If you try to drive… I’ll tax the street
If you try to sit… I’ll tax your seat
If you get too cold… I’ll tax the heat
If you take a walk… I’ll tax your feet
… Taxman!
-The Beatles
Governor Wes Moore once said raising taxes in Maryland would be a “high bar” for him. After this year’s legislative session, it seems the bar was not merely lowered, it was rolled into a ditch.
In a single session, Moore and his Democrats managed to assemble the most sweeping array of tax increases and new fees in a generation. They taxed your paycheck. They taxed your investments. They taxed your car, your ride-share, your vending machine snack, and your delivery package. They taxed your rental property, your cannabis, and—just for good measure—your next data and IT service invoice. Marylanders can be forgiven for wondering whether they will soon be taxed for breathing air east of Hoye-Crest in Garrett County.
The justification for this assault on taxpayers? A $3 billion budget shortfall. But rather than look inward—at the flabby mass of Maryland’s administrative bureaucracy, its duplicative programs, its gilded agencies—the Moore administration reached, predictably, for the taxpayer’s wallet.
Not once in this budget cycle did we witness a serious effort to reorganize or reform government. Not one cabinet agency was consolidated. Not one sacred cow slaughtered.
Instead, the General Assembly raised income taxes on so-called “high earners”—code for small business owners, professionals, and retirees who saved a lifetime and now find Maryland penalizing them for their prudence. A 6.5% tax on income over $1 million may sound just to some, but don’t be fooled: when government needs more, that threshold will creep lower.
Capital gains? Now surcharged. Recreational cannabis? Taxed at a rate that would make a bootlegger blush. Even the Maryland Vehicle Emissions Inspection fee—previously a tolerable $14—was doubled, a punishment for the privilege of owning a car. And if you were trying to go green with an electric vehicle, congratulations: the state now charges you up to $182 a year for using fewer fossil fuels. That’s not policy. That’s predation.
All this might be more tolerable if these dollars were dedicated with discipline. Instead, they are poured into an ever-growing web of programs designed less to reform Maryland’s foundations than to cement political coalitions. A taxpayer-funded abortion fund. A reparations commission. A permanent young adult health subsidy. More consultants. More commissions. More bureaucracy.
What’s missing from all of this is the simple, bracing discipline of doing more with less. Maryland’s government has not been right-sized. It has not been restructured. No brave hand has reached into the bloated machinery of state to blare out, “Stop!”
And so, the taxpayer is asked again—and again—to carry the burden of Annapolis’ indulgences. The danger for the Governor and his Democrats in the Legislature is not only in what they’ve done… it’s what they’ll do next.
Because if, in 2026, Governor Moore’s Democrats return to the citizens of Maryland and ask for more—more taxes, more fees, more patience—they will find none. They will find something else. They will find a voter who is fed up. A business owner who is closing shop. A retiree headed for Delaware. They will find a reckoning.
And when it comes, it will not arrive with a whisper—but with a roar loud enough to shake the marble columns of the Government House.
Clayton A. Mitchell, Sr. is a life-long Eastern Shoreman, an attorney, and former Chairman of the Maryland Department of Labor’s Board of Appeals. He is co-host of the Gonzales/Mitchell Show podcast that discusses politics, business, and cultural issues.
0 Responses
Moore Taxes, Moore Taxes, Moore Taxes. This is why Marylanders are leaving Maryland. Democrats are not learning a damn thing.
The State does not budget from history like the private sector. When asked there is no method for assigning budgetary numbers to the many departments. This goes along perfectly with your observations and findings with your article. The chaos spoken it appears to be self induced from a level never seen before. What’s the old saying…follow the money to truly find out the route cause of our delema. I know we have truly talented and good intentioned people working within the state but many times it’s just as simple were they trained properly, were they given the tools to do the job and was the goal for those needs communicated properly after getting approval from the majority of the public. It is so frustrating to watch people making decisions without attacking the root cause. This goes beyond politics and more about truth and making the hard decisions. Maryland is better than this
Hopefully people will wake up and stop voting for the politicians who could care less about the average people and are only fixed on staying in office at our expense!
Democrats love spending some else’s money they don’t realize putting money into people’s pocket they increase businesses which increases tax revenue without raising taxes good for the economy of the state. If people ran there budgets like this we would all be on welfare they’re driving businesses and retirees to others states!!
We have to believe that Mitchell’s comments are 💯 % correct as Baltimore City, Mayor Scott is running rampant the money, Tax money gets lost and the Maryland Legislature and the 3 Jurdictions keep denying everything about it. WE NEED TO HOLD THE DEMOCRATS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE MESS THEY HAVE MADE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
Have lived in Maryland my entire life,soon to be 74.This clown that’s running the show has got to go! For the first time on my life I am seriously considering leaving the place I love.When you grin while lying to us…total B.S.
Blame nobody. To those who put him in that oriental chair, 3 more years and you may have come up with the right decision.
He’s going to win re-election in 2026 pretty easily. Don’t kid yourself lol
You do a great job of preaching to the choir. Every one of your essays elicits loud Hallelujah’s in comments. What you don’t do is fair and balanced reporting.
I don’t know if you write your headlines, but “A War on Maryland Taxpayers” is a despicable phrase demeaning every veteran in the history of the world that fought in a real war. Even John Wayne, who only served in Hollywood wars, would fllinch at you calling this a war.
