an average of 54% in the last decade. How much will these new taxes and fees increase that average?
Enough is enough; we haven’t even gotten to the wind and rain taxes O’Malley inflicted on us.
The only person dancing in the rain after the 2013 Legislative Session is Martin O’Malley. After July 1, 2013 the rest of us will be on life support.
We need recall authority in this state. A one party state has no recourse to protect its citizens from self appointed messiahs like MOM and renders people like Nancy useless.
What makes you think that the people who elected MOM would vote to recall him?
Nancy,
If you call lots of new and increases to existing taxes and fees “rain” then there certainly was a deluge of Biblical proportions.
I am so sorry for the people who are economically disadvantaged because the impact is proportionally much greater on them. But then the Dem/Libs don’t really care about them. Except when it is time to go to the polls.
Excellent article Nancy. Keep up the good work. Maybe one day the citizens of MD will wake up & throw all the tax & spend politicians out of office. Or is it too late?
Hail to the Theif. Do not let this man become President!
It is unfortunate that Marylanders, especially those from Harford and Cecil counties who commute back and forth, will experience especially hefty increases. Oddly, that results from the state’s previously overly generous low tolls for local commuters. But to retain these “give-away” rates might be criticized as fiscally imprudent. In putting this issue in perspective, local tax and fee payers need to realize that the vast, vast majority of monies raised will come from out of state drivers who, too, have been subsidized for years and years by Maryland’s relatively low rates. My understanding is that, even with the increases, Maryland’s toll structure is still below those of neighboring states, especially along the I-95 corridor.
I’m afraid Sen. Jacobs’ letter, is reminiscent of Delegate Szeliga’s recent rant about the Storm Water Tax . My thoughts regards Ms. Jacob’s letter are virtually identical to those I expressed on June 22, 2013 at 6:10 pm regards Ms. Szeliga’s press release. I concluded my comment as follows: “I’ve never been a fan of Populism, whether in the late 19th, mid 20th, or now early in the 21st centuries. Populism, sadly, too often comes close to demagoguery, of which there a good bit in this part of the state.”
Any politician that claims to “do it for the children” or to “help the middle class” is a populist.
Another point in general, I hate the “neighboring state” arguments, IF we want to be like VA, PA or DE; why don’t we enact all their laws–including PA’s Carry law…
obviously does not work any longer or have to drive very far. I really don’t care if they are paying $7 a gallon in UK or whatever. This tax crap and giving stuff away to chums from middle school (MOM’s pal with the windmill company) is leading us to ruin. Obamacare is coming to bleed us drier. How can thinking people who have to work to earn a living support these demagogs.
I would gladly pay a $100 toll for any bridge in the state if it would eliminate the level of traffic and gridlock and assholes on the road. I’m poor- I’ll never own a new car, or eat out at a sit down restaurant more than once or twice a year(if it’s a good year), but I’m happy and I live well. Probably because my days are not consumed with being pissed off at the world(except for those asshole drivers and stupid traffic). Guess what folks- at some point you will wake up dead(it’s a joke, see)- and you will look back at your life and hopefully you will smile at how trivial these concerns over cash flow and spending and whether or not this or that is a good investment of your tax dollars actually are. Maybe some $6-$7 a gallon gas is just what we need to get back to good old wholesome family time instead of driving all over Hell and creation chasing happiness which is right under our noses already, if we would just take the time to embrace it.
Stoic, Before I ‘wake up dead’ I intend to do what I can to make the life of others, especially the economically disadvantaged, around me more tolerable. Not by giving them everything and expecting nothing from them but by making the things they must buy more affordable to them to buy with the money the earn from their jobs. That’s why I criticize all of the disproportionate taxes and fees that Maryland has created or raised that impact them proportionately more than they do me. This State says it wants to help the economically disadvantaged and then rapes them every chance it gets.
Maryland is driving out all the middle class professionals who can find work elsewhere. I have a bachelor’s degree from a great school and can’t get a job good enough to live on my own in a suburban 1-bedroom apartment. My girlfriend just completed grad school and must wait 6-8 weeks to take her certification exam for MD Pharmacy, when her fellow graduates in surrounding states are already taking their tests and looking for jobs.
As soon as we get on our feet, we’re leaving the state and never looking back, so are several of my family members. The liberals have ruined the place I’ve grown up.
The only people to blame for O’Malley is the ignorant Democrats in Maryland that voted him in office twice. And I guarantee you that the same people will vote for him as President of the US.