Maryland residents are facing the consequences of tax and spend policies coming out of Annapolis today, as the state’s gasoline tax rises by nearly 4 cents, and tolls throughout the state are rising by as much as 50%. Furthermore, things will only get worse for motorists in the coming years, with the gasoline tax set to go up by 42 cents by 2016, amounting to a $3.4 billion dollar tax increase.

Such policies come as no surprise to hardworking taxpayers in the Old Line State. Today’s tax and fee increases mark the 54th time that Governor O’Malley has raided their wallets to the tune of $2.8 billion dollars to finance more government spending. These policies will have a disastrous effect on business and taxpayers, who will be forced to tighten their belts to cover the increased costs of their commutes.

“Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley has left a legacy of higher taxes and higher fees for Maryland residents. With the help of Democrat lawmakers in Annapolis, he has raised the tax burden on Maryland families by nearly $2,000 per household. Now he has his eyes on taking his liberal tax and spend policies that are choking Maryland to the White House,” said Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform.

Norquist continued, “Maryland has become an example of how not to run a state. Just days before the July Fourth holiday, O’Malley and his liberal allies have made it more expensive to travel around the state. Under their poor governance, Maryland has continued down the path to economic ruin.”