who are you kidding and what orifice did you pull your "BS' from? we have had taxes raised 3 times in as many years, a new tax on oil, gas and electricity. increases in tolls, bag tax, soda and alcohol tax. increase in vehicle tax, licensing tax and property tax. cigarette tax, telephone tax and increases in costs of college. a tax on prescriptions was looked at and you make a dumb and innacurate statement about 1 tax not being raised in 20 years? Bull. You need to look at the costs.

Oh, bob, you're so smart. Please teach me everything you know.

What BS? I was responding to someone complaining about the possibility of an increase in the gas tax and complaining at rising tuition rates. I have no idea what you're blabbing about imaginary increases in taxes, much less the fact you're completely making up things like a tax on soda. I apologize for not addressing her (and your) complaint about MoCo's bag tax, but it doesn't make any sense to bring up since it's a county fee and the article is about state tax exemptions.

Anyone who is slightly educated knows that we are currently taxed at historically low levels. Feel free to argue that that's a good thing, but pretending that you're being overwhelmed with higher taxes is just nonsensical. I suggest you spend your time reading about the issue instead of making up imaginary taxes and calling people dumb.

oh jag, I think you need to pull your prospective head out of ....the sand. Why don't you look at what's been taxed. google it, snopes it or what ever. Even a young college kid can see what's going on and talks about it at the dinner table. Hmmmm, smarter than you? What! you didn't make it that far? You seem to feel that you aren't taxed enough. Send it in, buddy! Maybe you make a heck of alot more than most people, but I certainly don't. Why don't you check your electric bill, or heating oil bill with the sur-charge tax. Sewer? check that out too. Maybe you don't get the "Sur-tax" that others do. You must be special or clueless. What about the additional increase in property tax, don't get that either? HMMMMM. You either are living in an imaginary world or some doofus working for O'Malley. Maryland and it's Counties have increased taxes throughout, yes, including the 5 cent per bottle tax. imaginary? Don't think so bucko. Read that jag....TAX. Now maybe words have different meanings to the left, but it's a tax brought to the taxpayers by the "people in charge", the elected ones. Funny, how your sarcasm is so off base kinda leaves one, breathless. Public school education? TAX is a tax. You're so smart, jak, maybe you can figure it out. Maybe, but I don't hold out hope.

I honestly don't even know what you're trying to say. Yes, there are taxes to maintain the infrastructure of our state and country. I'm sorry if they're burdensome to you. Yes, those taxes are determined by people we elect and charge with balancing the budget. I applaud you for being young and agitated, but the fact that you just march around calling people dumb and whine about how O'Malley should be recalled is really, really sad.

If you'd like to actually make a point, I'd love for you to go down the list and itemize all the tax increases we've seen over the last 4 or 8 years. You seem to think they're steep. I'd love to be convinced of that. What about federal taxation? Is that also an issue? What's the average federal tax burden now and how does that compare to 5, 15, 30, and 50 years ago? Do you feel the current tax burden stymies growth? Is that the issue? Or are you just pissed that stuff isn't free? I don't really know what your point is, other than you think I'm dumb and O'Malley is dumb and greedy (because, of course, he gets pleasure out of collecting taxes and repairing roads and funding schools).

Maybe when you grow up a bit you'll learn that no one likes taxes. Some of us just understand that stuff isn't free no matter how much you stamp your feet. Balance the damn budget. College costs money. Sewers cost money. Cleaning effing plastic bags out of the bay costs money. Fund them and quit expecting handouts and nonsensical tax deductions.

I think before you tell someone to grow up you figure out if that person is older that you. Probably would be a good item to do as most intelligent people would do that. taxes have increased in many different ways, electricity (an additional "surcharge that goes to state coffers) water and sewer, (again to state coffers), an increase in property taxes when ghome values have plummeted (as an example, my home is worth 23% less than 2 years ago and my taxes have increased by 4% over what I was paying before. is that tax or theft?) Many intelligent states have dealt with the bag tax a different way, the bags are engineered to breakdown after a short period of time, but hey, this admin wants to tax, regardless of state or local. bottles are next but there is already a "value added" tax on them...value added??? Cut me a break. I constantly hear about what new taxes are being looked at and which ones are in place, why is it that you don't hear it? Deafness or you make enough that you don't care about others. Sure I think everyone should pay some into taxes, how about a flat rate for everyone? The kids I talked about were my own, intelligent and seeing to folly of this administration and what they are failing to do instead of what they can do. Many people in the state and local counties haven't had a raise in 4 years, how do they feel? And for the handouts, it's time to look at whom is getting what. we have a spending problem not a revenue one.

Thanks, bob, I appreciate you expanding beyond your initial name calling and weird comments re: O'Malley. Seems you feel you're being nickel and dimed (literally, in most of the cases you cite). I actually like that about (most) state taxes - I pay a water bill and see what I pay towards sewer maintenance, I pay property taxes and know it's a chunk of the funding that keeps the schools near me in high standing, etc. I'd love if the Fed. govt did the same thing and then maybe we'd actually pay for wars with (what you consider to be nefarious) surcharges/taxes instead of just lumping the costs onto the deficit and pretending like they don't exist.

