Former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley is making it official: He is running for President. A darling of radical spending interests, environmentalists, and union bosses, O’Malley’s time as governor saw astronomical increases in taxation in Maryland. Overall, in his eight years as governor, Martin O’Malley raided the wallets of Marylanders to the tune of $8 billion – according to the Maryland Department of Legislative Services.
“O’Malley was committed to raising as many different taxes as high as possible during his eight years as governor,” said 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.”
Below is a comprehensive list of the major tax increases championed by O’Malley while serving as Maryland’s governor:
2013:
- Gasoline tax increase from 23.5 cents per gallon to 43.5 cents (fully phased in by 2016): $350 million
- Additional contingent fuel tax rate increase tied to failure of Congress to pass Marketplace Fairness Act: $210 million
- Indexing of fuel tax to CPI: $87 million
2012:
- Flush tax hike: $53 million
- Tax hike on smokeless tobacco and “Little Cigars”: $5 million
- Elimination of Telecom Property Tax Credits (Corporate Income Tax): $7.4 million
- Elimination of personal exemptions (Individual Income Tax): $51.7 million
- Income tax hikes on individuals making over $100,000 and couples over $150,000: $195.6 million
2011:
- Highway and Bridge toll increases: $90 million
- Vehicle titling tax hike from $50 to $100: $52.4 million
- Hospital provider tax: $390 million
- Alcohol sales tax hike from 6-percent to 9-percent: $84.8 million
2008:
- The Millionaires Tax pushes top marginal rate from 5.5-percent to 6.25-perent: $154.6 million
2007:
- Senate Bill 2 – Real property transfer tax hike: $14.1 million.
- House Bill 5 – “Tip Jar” tax hike, 20-percent “Admissions and Amusement” tax: $8 million
- Tobacco tax hike from $1 per pack to $2 per pack: $133 million
- Vehicle excise tax hike: $36.9 million
- Vehicle titling tax hike (bumped from $23 to $50): $23 million
- Sales tax hike from 5-percent to 6-percent: $603.4 million
- Income tax hike with new rates between 4.75-percent and 5.5-percent: $191.3 million
- State corporate income tax hike from 7-percent to 8.25-percent: $118.6 million
- Eliminated use of captive real estate investment trusts for income tax purposes: $10 million
The tax increases above represent the most significant increases signed into law by Gov. O’Malley. The Maryland House Republican Caucus has compiled a list of all taxes, tolls, and fee increases signed into law by Martin O’Malley for a grand total of 83.