Democrats Want Ehrlich to Come Clean on Driver Fees

[True_Blue]

Annapolis, Md. (AP) - Leading House Democrats, who last year supported Republican Gov. Bob Ehrlich's idea to raise fees for drivers, want the Republican governor now to come clean about who initiated the hikes.

A bill being heard Wednesday in a House committee takes issue with notices sent to Maryland drivers by the Ehrlich administration. The notices, which let drivers know their registration renewal fees would go up, explained it this way: "The Maryland General Assembly has approved a fee increase for vehicle registrations." The Democratic-controlled legislature did approve the fee hikes, but the proposal was brought by the governor and pressed by Republican lawmakers.

The bill would require the administration to mail thousands of correction notices that give the governor more responsibility for the increases, which amount to $47 to $82 on biannual renewals.

Transportation Secretary Robert Flanagan says he halted the notices as soon as a deputy secretary brought the wording to his attention. By July 1 last year, when the hikes took effect, the dispatches had been stopped. They were disseminated for only a "matter of weeks," Flanagan said. The department couldn't immediately determine how many of the notices were mailed, he said.

more....
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0305/215428.html

[qanda]

1. The fees are so high here in Maryland

It's amazing people can afford to drive.

[CC]

2. He doubled the fees and yet

claims he doesn't raise taxes. Some states call reg. fees wheel taxes. It doesn't bother the well to do but many on the edge cannot afford to come up with about $200.00 to reg. their cars. (done every two years.)
Of course he doesn't want his name connected with this, everyone I know that has seen the new fees for their car has sworn to never vote for him, including rabid repukes.

[SupormomFreeAtLast]

4. Sounds like Pawlenty in Minnesota

No new taxes!!! Oh, but expect various "fee" hikes across the state.

[AuntiBush]

3. Maryland was Great under Democrat Gov's.

Like this country, the state of Maryland is another state of confusion with Ehrlich in office. That is the true reason the city is suffering.

Get him out of office - Vote back in a Democrat before our state goes down the tubes any further.

Nominated!

[LiberalEsto]

5. Dems are guilty too

In Montgomery County, MD, the county council has increased all kinds of fees and taxes for utilities, cable tv, etc. in order to keep property taxes stable.

These sneaky fee increases hurt everyone, not just property owners. They disproportionately hurt the poor who can least afford them.

It may not be "politically correct" to raise property taxes, but bear in mind that property owners can get income tax deductions on what they pay in property taxes.

I'd rather pay a few bucks more on my property taxes, and be able to get a bigger IRS deduction, than be nickled and dimed to death with ever-increasing phone and cable bills.