Republicans say poll a sneaky way to increase taxes

Annapolis (Map, News) - Republican state senators are calling a poll released last week that shows broad support for tax increases part of a deceptive propaganda campaign to lay the groundwork for higher taxes.

“This poll does nothing more than incite class warfare into Maryland’s budget debate and is a fraud perpetrated by those intent on raiding the pockets of Maryland families,” said Senate Minority Leader David Brinkley, Frederick-Carroll.

The poll for the Alliance for Tax Fairness, a coalition of liberal advocacy groups, said Marylanders are willing to pay higher taxes, rather than rely on budget cuts, if the extra money will be spent on education, health care and jobs. The support ranged from 59 percent in the Baltimore suburbs to 81 percent in the Washington suburbs, and there was general opposition to most kinds of budget cutting.

“There’s nothing deceptive about it,” said Sean Dobson, executive director of Progressive Maryland, a member of the Alliance.

Republicans believe “Maryland’s budget can be balanced in reductions in spending increases,” said Sen. E.J. Pipkin, R-Upper Shore.

But Dobson said the poll found that about a third of the 500 voters surveyed in June support balancing the budget with cuts alone and prefer higher taxes on the wealthiest individuals and corporations.

“That’s the elephant in the room that the [Republican] elephants don’t see,” Dobson said.

Dobson did agree that a majority of voters, and his own organization, are opposed to the most commonly discussed tax hikes, an increase in sales tax and gas tax. But he said enough money could be raised by closing corporate tax loopholes and by raising taxes on the wealthy to fill the budget deficit and fund new programs.

Other poll findings of 500 registered voters:

Top priorities

1. Health care (24 percent)

2. Education (21 percent)

3. Crime (21 percent),

4. Rising electric rates (20 percent)

5. Balancing the state budget (10 percent)

llazarick@baltimoreexaminer.com

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