Maryland seems to be in a bit of a financial challenge – one that affects all Marylanders, including the Jewish communities of Baltimore and suburban Washington. Over the years, the Jewish communities have become increasingly dependent on state dollars to help provide services from drug counseling to programming for the developmentally disabled to creating infrastructure to support our institutions.

Jews not only care about themselves; we have a commandment to make the world a better place. That means helping out the sick, elderly, and those can’t help themselves. It also means providing support for our civic and cultural institutions that make Baltimore/Washington so special, from the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall to the Weinberg Building at Catholic at Mercy Medical Center, historically a Catholic hospital.

That’s why a sound solution to our budget crisis is so important. We need a balanced budget, as required by law. But while we must ensure that Marylanders aren’t overtaxed, we cannot let funding for crucial programs be cut.

Gov. Martin O’Malley needs to sharpen his pencil and rid the state of legacy costs that are out of date. In fact the Governor isn’t giving out copies of the budget during the special session, which means lawmakers can only look at new taxes and not spending cuts. That’s a huge mistake.

Some new taxes are needed – not on sales and income. Those taxes will only force wealthy Marylanders to establish residences elsewhere and hurt local retailers. Instead, we need to raise the gas tax to pay for roads, bridges and mass transit. That would force people to use less gas, which helps the environment and takes money from terrorist nations.

The Jewish community is filled with leaders and it’s imperative that we show leadership to protect Jewish interests and the well-being of all Marylanders.

Andrew, while I generally agree with where you are going in your article, the philosophy continues to preach a cart-before-the-horse mentality.  We can’t increase the gas tax until the average American and find and afford an alternative.  If you’re reading the articles and scientific reviews on the alternatives, they are not close to a cost-effective solution.  The reality in this country is that gas in not a luxury.  The taxes should be applied on the consumption side and I’m all for paying my own way.  At issue here is taxing the economically sinking middle-class right out of the state.  What is your solution to Warren Buffett’s little experiment within his own company and his statement regarding his tax allocation?

Yes, “we have a commandment to make the world a better place”. However, you advocate increasing confiscatory taxation to seize money we’ve earned (i.e. not inherited or drawn from trust funds) to be redistributed to Mr. Buerger’s favorite causes, as well as to “force people” (key phrase here) to do his bidding.

This doesn’t sound like Tikun Olam, but rather like Mussolini style fascism. I’ll conduct my Tikun Olam and dispense my tzeduka myself, according to my own judgement and what I value, thank you.

Regards,
Blaine