Anyone calling for the most regressive tax to be increased in this economy should be tarred and feathered.

Fuel is only going up and the tax will hurt those who are barely hanging on.

CUT YOUR SPENDING ADDICTION and the funds will be there.

NO TAX INCREASES UNTIL A COMPLETE AUDIT OF ALL STATE FINANCES ARE COMPLETED BY AN INDEPENDENT AUDITOR.

Sorry for the OT: Has anyone ever used the BWI Amtrak station for overnight trips, and if so, how's the availability of parking on Friday morning? Going to NYC for a weekend in early April. Thanks in advance for any help.

With the way gas is rising now, they don't give a damn about the public! They have the gas free or a city / county car for their travel back & forth to work.Remember these names when they are due for re-election!

How about you STOP SPENDING??!!??! And, Stephanie -- while you're at it, why don't you cut about half of your government workforce. Most of them have bloated benefits, screw around on the internet all day, and are lazy. Yes - I know first hand because I worked for the city. It was absolutely painful to experience first-hand.

LAZINESS + WASTE = GOVERNMENT. Stop wasting our money and then raising taxes because the piggy bank is running low!

What happened to the money you already took from us? Maybe if you cancel special entitlement programs like "The Circulator" you'll have some cash.

Maybe if you STOP repainting the lines line pratt and lombard with cheap paint, you won't have to repaint them. Maybe if you didn't just spend MILLIONS so we have a speed bump on Light and Pratt for some race you'd have the money.

Hello? Anyone home? Oh right, only the idiots we continue to elect.

If you are going to increase the GAS tax YOU SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PRINT ON EVERY RECEIPT HOW MUCH you paid for in tax.

If the current gas tax is $0.235 and someone purchased 10 gallons then the recipt should read "You paid $2.35 in gas tax". Make sure it says "GAS TAX" so people don't think it's sales tax (yeah I know, the math wouldn't add up.

Another damn hidden tax is all I see here. A way to for the government to legally steal from us AGAIN because they can't control their spending. Keep it up and we'll have a revolution come 2012 when it's time for re-election and we'll toss all of you idiots out!

Although i don't mind seeing a gas tax increase, I do agree with the truckers that the 'firewall' should be passed separately. I can be sympathetic with their logic that the sales tax dedication along with increased vehicle registration fees may provide a source of revenue in a better economy and the trick is to not let the governor touch it. That being said, I think there is a need for more transportation revenue, and i'd support a more modest 5 cent increase in the tax rather than 10.

You've got to be kidding!! What a bunch of morons, with a failing economy, and the rise of gas prices, they want to add on another 25 cents a gallon..Un-real.

if they really wanted to help, they would cut the gas tax

Typical politician stop gap fix. Raise taxes. Stop and think, if you put this tax in place, it will hit the working man even harder in this economic downturn. They will have to raise their prices, and in the end, we the consumers bite the higher cost of everything going up. What affect will this have on the economy? It will send it closer to depression times.

Dear Citizens of Maryland,

Well, you will get what you voted for a 10-cent-a-gallon increase in the gas tax.

Being a one party state will sink us all.

Tax and spend - tax and spend.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and three of Maryland's county executives will do anything to steal your hard earned wages.

Of course they support a higher tax.

They just don't get it citizens.

The tax money is OUR money and believe it or not

"Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and three of Maryland's county executives"

It doesn't belong to you!!!

Get wise citizens.

Can you afford another tax increase like the Gov put over on you several years ago?

And citizens - what did you do - you re-elected O'Malley.

It is time for the peaceful and constitutional overthrow of this government!!!!

That's right I said PEACEFUL and I said CONSTITUTIONAL.

YOU HAVE A SAY IN THIS GOVERNMENT!!!!

Call the state house - talk to your representative.

TELL THEM NO TO ANY TAX INCREASES.

I promise you --- you will never see a penny of that money if the tax increase is approved.

You have the right to a peaceful protest. Call today!!!!

Think about it citizens.

