Let me think, we have just raised the toll, we have the highest price for EZ Pass, we have one of the highest state income tax in this country and now they want more from us. This Bauman person needs to have his head examined.

What road in what county?

Why is it unclear how much a potential gas tax increase would actually raise prices at the pump? If the tax was increased by a nickel per gallon, wouldn't gas prices rise by a nickel per gallon?

Unfortunately that extra nickel will NOT go to funding roads. It will go towards funding mass transit for people who don't own cars at all - and that mass transit will be designed to serve them, not the drivers who pay the tax.

The Democrats running Maryland continuiously overspend and their solution is always to raise taxes on us. To reduce spending is a foreign concept to them. When are Marylanders going to figure out its time for a changing of the guard.

http://michaeljosefbasl.blogspot.com/

Ben Gross, I must commend you on having the courage to provide a huge yet often unreported fact that the Transportation Trust Fund has been raided to balance the state budget. Why not go further to inform the readers that they did this every year since Governor O'Malley took office & they have also raided the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund that is funded by the flush tax which I believe was more than doubled by O'Malley just last year. Democrats in Annapolis have passed hundreds of increases to taxes, tolls, and fees throughout the first six years of the O'Malley tyranny & yet they continue to propose even more tax increases for the upcoming General Assembly session. This gas tax increase would be the same increase O'Malley tried to get passed last general session and then also during the first of two special sessions when they did raise the rate for state income tax on "millionaires." They also redefined "millionaires" as individuals that earn more than $150,000 and families earning more than $250,000 a year. Those sound like middle class families to me.

Democrats portray themselves as being the party that is working for the poor and middle class but they constantly hurt them (us) the most with their never ending tax increases year after year. Why not make a serious effort to try something new & creative like reducing spending or just freeze ALL spending increases for 5 years to see if the government can survive on a fixed budget like real people do all the time.

Once again, things are looking up under Owe'Malley's leadership! Remember, he will probably be running for President in the near future. When will the "good old boys" (Miller, Bush and O'Malley) in Maryland come to their senses!

I don't get it. The government keeps raising our taxes, they're raiding different trust funds to pay for the general fund, our local schools are seeing less money than ever from the state and yet our beloved government can afford to give the casinos tax breaks?

Obama said clearly as a Chicago politician he would like to see gas prices the same as in Europe, 8+ a gallon, i want to personally thanks every liberal idiot and non white that destroyed our country!

Great news! We need more revenue for light rail projects in Baltimore and Montgomery County, and it apparently provides fresh material for all those people who love to whine about taxes.

Am I mistaken?....I thought the so-called sin tax on cigarettes and alcohol paid for the upkeep of our lousy Maryland roads. If not, then where does the sin tax money go???? I say, NO, to another tax in Maryland.

Our governor and Democratic leadership continue to give productive residents of Maryland more reasons to leave the state!

Go ahead, leave Maryland. I'm in NY right now at my parents. I paid $3.55 a gallon to fill my car, and the taxes if you own a house here are 3 TIMES what you pay in Maryland. Maryland has been downright cheaper for me since I moved there two years ago.

I see no problem with raising the gas tax. It will still be cheaper than any of the other states I travel in.

A change we can belive in.Too much spending and to many taxes.No accountability for oversight.Balance your budget with spending cuts.O Malley is the worst elected offical in Maryland history.And he wants to run for president?

If you recall, the alcohol tax was raised on the premise that the money would go to improve services for those with disabilities. Having spent the past 18 years in special ed, and knowing how little concern the "leaders" of Maryland have for those with special needs, I knew that was flat out lie. Which, of course, it was. Some of the money went to build turf fields and improve weight rooms at schools in the districts of those who voted for the tax increase. Not exactly an improvements for those with disabilities. And, I would like to point out, Maryland's spending for the disabled has actually GONE DOWN under O'Malley's watch. We now rank 48th in the country, down from 43rd in 2009.
My point is, this administration will raise whatever tax they want, lie about it, and do what they want with it. I see no different outcome with an increase in the gas tax, another regressive tax, which O'Malley has made his living on.

A Blue Ribbon Commision recommended this? I'm thinking maybe a Pabst Blue Ribbon or two were involved.

While I believe in paying for "goods" received, I think a flat tax (per gallon) is not the equitable way to proceed. Why should I pay a "gallon" tax when an owner of an electric or natural gas automobile does not pay the same tax? After all they use our highways just as much as the person driving a 15 mpg or 60 mpg vehicle. Also is it fair for a person using more fuel to pay more than one who uses less going on the same roads? There has to be a fairer way to resolve this situation-why not a Maryland only gps that records yours mileage driven on Maryland roads?

Maryland is going to raise taxes? Absolutely shocking. Seriously though, we pay some of the highest taxes in the country, lay off already. I know it's a foreign concept for democrats, but try cutting spending. The tax and spend mantra is played out.

Right after Owe'Malley took office, he spent 110 million on a new basketball gym for coppin state university. How that benefits the rest of the state is a mystery. If we had that money back, we might not need a gas tax at all? Maybe even a tax break? Just wondering.

