Taxpayers

Gambling started Wednesday afternoon at the Rocky Gap Casino Resort right after the state approved the opening of its fourth casino, one that Western Maryland leaders hope will lure not only gamblers but also their families to a region eager for more tourist dollars. "It's open and jamming," said Scott Just, the general manager of the resort near Cumberland. "There's a couple hundred people in there. They were pressing up against the ropes. " The $35 million casino, located in what was the lakeside golf resort's conference center, will be open around the clock.

This time, I'm with Santoni. That is to say, I agree with Bob Santoni, the outspoken owner of the Baltimore supermarket that bears his family's name, that some members of the brain trust running our fair city have stepped through the looking glass. "They live in a fantasy world down at City Hall," Santoni said when asked about the latest scheme to nickel and dime people who live and work in Baltimore — a proposal by a young city councilman to impose a 10-cent fee for every plastic bag provided in a retail establishment.

Once again, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller and the Democratic Party have shown their lack of respect for Maryland residents. They chose to cost us hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue when we had a Republican governor who wanted to bring casino gambling to Maryland and they refused. Now they want us to pay a fee to support the upgrade of Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. natural gas lines. And would we even be talking about a gas tax now if gambling had come to Maryland when there was a Republican governor?

Dear Maryland taxpayer, My eldest child graduated from her public high school recently, and there was much celebration and excitement. When the 425 proud students of the Class of 2013 marched into the new Tiger Arena at Towson University in their caps and gowns, there was hardly a dry eye in the house. The customary "Pomp and Circumstance" echoed across the gym. Speeches were made. Award-winners were recognized. Diplomas were awarded and hands were shaken. And from the school principal to the valedictorians, there were heartfelt thanks given - to classmates, to teachers, to school administrators and yes, even to parents.

Thursday evening, five of us went to the Bass Pro Shop to buy fishing equipment for the coming season. While at the Arundel Mills Mall, we also enjoyed dinner at Golden Corral. Following that we went to the new casino David Cordish built. Oh, that's right, it has not been built yet because of typical Maryland political shinanigans ("Arundel slots foes appear to have signatures to force vote," March 12). But that's OK. My wife and I, along with another couple, will take our money to Dover Downs, plan on losing it, and then have a meal at that casino's buffet restaurant, with no sales tax attached to our bill.

I support the referendum drive to put the recently passed in-state tuition illegal immigrants law on the ballot in November, since it is only fair that citizens have the final say on how their taxpayer dollars are spent. No one is denying these students' access to post-secondary school education. However, the issue is who will fund the difference between the in-state tuition rate for residents and the rate for non-residents. That money has to come from somewhere, and that's where the taxpayers come in. Will it be from the merit-based Distinguished Scholars Program, which is being phased out and will be eliminated by 2015?

Well, isn't that nice. Maryland's governor and the two lackeys who lead the House and Senate report "progress" on another expensive waste of time to do what should have been in the regular legislative session ("Special session on May 14 looking likely," May 3). Are we played for fools or what? F. Cordell, Lutherville

One of the major problems facing the U.S. Postal Service is that fewer people are using first class mail. If all of the 14 million people who belong to brother and sister unions to the postal workers union stopped using the Internet to receive and pay bills, do their banking and send electronic messages, and only used the USPS for their transactions, the post office would certainly be in better financial shape. Perhaps it would even solve most of their financial problems. Unfortunately, union members only show their solidarity by showing up at protest demonstrations.

Isn't it ironic that at the same time Baltimore Ravens players complain to their union of being worked too hard, taxpayers who financed their stadium don't have enough work? Official unemployment in the team's hometown stands at about 10 percent. Unofficially, it's probably double. The anonymous complaints would be just one more example of juvenile behavior from wealthy players if they were the ones who paid for their stadium. But they are an insult to taxpayers when year after year the Maryland Stadium Authority, charged with building and operating the stadiums for the Ravens and for the Orioles and financing convention and entertainment venues, loses millions under the guise of economic development.

Only in government can you overspend, misspend, and fraudulently spend and still get more money to do more of the same - as a recent State Highway Administration audit demonstrates. Whether it's Congress or Annapolis, "We The People" are being robbed daily by the same politicians who claim to be looking out for our best interests. The government, or cabinet level agencies, continue to take our hard-earned money and then literally and figuratively throw it away. If our money was actually spent properly I don't think most people would have an issue.

