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The Citizens' Monitor The Maryland
Taxpayers Bill of Rights March 2004 On Lincoln's birthday,
February 12, the non-partisan Maryland Taxpayers Association (www.mdtaxes.org)
introduced everyone to the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) Constitutional
Amendment. If enacted, this Amendment to the Maryland Constitution would
free Maryland taxpayers from the enormous and ever increasing burden
which runaway spending by the Legislature imposes each year in the form
of tax and fee increases. S.B. 601, introduced by Senator Alex Mooney and co-sponsored by Senators Colburn, Greenip, Harris and Hoper and HB 1130 introduced by Delegate Herb McMillan and co-sponsored by Delegates Aumann, Bischert, Cluster, Costa, Dwyer, Frank, Gilleland, Impallaria, Kach, Leopond. McDonough, Miller, Parker, Smigiel, Sossi and Truescher
would give Maryland taxpayers a Bill of Rights. This Taxpayer Bill of
Rights (TABOR) Passage of the
TABOR Amendment in Maryland would be historic. Maryland voters would
be following the trail blazed in 1992 by Colorado voters who passed
the TABOR amendment to the Colorado Constitution. Since enactment of
the TABOR Amendment, Colorado has had one of the strongest economies
of all 50 states. Colorado has been running ads in surrounding states
begging for workers to move to Colorado. Why? Because lots of good industries
have moved to Colorado because of its favorable tax climate. Furthermore,
the Independence Institute of Colorado advises that "from 1998
to 2002, [Colorado] refunded $3.25 billion to taxpayers, about $3,200
for a family of four." See www.independenceinstitute.org. The TABOR Amendment
of Colorado has limited both the spending by elected officials as well
as their ability to raise any taxes. Prior to the TABOR Amendment's
passage, Colorado's elected officials were just as out of control as
our Maryland elected officials are. In Maryland, a
great deal of revenue has been coming in. (Contrary to what elected
officials try to tell us.). But look at what has been spent. Since FY
1990, legislative spending has increased at about 6.87% per year. Revenues
have gone up every year as individual incomes have increased as have
the revenues from increased property assessments and sales taxes on
consumer purchases. As the Colorado
Independence Institute declares, "The Taxpayer's Bill of Rights
has done exactly what it was meant to do in the way it was meant to
do it. Its goal was to slow government growth, not freeze or cut government,
and it has done so. It does not tell lawmakers what laws to pass or
how much money to spend on legislation, programs, departments or projects.
It does not set amounts that must be spent, with no way to amend or
moderate amounts. TABOR has always allowed taxes to be raised by a vote
of the people. That means the government must perform, promote and defend
its performance, and in effect, ask for a raise, showing the raise is
justified, necessary and realistic, and to so convince those paying
its bills, the taxpayers." The Independence Institute sums it up. "The [Colorado] Taxpayer's Bill of Right's stated mission is to, 'Reasonably restrain most of the growth of government,' and its implementation and administration have done so. TABOR has imposed a fiscal discipline that has greatly benefited the people of Colorado and their governments, and set a good example for other states." __________ Joyce Thomann is a member of the Board of Directors of the Maryland Taxpayers Association, and a resident of Anne Arundel County. Reprinted from: The Citizens' Monitor, editor Joe Arminio, is a non-partisan, 501(c)3 quarterly, covering local, state, national and international news. All sponsorships are tax-deductible. |