It is no secret that one major source of the $3 billion dollar deficit was the failure of Maryland’s economy to grow with the times. Our surrounding states had economies growing at at least at the rate of inflation.. Maryland’s economy was growing at about 1% a year. That was when we had a Republican governor named Larry Hogan. During Hogan’s no growth years, Montgomery County was making all the progress for the state. As you well know, good conservatives hate Montgomery Couny for its liberal anti-business government. Yet their economic growth was leading the state, followed by Baltimore. No Growth Hogan did not bring in any new significance business to the state while he was governor. In large part, we can credit the $3 billion dollar deficit to his no growth administration. You never write a word about that.
And as for the future, the biggest threat to Maryland’s economy is actions taken by President Trump. You never mention his destruction of America’s economy. I clutch my string of pearls in horror that I will have to pay more for cannabis thanks to the legislature. They declared war on my gummies!! Man the barricades! But that’s child’s play compared to Trump’s actions firing federal employees and destroying research centers, many of which are in Maryland.
Back in the good old days, a VERY popular saying among conservatives was “America, Love It or Leave It.” Older members of the chorus probably yelled “America, Love It Leave It” during the Vietnam era. I like the same sentiment but substituting Maryland for America. I’m sure Richard Nixon would tell the chorus to move now.
Curious all the harping on Moore by, most likely, GOP posters. “Me thinks the Lady protest too much”
comes to mind: how else do these credits deal with the abomination of the Trump fiasco than by
piling on Maryland’s democratic Governor. It is like “don’t look at the catastrophe, focus on this”.
You all are deluded and have absolutely no agency anymore. And voters know that.
You are delusional. Governor Hogan was rebuffed at every turn by a hyper-partisan Democrat legislature. Maryland’s budget deficit and poor business climate is caused by Democrats. Why do you think other states bordering states are out performing Maryland? Look at their tax policies.
OH look, A republican crying about a budget shortfall that was predicted in 2017 that Hogan did nothing to address, used covid relief funds to cover, and diverted for the next guy to deal with.
I lived here since 1968, if he raises taxes I will consider moving.
Well said.. Maryland government has always spoken about tax increases but rarely speaks of cutting waste .. I’m a born and raised annapolitan and I’ve been hearing this for decade upon decade
As military & govt retirees we watch as friends move to budget conscious red states. Escalating taxes take a sizable hit to our retirement. Considering the crime as well, it’s time to move on.
Mr Mitchell, your glib rhetoric is only serving to stir up division and hatred. Most of what you write seems logical and convincing- until one looks more closely. It really is nothing more than high-faulting complaining without offering any solutions or ideas.
Mr. Mitchell’s article was perfectly logical and right on point. The only division and hate it may stir up is from ordinary Marylanders that hate paying more and more into our state system while realizing no further benefits.
If you’ve followed this administration’s irresponsible spending on special interests and increasing state government….new agencies, departments, offices, etc. one can’t help but recognize they’re priority is funding their “ever-growing web of programs designed less to reform Maryland’s foundations than to cement political coalitions.”
“Not once in this budget cycle did we witness a serious effort to reorganize or reform government.” Mr Mitchell does propose a solution; “Not one cabinet agency was consolidated. Not one sacred cow slaughtered.” It’s the job of our administration and elected officials in Annapolis to eliminate wasteful spending, item by item if necessary.
No, not really. Mr. Mitchell’s comment is just that—a comment. It is not a complaint but a statement of fact.
I endorse your message and 1,000% agree with every word. This lament is not only applicable to the State government but flows down to County and City political entities. The obvious result is shrinking of the tax paying base. Those who can leave the State will. Businesses will shutter. This “tax everyone and everything” approach versus reorganize to reduce spending is not sustainable and will quickly destroy our foundational economy. VERY POOR JUDGEMENT.
Well said. At some point something has to give. When we moved here 19 years ago (from New Jersey) we thought the taxes were lowish. Now they make New Jersey seem low! And the ward voting system makes sure that you can’t change anything. Most undemocratic!!
No, NJ’s taxes are still higher. And I am still waiting for Gov. Hogan’s budget surplus to be described more accurately. It wasn’t easy to spot those federal Rescue dollars, unless we happened to notice those timely “intergovernmental transfers.”
Say what you will about Moore’s budget, we must appreciate its clarity. Is it perfect? We at least know where the money is coming from.
Under our present challenging circumstances, we might find it in our best interests to be aware that Red states (overall) receive disproportionately more federal assistance per capita (relative to dollars contributed) than Blue states.
So we could get a better deal there, but can’t count on that now!
Hey vote Democrat you get what you deserve but the bad thing is everyone gets it in the wazoo Mr leave no one behind proved this when he took state retirees benefits away you must relinquish the fact that any time a democrats mouth is running it’s a lie and your wallet just shrunk but it’s just not the thieves in Annapolis the counties are following suit in the tax grab oops the increased fees that’s not a tax increase is it
Does this really come as a surprise? This is Maryland and citizens overwhelmingly keep voting Democrat.
I have lived in Maryland since 1982. I currently live in Montgomery County. Before coming to Maryland I live in NYC, Oh, GA. and CO. Based on the level of services I find Maryland taxes quite affordable.
Hear, Hear!!!!
Great article and right to the point !!
Great article!