AGAINST SB561
Testimony of Speak Lancaster

THE MARYLAND TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION, INC. - - -
"RAISING THE SIGNATURE BAR FOR CHARTER COUNTY PETITIONS
IS NO HELP TO FREE STATE TAXPAYERS"
March 15, 2006

Madame chairman, and committee members.

My name is Spear Lancaster, and I am on the Board of the Maryland Taxpayers Association, Inc. MTA is Maryland's statewide, volunteer, non-profit, non-partisan voice for Maryland taxpayers. (I also participate in the Anne Arundel County Taxpayers Association.)
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MTA strongly urges the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee to reject SB 561 and any parallel efforts to insulate the larger charter county governments from voter petitions unwelcome to the government class.

Efforts to enable the substantial raising of the10,000-signature requirement in the larger charter jurisdictions, Montgomery, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, and Prince Georges counties, and Baltimore City, weaken a major safeguard of their citizens against special and highly organized tax-consuming interests.

This is because volunteer taxpayer and property-rights organizations are no lobbying match in the county courthouse or city hall for organized government employees, reinforced by municipal bond and public construction interests.

In our view, Maryland suffers in the 21st century world by not having the statewide initiative. But we would ask your committee to do nothing to weaken what initiative power lies with the citizens of the larger charter counties.

Thank You.