Montgomery County GOP

Chairman’s Message:
Memo to "Gas Tax" Garagiola:
Say Hello to My 'GasBuddy' App

New toll increases went into effect this past November 1st in Maryland. Crossing the Bay Bridge went up 60% increase from, $2.50 to $4.00. Still another increase to $6.00 is scheduled for 2013.

A few weeks earlier the O'Malley "blue-ribbon commission ribbon commission on transportation funding" recommended a 15 cent increase in the state gasoline tax. Commission member and 6th Congressional district Democratic candidate Sen. Rob Garagiola had his mind before serving on the commission. Earlier, this year "Gas Tax" Garagiola sponsored legislation increasing the per gallon rate.

In Montgomery County, a fierce campaign has been launched to prevent "large box" retailers from locating more stores in the county. Spearheading the anti-Wal-Mart effort is the union representing Giant and Safeway employees, UFCW Local 1994. They have launched a thuggish online campaign targeting Council President Valerie Ervin http://therealvalerieervin.com/petition/. The union's effort was too much even for the Washington Post, which denounced the union for their smears.

Unfortunately, Ervin has caved to the union's pressure, introducing legislation giving community groups a veto over large-box retailers locating in the county. The bill would have community groups "negotiate" with the retailers on requirements for hiring practices, operating hours and "community assistance."

Can't you just picture community organizers working for ACORN or Casa de Maryland being empowered before a new store can open to demand their "community assistance" money or control over hiring practices?

Maryland Democrats are trying to get more money from us and to prevent us from having from a choice of going to a retailer who might save us money. This is in sharp contrast with U. S. House Republicans. This week they passed legislation which would freeze cell phone taxes for five years. Nationally, customers pay an average of 16.3% in handset taxes, but states like Maryland charging nearly 27%. Baltimore imposes a $4 per line monthly tax on wireless users, while Montgomery County imposes a similar $3.50 line tax.

Clearly, the best way to fight back is to replace these Democrats with Republicans with a healthier respect for family pocketbooks. In the meantime, there are other ways for Marylanders to fight back:

• Drivers can use http://gasbuddy.com/ to find the cheapest local prices. A "gasbuddy.com" app on a GPS enabled smart phone lets drivers locate competitively priced station while on the road. Maryland commuters to Virginia have long known that prices are cheaper there because of their lower gas tax. However, even a five cent a gallon Maryland increase will tip the balance in favor of Washington D.C on a regular basis.
  
  

• Users of the state's EZPass system are charged a $1.50 per month "service fee" and $21 for each transponder. Some other jurisdictions, such as Massachusetts have no monthly fees and transponder fee. While there is no requirement to sign up for an EZPASS in the state you live, programs do tend to try to steer new enrollees back to their home state."
  
  

• The next time you are in Safeway or Giant, you can use a http://redlaser.com/ "smart phone" app to scan the "universal product code" to see if the product is available at a better price at another store. A GPS function can locate a nearby store.
  
  

• Montgomery County's county controlled liquor distribution system has long left resident with fewer choices and higher prices. Last July sales tax increase to 9% has tipped the balance even more. Big box liquor store, Total Wine & More in Virginia and Delaware nearly always has better prices and more selection. http://www.totalwine.com/
  
  

• Consumers with billing address outside the county can avoid Montgomery County's $42 annual cell phone line fee and Maryland's high taxes. Under the Federal Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act a cell phone subscriber is liable for cell phone taxes only in his or her "place of primary use" which is determined by the cell phone company based on the address provided by the subscriber.
  

There is a downside to these "workarounds." They involve doing less business in Maryland. Businesses, especially Maryland small businesses, are caught in a price squeeze. I think of Kevin Heenan of Beltway Car Care on Georgia Avenue. At this moment his station has a seven cent cost advantage with station on the other side of the DC line. However, should "Gas Tax" Garagiola have his way, this swings to an eight cent a gallon disadvantage. This is one more example of the hostile business climate that Maryland has created.

Mark Uncapher
Montgomery County Republican Chairman