WaPo: Miller Open to Raising Tuition and Gas Tax

WaPo reports today that "Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. told a gathering of county leaders yesterday that he thinks the state should allow universities to raise tuition and should increase the gas tax as it looks to close a growing budget shortfall." He admits that the Assembly has "no appetite" for increasing taxes.

And, once again, get ready to assume the position, possums. It's not enough that Maryland has trouble covering its current "obligations"...Miller's excuse for grabbing more is that "without new revenue, there will be no state money for transportation priorities, including the construction of the Purple Line."

Jeez, we can't live without THAT!! Those priorities don't come cheap, either. Blue Free Staters ought to pony up and leave the rest alone. now, Mike, let's talk about REAL ID...

Our Say: Sorry, taxpayers: Smaller assessments won't provide relief 'Extraordinary cause'

The truth is, it's another tax increase...when we need it least. And The Capital newspaper takes a brave no stance, concluding:

"As assessments rocketed up, most county residents were not paying taxes on anything close to the full assessed value of their homes. Now, even if those assessments have cratered, those residents are probably still being taxed on less than the full value, and there is ample room for the tax to keep going up 2 percent a year.

That's good news for government officials - who need every cent they can rake in - and rotten news for homeowners who don't see any other relief on the horizon."

Here's the question - Is it good policy to allow the increase? Maryland Conservatives say NO!