Any Democrats that pushes this bill will not receive my vote next election. In fact, I will change my party affiliation to Independent if this passes.

Gee, does this mean they're going to fix the cavernous pot holes in front of my house ?
(Yeah right...)

Typical Baltimore City BS, city govt screws the city up so bad (over a great many years) people move out and tax base decreases. Then they raise taxes on the remaining taxpayers which is by NO means the rest of the populace.

What a load of crap ! The continuing ruination of major cities by the left.

Someday I will pee on Woodrow Wilson's grave !

You MaryLanders, you just keep on voting for the liberals, er, uh, I mean, progressives, who you have given lifetime jobs and pensions to. You just keep doing that.

How and When is our economy going to recover when you want to kick us while we are down, We already pay enough in road taxes, Registration, Highway use tax, Fuel, Example: My husband and I fill our truck up 2 1/2 times a week, One fill up of 200 gallons of fuel @ 3.869 per gallon= 759.72, Mind you that is only 1 fill up, So for us to run our truck it cost us aprox 1900.00 per week just in fuel, Let alone the tolls we pay in Maryland, If things dont change real soon there are going to be alot more people out of work, Things can not continue to go on like this, My opinion is that we are the people that pay the govnerments salary, How about a pay cut for them, How about buying your own vehicles and supplying your own gas to and from work
as each of us do!!! There is way to much foolish spending and we want changes!!!

The article said that "The mayor and all three county executives are Democrats". Gee, I already knew that when I saw the headline that they want to raise a tax!

Don't like the bottle tax? Don't buy soda. Don't like the alcohol tax? Don't buy alcohol. Don't like the cigarette tax? Don't smoke. Don't like the sales tax? Make your own stuff. Don't like your BG&E bill? Go Amish.

The point is, you have to pay something to get something. I support a lock on the trust fund to only be used for transportation stuff. If you would prefer to pay your mechanic $800 for a new alignment and struts, go right ahead and be my guest. This tax hasn't been touched since 1992. Do we understand that people who were born in 1992 are now serving our country in Iraq and Afghanistan? A fifth of a century with no changes, get real.

If I get value for my dollars, i don't mind paying them. People don't blink paying an extra $20 a month to Comcast for premium channels, but when critical infrastructure needs solutions, many will wring their hands and prostrate themselves on the floor and wail "REVOLUTION!!"

Lock the trust fund and pave the roads and fix the bridges. It really is the only way.

the constitutional amendment can be voided by an "emergency" what kind of amendement is that!!!!

Any (and all)politicians local,state or federal level-who vote for any increase in fees or taxes should be voted out of office-period! These same politicians have mismanaged our tax dollars for so long they long longer feel any responsibility for fiscal responsibility. Where are the stories saying the state govt. is conducting audits across the board to find,correct and eliminate wasteful spending. Not going to happen. This economy is failing, most house holds are making do with no cost of living increase in salaries-less income coming into their homes from the previous year-yet when our wasteful Govt needs more funds they simply go to the well they always go to-The people. Wake up voters!stop wasting your vote and stop wasting your tax dollars! replace these political machines when you get the chance.Maryland has only seen one..count them one republican governor since 1969. Only one-something in this state seems to be broken people-WAKE UP! Ike Leggett wanted to raise cell phone taxes by more than 50%-he wanted to double energy taxes! Are you kidding me! How do you as a citizen run your home when you know you have more bills than income-you cut wasteful spending-not this state-they just add more taxes and fees.

We predicted that Md would have financial problems due to the Intercounty Connector. We showed that the ICC would drain too much money from the transportation trust fund and from the state's toll revenues. Already, as the state planned, they are raising tolls on all of the state's bridge and tunnel toll facilities to pay for the ICC.

We argue that if they do raise the tax they should at least focus first on fixing the potholes and aging bridges and transit systems.

See Coalition for Smarter Growth, www.smartergrowth.net

Mayor Blake needs to fix her city first before she gets involved in the state to raise money.
She can not even control her own Police Dept. to keep the bad cops out.