The Rawlings-Blake administration is asking the City Council to approve more than $100 million in taxpayer assistance to help fund a large waterfront development that will house energy giant Exelon Corp.'s regional headquarters. But some council members are questioning the proposal - which is scheduled to be introduced in the council Monday - in part because it comes on the heels of a lucrative tax break already granted for the $1 billion Harbor Point mixed-use development on the waterfront between Harbor East and Fells Point.

Meeting behind closed doors, the city's Board of Finance on Monday approved more than $100 million in taxpayer assistance to help fund a massive, waterfront development project that will host energy giant Exelon Corp.'s regional headquarters. After barring the public from the 90-minute meeting, board members voted 4-0 to approve a developer's request for $107 million in tax increment financing to pay for roads, utilities and parks for the $1 billion Harbor Point mixed-use development on the waterfront between Harbor East and Fells Point, according to Stephen M. Kraus, the city's chief of treasury management.

One of the more enjoyable aspects of my public career was an excellent relationship with public safety unions. Law enforcement, fire and EMT groups were supportive of my races for the state legislature, Congress and governor. Although not unheard of, such consistent support made for some uneasy moments when national labor organizations (almost exclusively associated with Democratic candidates) were informed about public safety union support for "that Republican Ehrlich. " From a personal perspective, it was easy to separate the unique nature of public safety's job description (public protection being the No. 1 job of government)

There's a P3 in your future. Maryland is poised to join 34 states and key federal agencies in transforming the way government works. The new mantra, "P3," is shorthand for public-private partnerships. Maryland's P3 legislation, championed by Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, enables state agencies to engage business in planning, financing, building and operating public projects, from roads and rail to schools and other infrastructure. These could offset up to 10 percent of the state's capital budget, or $300 million annually, and create thousands of jobs.

No matter what T. Rowe Price decides to do when its lease runs out, city taxpayers should not be penalized with tax concessions for the firm's employees, many of whom do not reside in Baltimore ("T. Rowe Price considers moving its headquarters," April 25). If the firm wants to move, so be it. If it wants to stay, that's great too. But we can no longer subsidize companies every time they decide to move. The citizens of this city are overburdened with taxes as it is. Either a firm wants to be a corporate member of our city or it doesn't.

In the April 27 edition of The Sun there was a story by Kevin Rector about recently passed legislation to allow home prescriptions of Naloxone that could be administered to users of heroin who have overdosed ("Maryland families to get new tool in fight against drug overdoses"). In the article it was reported that the program will cost $50,000 in the next fiscal year and will increase over time. Why is it that every time someone makes a poor life decision, in this case using heroin, the remainder of society bears the burden for that poor decision?

As a Maryland taxpayer, I am appalled at the back room deal made by advocates of the Towson University men's baseball program and the response by Comptroller Peter Franchot ("Franchot calls on president of Towson University to resign," April 18). The taxpayers should be outraged that for the next two years, they are forced to fund (to the tune of $300,000 per year) a program that has already been determined to be unsustainable. Towson University President Maravene Loeschke was brave to make such a difficult decision in the face of the obviously powerful "sports lobbyists," and she should be applauded.

Once again our elected officials in Washington have shown their lack of respect for taxpayers. We do not need more taxes, they need to stop spending. We no longer have a government by the people for the people; these elected officials spend our money with no regard for accountability. They spent billions on green energy companies that went bankrupt, have not passed a budget in three years, and President Barack Obama talks about doing the math. Why doesn't a reporter ask this question of Mr. Obama: We have 109 million Americans who work in the private sector, and there are 89 million Americans who either work in government or receive support from government such as Medicaid, welfare, disability and food stamps.

As a Maryland taxpayer, I am appalled at the back room deal made by advocates of the Towson University men's baseball program and the response by Comptroller Peter Franchot ("Franchot calls on president of Towson University to resign," April 18). The taxpayers should be outraged that for the next two years, they are forced to fund (to the tune of $300,000 per year) a program that has already been determined to be unsustainable. Towson University President Maravene Loeschke was brave to make such a difficult decision in the face of the obviously powerful "sports lobbyists," and she should be applauded.

It's the old "fair share" argument, but this time it holds even less water than usual. The Maryland State Education Association, the union that bargains on behalf of K-12 teachers throughout Maryland, wants to force all teachers — members or not — to pay union dues. The union claims educators owe their "fair share" because it must represent non-union members in collective bargaining and grievances. At the moment, 10 of Maryland's 24 school districts already require non-union teachers to pay union dues.