Which taxes would Craig cut as governor? ‘All of ‘em.’
The Democratic ticket of Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown and Howard County Executive Ken Ulman that was announced on Monday fully embraced the record of the O’Malley-Brown administration. Not surprisingly, the two Republicans who launched campaigns for governor this week are running against the O’Malley-Brown record, particularly its tax hikes.
Which taxes would Harford County Executive David Craig cut as governor? “All of ‘em,” said Craig in an interview. “You don’t have to do it all at the same time.”
Craig said he lowered the tax rate seven times in Harford County. He wants to cut taxes so people “stay here and don’t leave.”
He said the sales tax hike from 5% to 6% in 2007 “killed retail on the Eastern Shore,” with customers flocking to Delaware with no sales tax. The increase in the alcohol tax in 2011 forced 12 liquor stores in Cecil County to close, he claimed. And why is Maryland taxing military pensions? he asked.
Del. Ron George, the other announced Republican candidate, promised other tax cuts Wednesday.
Craig said the media puts too much emphasis on the millions in campaign funds Democrats have amassed for the race, 10 to 20 times more than the $200,000 in his campaign account in January.
Because of an expensive primary battle, “the Democrats will have no money left on June 25,” the day after next year’s primary, he said. “It’s all going to be gone.”
Here’s a video of what Craig had to say in Silver Spring, one of eight campaign stops he made this week.
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