The tax and fee increase the state has imposed since O'Malley became Governor:

Maryland Tax and Fee Increases Since 2007 Prior to the May 2012 Special Session-2012
2012 Bay Restoration "Flush Tax" - Doubles fee $53 million
2011
2011 Alcoholic beverages - sales tax increase 6% to 9%- $84.8 million
2011 Hospital assessment - $390 million
2011 Vehicle titling tax - $52.4 million
2011 Vehicle dealer processing charge - $5.3 million
2011 Vanity plate fee - $25 to $50 $2.5 million
2011 Birth certificate fee - $12 to $24- $4 million
2011 Toll increases MDTA $90 million
2009
2009 Speed monitoring system $11.6 million
2008
2008 Millionaire's tax - top marginal rate 5.5% to 6.25% $154.6 million
2007
2007 special session Income tax rates - new marginal rates ranging from 4.75% to 5.5% $191.3 million
2007 special session State corporate income tax - 7% to 8.25% $118.6 million
2007 special Computer services tax 5 SB-2 N/A
2007 special session Sales tax - 5% to 6% $603.4 million
2007 special session Tobacco tax - $1 to $2 per pack cigarettes $133 million
2007 special session Vehicle titling tax - $23 to $50 $23 million
2007 special session Vehicle excise tax increase 2011 $36.9 million
2007 special session Electronic bingo / tip jar tax - 20% admissions/amusement tax $8 million
2007 special session Real property transfer tax $14.1 million
2007 Captive Real Estate Investment Trusts $10 million

Its JUST another nickel! Its JUST another penny!

Maryland surplus spurs debate: Did lawmakers need to raise taxes?
By Aaron C. Davis,September 01, 2012

Three months after Maryland lawmakers raised taxes on the wealthy, saying the money was urgently needed for classrooms, surging revenue from other areas has left the state with a surplus, prompting a fight about whether the tax increase was needed at all.

Maryland ended its budget year with over a half-billion dollars in the bank — or more than twice as much as expected, Comptroller Peter Franchot (D) announced late last week.

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-09-01/local/35496205_1_tax-increases-income-tax-hike-budget-gap

Give it up people, it's a lost cause. The tax & spend liberals in this state know that they will continue to be elected because they are santa clause to baltimore city, montgomery, & prince georges counties. The adults in the rest of the state are irrelevant anymore.

legalize the weed

The politicians in Montgomery County want a higher gas tax to reward the developers for their support in getting them elected. Like OMalley, road and bridge repairs are not the priority, the trolley line is the priority because that is what the developers expect from the politicians.

For those that seem to "always" support tax increases of any kind, of any amount, on anybody. I'm wondering can there "ever" be a limit on what and how much we are taxed? Or is it simply because my team came up with it.....I have to support it? Is there "ever" a possiblity of taxing the folks too much? Is there? Just curious....

Nice to see all the tax increases listed - now how about listing the raids on the various trust funds over the years. If they didn't raid the Transportation TRUST Fund over the years the money would be there for the project needed now. Why should I believe that increasing the gas tax would mean the money would actually go to fund transportation projects. Based on the multiple funds raided, we can TRUST a Trust Fund to be used fully as designated. It must be great to be a "Banker" who can redirect money "BY LAW" at will. Throw them all out and let's start over - it is the only message understood by all politicans.

A comment by user "Frank" was deleted because it violated Patch terms of use prohibiting posts that are false, misleading or defamatory. You can familiarize yourself with the terms here: http://bethesda.patch.com/terms

Wow. Politicians need to wake up. $3 and more gas is NOT cheap.
They need to give up their ideas on "mass transportation". I will not take any form of public transportation because it's often used by worthless street thrugs who have nothing better to do than ride the rails or bus lines and mug people.
Anyone see that news story where 8 teens brutally beat up some poor guy and shoved him under a bus stop bench and people didn't call for help because they didn't know he was injured (they thought he was just some homeless guy sleeping under the bench). THAT kinda garbage is why I won't ride public transportation.
Trolley lines, purple lines, etc are all just pipe dreams.
How about raising the alcohol tax? That hasn't been touched in half a century or longer! You had no problems raising the tobacco tax in the name of public health...why not booze as well? Charge a extra dollar per six pack, or a extra dollar per bottle at Redskin and Ravens games. NFL fans alone could fund these politicians pet projects all day long.

Be prepared - gas taxes will rise. Just in time for the hyper-inflation of 2013-14. Be prepared. Get a bike now. Invest in gold / silver / platinum. The Fed is printing TRILLIONS while stupid parasites like MoCo ho-hum and complain about not having enough money.

We're going to see prices and costs climb across the board. It will be insidious (that means bad) and it will destroy many families. Interest rates will have to rise, bringing about another recession.

You've been warned.

http://www.coachoutletonlinebfd.com/ Coach Outlet Online
http://www.guccibeltstb.com/ Gucci Belt
http://www.coachoutletonlineste.com/ Coach Outlet Store Online
http://www.cocoachoutletonline.org/ Coacsh Outlet Online
http://www.coachoutletonlinetsy.net/ Coach Online Outlet