The Sun is reporting today that Sen. Barbara Mikulski is concerned that her proposal including in the massive stimulus package to provide new car buyers with a tax rebate may end up on the conference committee's cutting room floor. Her proposal could be worth $1,500 to the buyer of a $25,000 car. Sen. Mikulski is urging voters to call House members and the White House to demand that Congress preserve the tax break.
The Daily Records' Andy Rosen reports today in his Eye on Annapolis blog today that several new tax proposals were introduced this week--
Del. Bill Bronrott introduced a bill that would raise the tax on beer, wine and spirits. The bill proposes to raise the tax on beer from 9 to 36 cents per gallon. The tax on wine would rise from 40 cents t.o $1.60, and the tax on distilled spirits would go up from $1.50 to $6 per gallon. Rosen reports that Bronrott more than half the money raised would go to alcohol treatment and counseling programs.
A second bill (the Snack Tax) seeks to raise a tax on snacks sold in vending machines.
A third bill, introduced by Sen. Paul Pinsky D. PG County, seeks to have combined tax reporting in Maryland, charging companies based on the business they do in Maryland rather than the company's location, and would allow the comptroller to drop the corporate rate below 8.25%. A commission is studying the combined reporting proposal.
