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Thursday, January 17, 2008

Andy Harris Sponsors "Maryland Taxpayer Protection Act"

Maryland Sen. Andy Harris (R-7), the conservative candidate to replace Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, has sponsored SB-8 - the Maryland Taxpayer Protection Act. The bill would require a 2/3 vote by each house of the legislature to enact any tax increase or to impose a new tax.

It's unfortunate that this bill probably will never see the light of day. Gov. Martin O'Malley has too many more surprises in store for the Free State to risk something as sensible as Sen. Harris' proposal.

My thanks to Brian Giffiths and Red Maryland for providing a heads up on this bill.
cross posted at Delmarva Dealings

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can hardly imagine a more fiscally irresponsible piece of legislation. Why, after all, should tax increases require a supermajority? Because Republicans can't manage to win even 50 percent of the seats in the legislature?

G. A. Harrison said...

Why then should any vote require a super majority? The answer is simple. Certain actions, like raising taxes, are of such import that there should be more support than a simple majority.

Anonymous said...

Only if you fetishize taxation. Taxes are the price we pay to live in a functioning society.

Anonymous said...

Ironically, Democrats hold more than 2/3 thirds of the House and Senate in Maryland which means, even if the amendment passes, they could still raise taxes.

Basically, this was a DOA bill that is more about pulling a publicity stunt than saving us from tax increases.

Do we really want another politician in Washington who grandstands on issues and has no substance?