ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 28, 2021) – Today, Marylanders For Tax Fairness, an independent coalition of Marylanders, businesses of all sizes, and pro-economic growth advocates, launched a new radio ad featuring The Afro-American’s CEO and Publisher Dr. Frances Toni Draper. The AFRO was founded by Dr. Draper’s great-grandfather John H. Murphy, Sr. in 1892. The ad will run on Washington, D.C., and Baltimore talk news radio programs.
Marylanders For Tax Fairness is comprised of over 200 businesses, organizations, and individuals who have joined together to fight against unfair taxes thrust upon the state’s leading job creators in the middle of a worldwide pandemic and the worst possible time in modern history. Thus far, more than 8,000 Marylanders have signed the Marylanders For Tax Fairness petition supporting the governor’s veto.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating to countless communities and small businesses, but especially to the Black community, and we are extremely thankful to add Dr. Draper’s important voice to our effort,” said Marylanders For Tax Fairness spokesman Doug Mayer. “As legislators are debating this issue, we are hopeful they will recognize the diverse and negative impact enacting this $250 million tax will have on all Marylanders. This is a bad idea, and that fact couldn’t be clearer.”
At the very end of the 2020 Maryland legislative session, the General Assembly rushed HB 732, a very shortsighted and deeply flawed bill, to the floor where it passed along party lines. The COVID-19 pandemic cut short the regular legislative session, and public input was limited. The outcome was a bill that will raise taxes on every person and business that advertises services online. By overriding the governor’s veto, Maryland would have the notorious distinction of being the only state in the country to enact a digital advertising tax.
Launched in mid-November, Marylanders For Tax Fairness has been working to persuade the Maryland General Assembly to allow Governor Hogan’s veto of HB 732 to stand during the 2021 legislative session. The non-partisan Department of Legislative Services (DLS) has estimated that HB 732 will cost Maryland taxpayers $250 million every year.
Transcript:
My name is Francis Toni Draper, and I am the CEO and publisher of The Afro-American.
My great-grandfather founded the paper here in Baltimore, following the Emancipation Proclamation, over one hundred and twenty-eight years ago.
COVID-19 has had a catastrophic impact on the Black community and Black-owned businesses, including the AFRO.
So, when I saw the Maryland legislature was planning on imposing a new $250 million digital ad tax during COVID, I had to speak up.
Like most other small businesses today, the AFRO is online, and we rely heavily on digital ads.
So, this tax directly falls on us, and it couldn’t come at a worse time.
It will hurt Black businesses, hurt the Black community, and it’s the last thing we need right now.
Join me in calling on Maryland legislators to stop this tax.
Take action at www.marylandtaxfairness.org.
About Marylanders For Tax Fairness:
Marylanders For Tax Fairness is an independent coalition of Marylanders and Maryland businesses of all sizes dedicated to ensuring that taxes enacted by the General Assembly do not place an unnecessary and undue burden on the state’s entrepreneurs and job creators. Specifically, Marylanders For Tax Fairness is actively working to sustain Governor Larry Hogan’s veto of House Bill 732 - the $250 million Digital Ad Tax, which, if allowed to become law, would raise taxes on any business or person who uses digital advertising.
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Media Contact:
Doug Mayer
doug@marylandtaxfairness.org