A taxman: The problem with Martin O’Malley

He’s telegenic, vigorous, a deft speaker: Martin O'Malley looks the part of an earnest and energetic presidential contender who could hold his own on a global stage. But now that he’s officially in the 2016 race, those who recall his years as the Democratic governor of Maryland have a few numbers to share. According to a tally by the House Republican Caucus of Maryland, Mr. O'Malley raised taxes and fees 83 times in his eight years in office, to the tune of $8 billion.

“O'Malley was committed to raising as many different taxes as high as possible during his eight years as governor,” says Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. “The voters of deep-blue Maryland gave their verdict on his governorship when they defeated his hand-picked candidate and elected an anti-tax Republican as governor. Not everyone can lose an election when they were not even on the ballot,” Mr. Norquist says, also noting that Mr. O'Malley “is a darling of radical spending interests, environmentalists and union bosses.”

A record like Mr. O'Malley’s can take it toll. A Gallup poll found last year that 47 percent of Marylanders said they would move out of the state “if they could.” A Tax Foundation study also found the state lost 66,000 resident and $5.5 billion in taxable income between 2000 and 2010. Maryland ranks the seventh in the nation for the worst taxes according to a Wall Street 24/7 analysis; the Fiscal Times rates the state at No. 10. Yeah, well.

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