Tax Money

When the General Assembly increased the state's  alcohol tax last year for the first time in decades, proponents fought to have the proceeds directed to health programs. They didn't get their wish the first year, when most of the money went for school construction, but this appears to be their year. Gov.Martin O'Malleyhas proposed $64 million in health programs this year that his administration has identified as having been funded by the alcohol tax. Last year, only $15 million went for such programs -- all directed to developmental disabilities.

For decades in Maryland many things have been done in the name of saving the Chesapeake Bay, but the degree to which tangible progress has been made is something of a disappointment. To be sure, there have been some successes. The mid-1980s ban on catching rockfish in an effort to allow the Chesapeake stock of the state fish to make a recovery has resulted in reasonably healthy stocks of the fish being available for watermen and sport anglers alike these days. Substantially stricter regulation of blue crab harvests seem to have helped avert a rockfish-like population collapse in Maryland's signature table fare.

Now we are going to be told about the need to "sacrifice," and how we must all do it.Or maybe the operative word is "contribute," because some White House spin doctor decided "sacrifice" makes too many of us nervous.Who knows, by the time President Clinton finishes his pitch, he might be talking about everybody just chipping in what they can spare."My fellow Americans, we are going to pass the plate, and I hope that in your hearts there is generosity and you will . . ."No matter how he phrases it, what it comes down to is that he and Congress will put the arm on everybody except the poor, those who are part of the huge underground, "off the books" work force, and the fortunate individuals or industries that have bought and paid for a piece of a congressman.

Why would the Associated Black Charities want former Mayor Sheila Dixon, a convicted criminal, to speak at their event ("Dixon plans decision on return to politics," March 27)? Ms. Dixon was convicted of stealing gift cards intended for the poor. If I had done this crime, plus violating my probation, I would have been fired and sent to jail, and I certainly would not be receiving an $83,000 (of our tax money) annual pension. I guess it pays to be a politician. It seems that there is a wide disparity between the honest, everyday, taxpaying citizens and politicians!

Many electric utility companies across America are collecting billions of dollars from their customers for corporate income taxes, then keeping the money rather than sending it to the government. The practice is legal in most states. The companies say it is smart business. But some representatives of utility customers say that the practice - which involves using losses from other subsidiaries to reduce taxes - is not fair. They say that money that utilities must collect for federal and state taxes - typically a nickel on each dollar paid for electricity - should go for just that, or not be included in electric bills.

The Crofton Civic Association may be walking a thin legal line by using tax money to pay for enforcing covenant violations.Court rulings and opinions from the Attorney General's office say that public money -- even from a special taxing district -- can be used only to serve a public purpose.Since covenants are considered private contracts, using tax money to enforce them might violate that standard.No court cases have dealt directly with Crofton's right to use tax revenue for such purposes.

Opponents of the effort to raise Maryland's gas tax have thrown around a lot of ridiculous claims in recent weeks, from the argument that the money isn't really needed (if anything, the projected $600 million-a-year return is not enough to meet Maryland's future transportation needs) to hand-wringing over local transportation aid that was diverted toward balancing the state budget during the depths of the recession - as if using the money to spare cuts to schools or avoid tax increases wasn't preferable to pot hole repairs.

In his 1779 "Bill for Religious Freedom" in Virginia, Thomas Jefferson wrote "that to compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical." Even worse than this insult is the injury of having your tax money used by a school to teach your own children opinions that you disbelieve and abhor, because you cannot afford to send them to any other kind of school. Article VIII, Section 1 of the Maryland Constitution commands that the General Assembly "shall by Law establish throughout the State a thorough and efficient System of Free Public Schools; and shall provide by taxation, or otherwise, for their maintenance."

A recent letter writer called on President Obama to propose federal funding for poor women's abortions ("Poor should have pregnancy options," Jan. 19). The letter pointed out the severe financial distress that pregnancies can cause poor women. But as a pro-life Catholic, I would find it distressing to see my tax money used to fund abortions. It is disconcerting, however, that the same political party that would prevent my tax money from being used to fund abortions also restricts funding for social programs that could help these same women.

A retired police detective challenges us to name one advantage of marijuana prohibition ("Banning marijuana doesn't make us safer," Nov. 18). How about money? A huge percentage of arrests are related to marijuana. If prohibition were ended, the need for lawyers, judges, police, jailers etc. would be far less. The politicians/lawyers who write the laws are not going to easily legislate themselves out of jobs regardless of how much tax money could be generated. The drug cartels do not want to end prohibition either as they would lose tons of money and thousands of dealers.

