Hogan Election Already Setting Agenda For Taxes And Spending
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- Governor-elect Larry Hogan is months away from taking office, but his election is already setting the agenda for taxes and spending.
Derek Valcourt explains many voters say Maryland's high taxes are one of the major reasons they voted for Hogan.
Larry Hogan campaigned and won the election on a single theme.
"We're going to start the hard work of rolling back as many of these 40 tax increases as we possibly can," he said.
And already in the last week, Baltimore City Council backed off a plan to add a tax to plastic grocery bags, with one city council member telling WJZ she got voters' message.
"I think that this past election was a resounding voice against taxes and fees in Maryland," said Helen Holton, Baltimore City Council.
In an election where Republicans dominated, several Democrats won by touting their fiscal responsibility.
"Obviously, a Republican governor candidate won Baltimore County handily. But at the same time, so did a Democrat county executive. So I think the voters kind of could distinguish as to who seemed to be working in the right direction," said Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz.
The theme of cutting taxes is even sweeping in to deep blue cities like Baltimore, where the mayor is seeking tax-cutting ideas.
"I've asked the group to place specific emphasis on our property tax rate," Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said.
Emboldened Republicans hope to block the Democrat controlled legislature from passing any new taxes, including a proposed hike in the cigarette tax.
"Both parties across the isle everybody knows that the limit had been reached and we need to turn this ship around," said Kathy Szeliga, (R) Perry Hall.
Voters have spoken and lawmakers are listening.
"So far, it seems they get the message. Now it's if they are going to carry through," said one voter.
Republicans say they're confident Hogan would veto any potential tax increases and say based on election results they think they'll be able to muster some Democrat support to stop Democrats from over-riding any of those specific vetoes.
Hogan will be sworn in as governor on January 21. About one week after, Maryland lawmakers return for the start of the 2015 legislative session.
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