Marylanders are understandably upset with the news of significant vehicle registration fee increases that the Democratic-led General Assembly passed earlier this year. Unfortunately, these vehicle fee increases are just the tip of an ever-growing iceberg – the new and increased taxes and fees under the Moore Administration.
Since the end of the 2024 Legislative Session, the Joint Republican Caucus in the Maryland General Assembly has worked to tally the number of tax and fee increases that have occurred since Governor Moore took office, either at his direction or through the actions of the Democratic majority in the legislature.
The number is staggering. It almost defies belief – 338 new or increased taxes and fees as of today.
Where do these tax and fee increases come from? For starters, 38 of these new or increased fees and taxes were the product of the 2024 Legislative Session. The General Assembly passed the Paint Tax, the Uber Tax, increases in the Cigarette Tax, and massive increases in vehicle registration fees – to name a few. While the Governor did not propose them, neither did he veto them. While we appreciated his original commitment to hold back some of the more egregious tax plans that his Democratic partners in the General Assembly were championing, he has now signed some of these tax increases into law.
Governor Moore’s Department of Transportation (MDOT) has the authority to increase parking fees at BWI without legislative approval. In the fall of 2023, MDOT included parking fee increases as part of its plan to close budget gaps. In May, MDOT confirmed that these parking fees would increase by 33-40%.
Overall, the vast majority of these 338 tax and fee increases came through regulation. In 2023, 250 new or increased fees passed through the Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review (AELR) Committee. There have been numerous increases in fees for occupational licenses – cosmetologists, electricians, plumbers, and other professions, making it more expensive for Marylanders to simply earn a living. There is also a plethora of new fees – fees for letters of good standing, fees for changing your address with a licensing body, fees for copies, and so on. These increases come at the Moore Administration’s request through various government agencies.
Surprise, surprise, the democrats want to tax and spend. The people that voted for these idiots deserve what they get. Unfortunately the rest of us have to suffer as well.
When will Maryland wake up and start electing Republican officials. Can’t they see what the democrats are doing to the state and country??
freebies for everyone but the working man!