From Del. Kathy Szeliga:
You’ve Gotta See This!
This week, Delegate Susan Aumann and I have a fun parody video for you to watch. You don’t want to miss this one – it’s really funny!! The video illustrates some of the taxes and fees raised over the last 7 years by the leadership in Annapolis.
Of course, we’ve included the flush tax because that’s funny no matter what your age!
To see the list of taxes, click here – CLICK HERE
What’s Up in Annapolis?
2014 Legislative Priorities
HB 326 – Income Tax Relief Act of 2014
This bill will reduce all personal income tax rates by 10%. The tax reductions will phase in over three years. With fiscal discipline from Annapolis, this tax reduction could be done in one year. However, the will and desire to lower taxes in Annapolis is not readily embraced. This tax relief measure is overdue. After increasing 75+ taxes and fees, taxpayers need a break!
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HB 50 – Stormwater Management Watershed Protection and Restoration Program – Repeal
(WHAT IS THAT? Rain Tax Repeal)
The Rain Tax is, perhaps, the worst bill passed in Annapolis in recent memory. Taxing the rain in only 10 counties out of the entire Chesapeake Bay Watershed and thinking that will have any meaningful impact on the Bay is ludicrous.
In Baltimore County, they are collecting $33 million per year in rain taxes. What did they do with that money? They hired 21 new county employees. How will that clean up the Bay?
County Executive David Craig took bold leadership in Harford County and repealed the rain tax there. Unfortunately, the Harford County Council failed to act on the repeal.
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Keep Grandma in Maryland Acts of 2014.
HB 186 – Estate Tax – Re-coupling With Federal Law
HB 184 – Estate and Inheritance Taxes – Repeal
Much like HB 326 – Income Tax Relief of 2014, we would ultimately like to repeal the estate and inheritance taxes. However, in order to work towards that goal, re-coupling the estate tax with federal law is a step in the right direction. Delegate Sue Krebs from Carroll County has introduced these same bills for the last 7 years. This year, we think we might get death tax relief passed!
Please read Forbes Magazine, Where Not to Die in 2013, for an explanation of estate and inheritance taxes. We are listed as one of the places not to die in 2013. Retired people have mobility. How many grandparents are in Florida for 6 months + 1 day and it’s not just because of the weather? Let’s keep grandma here! Maryland simply MUST cut their death taxes this year.
What Happened to Beretta?
More Money Walks Out of Maryland…
Decisions made in Annapolis can affect our citizens and state greatly – either in a positive or negative way. Over these last seven years, the tempo of taxes and fees has been a constant beat. Burdensome regulations and laws have also pushed citizens and jobs out of our state.
Beretta, the world-renowned Italian firearms manufacturer, has a manufacturing facility in Prince George’s County that employs about 350 people. Wednesday, they announced they are building their new $45 million facility in Tennessee. During the debate over the restrictive gun bill last year, Beretta said they would not expand in Maryland if it passed. And so it is. I don’t think it will be long before Beretta moves their entire Maryland operation to Tennessee. These are good jobs and a great private business pushed out of our state.
And don’t forget How Money Walks. Travis Brown has analyzed IRS data to see where $2 trillion has moved across our states and even counties. I don’t have to tell you that Maryland has lost more than $7 billion, and half of that has gone to Florida. Maryland’s high taxes and heavy-handed government are pushing people out of our state to friendlier states. See for yourself here: How Money Walks! Was your county a winner or a loser?
Thanks for your support and prayers! I’m working hard for you and your family in Annapolis.
Kathy
Delegate Kathy Szeliga
Minority Whip, Maryland House of Delegates
443-570-1555
So why isn’t anything being done ?
Why isn’t anything being done? Because Del Szeliga and Del Aumann are wasting their time and our money making videos instead of doing their jobs.
After 35 years of single party rule in Maryland beating your head against the wall only feels good when you stop. As I now living in South Carolina, could the last person out please turn out the lights.
Well, if you are living in South Carolina then you don’t need the lights as you clearly enjoy the dark ages.
No the dark ages will be in Maryland when all the smart people come to South Carolina where there is REAL freedom…….
Did the people with negative comments bother to read what the delegates included under the video feed? Bills trying to make necessary changes are listed as their legislative priorities. I think we are lucky to have delegates who are doing their job, but are also highlighting the tax disaster in a novel way. READ the proposed tax reduction bills introduced!!!
Facts are not for lap dog libs.
@Del. Szeliga:
Why is Grandma moving in order to avoid taxes she will most likely never have to pay, as most estates are already immune from such taxes?
Why not worry about taxes she actually pays, like property taxes? You could always expand the Homeowner’s Tax Credit to give her tax relief while she is still alive. Giving her a tax break that only has an effect after she’s dead seems a bit unhelpful.
Stay focused to tax relief for living people first. You can worry about dead people later.
Grandma is probably leaving because she is tired of the taxes she pays now and might just love her family enough to want to leave something useful behind. Some people actually want to help their families after they are gone. Hard to do when you have all but been taxed to death while alive and they finish the job when you are dead!! I agree with Joan, DO SOMETHING!!!
Keith is right. Our estates are protected in case of death. I need relief now! Seems like no matter who goes to Annapolis, we get the same old same old year after year. We need people with some fight in them and not afraid to take some actions.
Joan. Why don’t you help the delegates out. You ve been worthless on the worst republican central comm ever no registration efforts or fundraising.
I agree that a shift in focus is needed. My father moved from Maryland to his home state of West Virginia where his property taxes and other fees were much lower. He is no longer here buy I am glad he had the opportunity to enjoy living in a beautiful, peaceful place that is a lot more conducive to affordability. When I am ready to retire, I am leaving the state for a better quality life unless things change drastically.
Personally, just the title alone, “Let’s keep Grandma here…..” is an intellectual insult. What age constitutes grandma or grandpa status? Enough with the ridiculous lingo. As most folks here have commented, do something, please!
They do something every time they don’t vote with the majority. When you are as outnumbered as the Harford representatives are, just exactly what do you think they will be able to accomplish against those odds. Better to vote for a democrat and send them to the legislature so they can vote with the majority and bring more money back home to Harford.
Nope… Here’s an intellectual insult: Grandma or Grandpa status is typically not tied to a particular age, rather they are terms of endearment some people bestow on their parents when they (typically a couple, heterosexual or homosexual) have children of their own. Some people, depending on cultural mores, replace their own familiar “mom and dad” nomenclature with “grandma and grandpa” even when referring to their parents in these cases.
Cut taxes! Stop making dumb movies!
grandma is moving to south due to the weather not taxes! Memo to these jokers, there isn’t any such thing as death taxes. The dead don’t pay taxes, but whoever inherits the loot must pay for the wealth obtained. Grandma can so some state planning, trusts, gifts to children while alive and proper will as testament. Proposing stupid bills with equally dumb titles will get you nowhere unless you are a tea bagger or a republican’t since you guys can’ read past the title anyway.