I don't see anything about vacation in the article. It looks like he's working on new business for our state. And as far as unfunded, this guy is putting more back in the MD coffers than Owe'Malley could ever do. Owe'Malley not only spent MD surplus dollars when he took office, but proceeded to put MD in the red. But hey, that's just the Democratic way; tax and spend. I wasn't crazy about Hogan, but he's doing a lot of positive things for us.
touch.baltimoresun.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-83632401/Before you critisize, why not see if MD benefits from this trip? So far, Hogan has done what he campaigned.
However, if he returns with golf clubs surgically attached to his hands as our president has, I'll retract this post!
Here is a list of the tax and fee increases under Gov. O'Malley up to 2013:
• Handgun licensing fees and other firearm registration fee
• Electricity rate increase
• Vehicle registration surcharge (Transportation package)
• Maryland Transit Authority fare increase (Transportation package)
• Indexing gas tax to increase with the consumer price index (Transportation package)
• Applying wholesale tax to gasoline sales (Transportation package)
• Income tax increase on Marylanders earning more than $100,000
• Reduction of personal income exemption for Marylanders earning more than $100,000
• Recordation tax applied to indemnity mortgages
• Increase tobacco tax rate from 15 to 70 percent
• Double death certificate fee
• Repeal of the sales tax exemption on penalty charges assessed on the late return of gas cylinders
• Double Bay Restoration fee ("Flush tax")
• Require counties to collect Storm Water Management Fee ("Rain tax")
• Increase Weights and Measures Registration fee
• Double Lead Poisoning Prevention Fund Fee
• New fee for major modifications under the Wetland Water Way Program
• Hospital assessment
• Alcoholic beverage sales tax increase from 6 to 9 percent
• Vehicle dealer processing charge
• Double vanity plate fee
• Double vehicle certificate of title fee
• Out of State Attorney Admission fee
• Increase in contractor licensing and renewal fees
• Double birth certificate fee
• Eliminates exemption of premium tax on worker's compensation
• Bridge and tunnel toll increases
• Fishing license and registration fees
• Speed cameras in school and work zones
• Increase the top marginal tax rate from 5.5 to 6.25 percent ("Millionaire's tax")
• Computer services tax
• New income tax marginal rates from 4.75 to 5.5 percent
• Increase sales tax from 5 to 6 percent
• Increase state corporate income tax from 7 to 8.25 percent
• Increase cigarette tax from $1 to $2 per pack
• Increase vehicle titling tax from $23 to $25
• Vehicle excise tax increase
• Electronic gambling tip jar tax
• Real property transfer tax
• Elimination of Captive Real Estate Investment Trusts
abrownfield@washingtonexaminer.com
Does anyone think all this was really necessary?