Ultimately, I think it comes down to a balance and I'd encourage you to reconsider your stance (maybe I'm misunderstanding) that new taxes aren't ever necessary. I think you're probably not understanding your property tax situation correctly - there's no way your property taxes would be going up y/y if your assessment was 26% less. Either you're saying your assessment isn't properly aligned with the value of your home (you should definitely file for a reassessment if that's the case) or you're just being phased into the real value of you home thanks to MD's Homestead Tax Credit. Ultimately, the economics of the situation is that income and property values are down. We can fire 26% of the teachers in your neighborhood and screw your property values (and kids), or we can try and do the best we can and balance cuts and new revenues.

jag, are you another angry Obama supporter? You sound comfortable bending over while O'Malley and other Maryland Dems mount you for one more tax poke, you dunce!

Yes, Caleb. I'm one of those few dunces who actually thinks we should pay for the real cost of things instead of only a fraction and piling the rest onto the debt. Crazy ol' me not whining about my historically low tax burden. Crazy ol' me for not wanting to continuing digging the massive financial hole Boomers have put this country in.

Frank - it is TEA Party Patriot, not teabagger - the use of that "teabagger" term is very anti-gay (it is a gay slur) so I would suggest you try another perjorative should you want to insist on disparaging us.

FYI, Katie, no, it isn't anti-gay. Google what teabagging is if you care to know. It has nothing to do with homosexuality, at least not anymore so than it has to do with heterosexuality.

yes, jag, regardless what Google says, it is an anti-gay reference. Google has been screwed with; if you Google a famous politician of late, his last name is re-defined. So caution is what is necessary with Google - which is why I use bing.com instead.

Frank - since you don't know me, you are making further nasty remarks without background. Amd, my name is not Kathy.

Katie, I can assure you teabagging has nothing to do with homosexuality, specifically. I'm not relying on Google for the definition (I've been well aware of the word since my youth), nor do I know why you'd think the websites Google point you to have been "screwed with." I just Binged it and the same, common, definition came back (it actually specifies an act between a man and woman, though I've never understood the word to be ONLY related to heterosexual relations). Frankly, I don't care if you believe me, Google, and Bing and everyone else who's been familiar with the word for many years. Just thought I'd point out that you're indignation is unwarranted. I appreciate that you're looking out for our homosexual brothers and sisters - you just don't need to worry about it in this case. Cheers, Patriot Katie (you guys seriously call yourselves patriots? That seems a bit over the top).

Katie, I can assure you teabagging has nothing to do with homosexuality, specifically. I'm not relying on Google for the definition (I've been well aware of the word since my youth), nor do I know why you'd think the websites Google point you to have been "screwed with." I just Binged it and the same, common, definition came back (it actually specifies an act between a man and woman, though I've never understood the word to be ONLY related to heterosexual relations). Frankly, I don't care if you believe me, Google, and Bing and everyone else who's been familiar with the word for many years. Just thought I'd point out that your indignation is unwarranted. I appreciate that you're looking out for our homosexual brothers and sisters - you just don't need to worry about it in this case. Cheers, Patriot Katie (you guys seriously call yourselves patriots? That seems a bit over the top).

"I'm curious who it was that gave you this incorrect information."
Frank - work out your curiosity with jag; I'm tired of both of you and your relentless attacks on people you deem to be conservative and unworthy of any respect. Patch.com is not a hate site where you can attack people as you do.

Huh? Keep me out of it, Katie. I'm far more respectful to you than you've ever been to me. You treat people like trash. I'm so sorry you view my patiently explaining something to you as an attack. Just use a dictionary next time, I guess.

Bob this is a warning Jag, Steve, TBW and a few other are inescapable of holding of holding a proper debate and thoughts, Its there way or the hi-way.some of us speak the truth but some are plants that are to disrupt deflect of compromise they use far left tactics such as elementary school name calling don't worry please speak your mind these guys are to rattle your emotions and trip so they can get credit to make you look as a fool. Stay strong reality, commonsense and reasoning they cant comprehend looking forward to your thoughts WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE!

Jag, Thank you for your comment! It was intent that you have class!
You seem to be 1% upper class that you fail to recognize all citizens’ by disrespecting the people of America. You apparently are why our country is in the situation, the abuse of ignorance of different classes. You’re the one of many that sits on pedestal look down at American citizens. But when it comes getting the vote out you’re the first person to put out Propaganda! Remember your Statement. You took my hook line and sinker!

“??? Yep, it's true, I hate "made in America" and I love helping rich people like Michael Phelps.” That's exactly what I've said”” …..Jag quote!

The 1% you represent.
I’m human and make mistakes like everyone else but you. The reason for the cap is the Private sector that held jobs 50K and less are out of work but public sector (Government workers) is the guarantee income for the State.

$100k is for single people, adjusted gross income (net income is commonly much, much higher), and the fraction of a percent tax hike only applies to income above the adjusted $100K ($150K for couples) threshold (in case you don't know how taxes work - it doesn't sound like you're out of school yet). Why would such a group (of which I'm one) need help with tuition? That doesn't make sense. Nor is the issue of a poor home investment pertinent. O'Malley doesn't keep the money, so I'm not sure why you're calling him selfish. In fact, he'll pay more in taxes just like the rest of us in the bracket.