Issue Position: Maryland Personal Income Taxes

Issue Position

Over the course of the O'Malley Administration, the Democratic leadership in Annapolis has raised just about every tax possible, but it has raised personal income taxes twice, once in 2007 and again in 2012. In 2012, income taxes were raised on Maryland residents earning $100,000 or more a year, affecting millions of middle-class families, and personal income taxes in Baltimore County are now as high as 8.55%. (Remember, in 2008, President Obama stated, "If you're making $100,000 a year or less, then you're pretty solidly middle class, and you deserve relief right now, as opposed to paying higher taxes." Democrats in Annapolis must not have been listening to their President on that occasion.)

The name "Maryland" has become synonymous with high taxes. "Tax Freedom Day", the day after which the average taxpayer starts working for himself or herself, does not occur now in Maryland until April 24th. As a result, more and more Maryland residents are moving to other states such as Florida, which has no state income tax and where "Tax Freedom Day" consequently falls much earlier in the year. Of course, when people making nice incomes leave Maryland, those of us left behind have to pay more taxes to pay for the costs of State government.

The bottom line: If I am elected, I pledge to dig in my heels and fight to hold the line on further personal income tax increases.

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