The following article was submitted by Sixth District Delegate Bob Long about Maryland’s tight budget and the possibility of taxes being raised
For over a decade I have had a front-row seat to the way Annapolis works — and unfortunately, I’ve seen this movie before.
Every time the budget gets tight or the wish list gets long, the majority party reaches for the same worn-out playbook: Raise taxes, call it “progress,” and pretend it’s the only option.
The Democrats are once again laying the groundwork for a round of tax hikes, using the same tired talking points we’ve heard for decades. Whether it’s under the guise of “education funding,” “transportation needs,” or “climate investments,” the conclusion is always the same: You pay more, and they grow government.
Maryland families and small businesses are already overburdened. We rank among the highest-taxed states in the country.
Yet despite all this revenue, we still see mismanagement, lack of oversight, and programs that fail to deliver real results for the people paying the bill.
Just this past session, my Republican colleagues and I worked hard to defeat a litany of terrible proposed taxes- the death tax, sugary beverage tax, and the broad business to business tax.
Maryland Democrats have laid their plans on the table, and we should believe them. They have proven to us time and time again that they will go to great lengths to burden Maryland families with higher taxes.
We’re seeing proposals floated that would target everything from digital services to gas taxes to payrolls — at a time when families are already struggling with inflation and businesses are working hard just to stay afloat. These are not solutions. These are penalties on productivity and punishment for success.
We can fund essential services without constantly reaching into the pockets of working Marylanders. We need smarter budgeting, a commitment to waste reduction, and policies that grow — not shrink — our tax base.
That means attracting businesses, keeping retirees in-state, and respecting taxpayers instead of treating them like an ATM.
Going into 2026, we cannot forget how they have treated hard-working Marylanders. It is important that we mobilize and let our voices be heard through our votes when next year rolls around.
