The Maryland General Assembly wrapped up their 2012 legislative session in chaotic fashion last night. Democrat powerbrokers in the General Assembly and Governor Martin O’Malley had been pushing for a massive new spending proposal funded with tax increases on Marylanders’ income, smokeless tobacco and cigars.
Fortunately for Maryland taxpayers, the Democrats in the General Assembly were unable to reconcile their differences over the budget. Instead, Maryland's budget that actually cuts $500 million from state spending in 2013 in order to balance.
While job-killing tax increases on income and tobacco were avoided, Democrats in the General Assembly did force through an increase in the state’s “flush tax” from $30 to $60.
Though the new Maryland budget is a step in the right direction, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. has already floated the prospect of a special session called by Gov. Martin O’Malley with the goal of finalizing a bloated spending package laden with the aforementioned tax increases on income, smokeless tobacco, and cigars – among other things.
Click here to contact Governor O’Malley and ask him to let the Maryland General Assembly adjourn as planned and not call a special session.