WELL WELL WELL....look at all the comments on raising the gas tax. My goodness, what did you expect. And yet, the POWERFUL liquor lobby continues to thwart any mention of a increase in the alcohol tax.. guess the punjab gas station owner doesnt have quite the political clout of the liquor lobbyist

Once again more proof that Republicans and Democrats will do anything to screw middle and working class people. We're being assaulted from both directions. We need a third party to fix this country.

So what do these politicians care? They don't pay for gas. They have people drive them around. This is absolutely ridiculous. We are already struggling to make ends meet in this economy and depressed job market, so what do they do...hit us again right where it hurts. I can't believe these ppeople were voted back in. And those of us who didn't vote for them have to pay for it too. They'll be taking our entire paycheck before it's all said and done. And maybe they'll be thoughtful and give us an allowance, say $20 a week?

maybe omalley ought to do what govs kasich, walker and daniels are doing...lets get the md employees on the same level as the the fed employees.....

Agree totally. The City/County wastes so much money it is pointless to increase taxes of any kind. They get their tax money for a quick fix to the deficit, then just spend and waste even more the next year.

At least 60% of the legislature is democrats. The Constitutional amendment won't stop them from declaring a fake emergency and stealing the funds anyway. Thankfully, I drive enough for work that I can buy gas out of state.

Welcome to Maryland if you don't like it leave that is what these politicians are telling you dumb uneducated voters.
It is what is and people here will never change it when you can be down by 215,000 votes in only two jurisdictions such as Balt city & PG speaking for the rest of voters. Look who's in your wallet Now ! You got to love it to stay here in the land of pesant living!

Anyone that would even consider raising the gas tax simply has no idea of what is going on with the economy. Someone needs to remind them that the price of gas and diesel is already skyrocketing and Mr. Bernanke is already cautioning that the increase of fuel prices will hamper a economic recovery. It's unbelievable that our delegates and senators refuse to see what damage a tax increase would have but then again we're paying their salaries so I guess we're the ones that are lacking in foresight.

NO MORE TAXES DAGNABIT! You are killing us! How many times to we the people have to come out of our pockets before it is enough? Everyone gets to recoup their losses, Pepco, WASA, METRO, and the like. Don’t even get me started with the banks! How am I going to recoup my losses? I have not had a pay raise in three years and I am thankful to have a job. There are many less fortunate. Your timing could not be worst; gasoline has risen by leaps and bounds since the protesting in the Middle East. Frankly, if you think this is such a great idea, then take from your pockets. How about you take a pay cut?

There are a few things you can do about this tax increase, none of which cost a cent. They include:

-cry about it on the Internet
-write/call your representative
-drive about 3% less
-get your lazy ass up and walk once in a while
-drive more efficiently

Those above would rather cry about it on the Internet. And they will end up absorbing the tax increase for the rest of us who are less short-sighted.

Thank you all.

The real problem here is all these politicians are liers. So does anyone think they won't take that money and use where ever they want.

When they announced the Lottery years ago it was supposed to serve two purposes, EDUCATION and TRANSPORTATION funding. As a matter of fact they were in the process of removing the tolls on 95 and other highways because the anticpated money from the lottery was supposed to solve everything.

Not only did they not take down the tolls they increased the rates.

Then we go through all the crap associated with slots and guess what that money is supposed to fund EDUCTION AND TRANSPORTATION and a couple of scrawny horses.

So the last reports I saw said that slots we raising about 13 Million a month, so if that's the case were's all that money going? Oh that's right, into the general fund just like all the other money that was supposed to be dedicate for some other use.

Everything is completely mismanaged and we want to allow them just to have more of our money to waste. Forget it.

As for the need of a third party to run Gov't. I disagree.

I think we need to get rid of all parties completely and make everyone and independent. Then they couldn't hide behind their selective parties.

It's the only way to get real progress. Tear down the system and start over. It is completely broken.