How does raising the sales tax that every man, woman and child pays every day by 20% help our state when Delaware, with whom we share an 85 mile boundary, has no sales tax at all?

Deleware MUST have no sales tax...in order to coax business from other states. Maryland has no problems with sales or business. Business is booming and BRAC will make it boom even bigger. The problem is ensuring our infrastructure can handle all the insured growth...it won't happen without tax revenue.

I spend money in MD, because my dollars (including sales tax) stay in MD. I don't spend money in Va or Deleware unless it can't be avoided. Nothing against them...but let their citizens buy in their states and live without the tax revenue taht builds Maryland's infrastructure and keeps the state out of emergency debt.

It's a no brainer to go to Delaware beaches instead of Ocean City this summer: less gasoline and no O'Malley 6% surcharge!

Donny, voter of the straight Democratic ticket, which of the following increases we in Montgomery County are receiving within a one year period would you repeal?
1. 20% increase in sales tax
2. 20% increase in car tax
3. 18% increase in corporate tax
4. up to 52.63% increase in state income tax
5. 8% increase in water bills
6. fuel tax increase & Leggett and Knapp want a gasoline tax increase too
7. largest Metro fare increase in years
8. up to a 75% increase in electricity rates
9. largest property tax increase in 20 years.

The internet has no sales tax and neither does Delaware. Maryland has a 6% sales tax. Do you support raises for state and county employees in Maryland because they shop in neither Delaware nor on the internet, thus spending more of their income on taxes, Donny?

I'm not suggesting anyone avoid anything for tax reasons. I do try to shop locally though, because it tends to save on $4.00/gallon gas...and supports my state and county. Its a long drive to Delaware!

Regarding the tax-free internet shopping...that boat left the harbor long ago. Its been tapped. What is the difference with a 5% or a 6% sales tax if the internet is tax-free...same with Delaware.

In the end, if someone is an internet shopping junky, they bailed on buying locally long ago. Same for Delaware...or driving into Virginia and burning $4.00/gallon gas to buy gas a few cents cheaper. Common sense must set in at some point.

If I am wrong, Maryland's economy will no doubt go down in flames. I just don't see this happening. Does anyone? Reality check, please.

Thanks.

Ask the Comptroller, the tax collector. He will tell you that Maryland's economy is not perking. It is cold coffee.

Donny, you didn't answer the question. Which of the nine listed increases above would you repeal? I bet the answer bet the answer is none. You would probably like to increase them even more.

Leggett and Knapp support higher state gasoline taxes and have testified so more than once in Annapolis. Donny, do you support the call of these two Democrats for higher gasoline taxes? Remember now, you vote the straight ticket.

Actually, if I was really concerned that those taxes you listed were problematic, I'd move. I'm not moving, are you. It seems Delaware is the closest choice with lower taxes. Have fun - they do have a beach.

The rest of us will hang in until the economy gets dug out of the hole created by the Bush/Cheney kleptocracy. Come on back once we have dug out. You will still be welcome.

Donny- it's not about moving it's about me having less money to spend on my family. The recent 20% increase in sales tax was extremely regressive, that hits everyone right where it hurts. Add that to all the other tax hikes and I'm seeing a lot less value out of every dollar I earn.

And there is an alternative -- go back to when we were seeing 14%/year budget increases and cut whatever it was they were increasing back then. Or maybe the county can just learn to say NO instead of trying to buy off each individual group special interest with some new pet project.

Having said that, I do have coworkers who commute from VA and WVA because it's cheaper there... great for traffic and the environment that is!

For the hundredth time... THERE WERE NO SPENDING CUTS!!!

Is the state going to spend less money next year than it did last year? No? Then there were no cuts.

Increasing spending 4% instead of 7% isn't a cut. Don't they make you take any math classes at J-school?

Like you said, it IS about less spending money for your family....we are all suffering the same. The WE spans way beyond MoCo, however. We've enjoyed low taxes for years when the economy was booming (mid-'90s)...even as the fed dropped interest rates to artifically low levels for most of this century, we've all had it relatively easy.

Well, unfortunately its time to pay for some of the wasted time ....infrastructure neglected...uncontrolled growth which is now straining that infrastructure. A U.S. dollar that has declined in value for 6 years. Growing national and personal debt...

Like I said, hang in there like the rest of us or move to the boonies...we'll sort this out in the long run and perhaps all those who bail will see fit ot return at some point.

BTW, the cost of living in West Virginia is growing steadily as that state catches development fever.

Virginia is already feeling the strain...huge tax increases....huge budget deficits...30,000 foreclosures in 2007. I prefer MD...albeit not without paying the price.

Donny which of the nine listed increases above would you repeal? You would increase them all more wouldn't you?

Donny do you think we can afford to have a school system of 200 schools that has 1097 administrators, who do not teach, who make over $100,000 a year for a school year of 8 1/2 months?

I'd choose the best public schools available. Are there any better? Where?

Thx

Howard County and cheaper.

Howard County and cheaper.

Howard County schools are great, but its really a suburb of Baltimore, not really Washington. Great place for folks that work in DC and don't mind the longer commute though. Thx.

Also, for our friends who were complaining about the MD sales tax...Howard County is not far away enough.

I usually hold off on personal attacks but it's warranted in this case. Donny is a complete idiot. He's an O'Malley apologist with what seems to be an 8th grade education. You can call him out time and time again but he'll be back to defend O'Malley without merit in an instant. I suggest that everyone simply ignore his posts.

Thanks, Bystander (MD GOP?). I welcome your opinion...and I've certainly been called worse. While I understand you are angry/frustrated, the rest of us seem to be legitimately concerned about Maryland's budget deficit and expenditure controls.

What are your thoughts on the deluge of state and local taxes hitting every county in this region due to the mismanagement of the U.S. economy? MD, DC, and VA have all been subject to this.

TGIF!

Actually, I like Donny. It's true, at times he is giving his opinion ad nauseum and he is an apologist for the Democrats. But at least he is saying something. With very few exceptions, we don't see Democratic officeholders making comments on Washington Post.com. Why they are so shy, I don't know. But sometimes, it is fun to have Donny to throw around a little bit.

Always ready for a scrap, sir. GOP, bring it on! I too like to see (and perhaps over-participate) in real discussion of AT LEAST two sides to these issues that most folks just consider "out of their hands". Damn it, everyone deserves to be heard on this stuff, whether they live in MoCo or not...MoCo is still in Maryland/America.

TGIF

P.S. The Dems have nothing to apologize for!

TGIF

Hyperbole from the right doesn't change facts. Energy bills are an example of Government stepping aside and letting free market work-what the right always clamors for and when you get it, whines about.

20% sales tax increase? Actually its impact is .094%-ie. 1 dollar item that used to cost 1.05 after taxes now costs 1.06, that additional penny is actually less than one percent more than you would have paid last year. I realize claiming 20% makes the sales tax increase seem more onerous, however in reality its effect on household budgets is less than 1 percent.

Reality is Governor solved the structural deficit with a long term solution, a revenue stream. That is fiscally responsible government, not shying away from tough decisions or creating more debt, ala Bush/Bush/Reagonomics.

Well said, LH.