Opponents of the effort to raise Maryland's gas tax have thrown around a lot of ridiculous claims in recent weeks, from the argument that the money isn't really needed (if anything, the projected $600 million-a-year return is not enough to meet Maryland's future transportation needs) to hand-wringing over local transportation aid that was diverted toward balancing the state budget during the depths of the recession - as if using the money to spare cuts to schools or avoid tax increases wasn't preferable to pot hole repairs.

A recent letter writer called on President Obama to propose federal funding for poor women's abortions ("Poor should have pregnancy options," Jan. 19). The letter pointed out the severe financial distress that pregnancies can cause poor women. But as a pro-life Catholic, I would find it distressing to see my tax money used to fund abortions. It is disconcerting, however, that the same political party that would prevent my tax money from being used to fund abortions also restricts funding for social programs that could help these same women.

Letter writer William Smith is right to point out that Republicans are to blame for the flaws in the nation's health reform law ("Ehrlich denies GOP fault in flawed health care system," Jan. 3). I hope all your readers took note. It's the military's massive waste that is bleeding our economy. It has tanks it doesn't need, planes it doesn't fly and ships it doesn't use. Aircraft carriers and submarines are about all we really need. The Republicans like wars because they can build all these weapons and their rich supporters can make more money.

Well, once again the editorial board at The Sun has jumped back in bed with Vincent DeMarco and his Maryland Citizens Health Initiative in supporting an additional $1 increase on Maryland's tax on cigarettes ("A life-saving tax," Nov. 26). As usual, we get the argument that hundreds of thousands of people die each year from smoking, and if we just raise that tax another dollar per pack, then people will finally kick the habit, etc. And let's not forget how the new higher price will discourage "the children" from smoking in the first place because we all know when they doubled the tax to $2 in 2007 virtually all the teenagers stopped smoking ( at least that's what they told us would happen back then)

A retired police detective challenges us to name one advantage of marijuana prohibition ("Banning marijuana doesn't make us safer," Nov. 18). How about money? A huge percentage of arrests are related to marijuana. If prohibition were ended, the need for lawyers, judges, police, jailers etc. would be far less. The politicians/lawyers who write the laws are not going to easily legislate themselves out of jobs regardless of how much tax money could be generated. The drug cartels do not want to end prohibition either as they would lose tons of money and thousands of dealers.

Baltimore police said Sunday morning that they were continuing to investigate several home invasion robbery schemes committed against senior citizens in the city's Greektown and Locust Point areas. Victims have received calls from a person posing as a Baltimore tax collector who alleges that the victims' property taxes have not been paid or are overdue, police said. The caller then says that if the money is not paid immediately, the victims will be evicted from their homes by law enforcement, police said.

I was surprised at the number of readers who wrote in to show their dismay at a bill that would give children of illegal immigrants in-state tuition at Maryland colleges. One reader went as far as to compare Maryland state lawmakers to Charlie Sheen. There were some readers who wrote in saying that we should "deport" these people instead of educate them. Others simply said they were criminals on whom we should not be spending any of our tax money. The apprehension these authors displayed is more of a testament to their intolerance than to their political leaning.

Editor: I'm glad to hear that the Harford County Library tries to not stock pornography, soft or hard, male or female, with my tax money. It is becoming more and more important to make good financial and moral decisions, not only by the library, but also by all citizens. Ms. Haupt certainly has the right to read whatever she wants to read in our free (so far) country. She also has the right to buy the book. I'm sure many book stores would be delighted to accommodate her. David Wenner Bel Air

I am still wondering why we spend taxpayer money on government-run health care, free contraceptives and the like while we lack qualified teachers. The key to independence from government programs is a good education. We have a fresh crop of newly graduated teachers in Maryland with new ideas and techniques that will help our students succeed without government handouts. Yet there are no teaching positions. Baltimore County has 2,000 applicants for 30 positions, and I'm rounding the numbers.

Editor: I'm glad to hear that the Harford County Library tries to not stock pornography, soft or hard, male or female, with my tax money. It is becoming more and more important to make good financial and moral decisions, not only by the library, but also by all citizens. Ms. Haupt certainly has the right to read whatever she wants to read in our free (so far) country. She also has the right to buy the book. I'm sure many book stores would be delighted to accommodate her. David Wenner Bel Air