ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 6, 2021) – Marylanders For Tax Fairness, an independent coalition of Marylanders, businesses of all sizes, and pro-economic growth advocates, today announced it will be advertising on Washington, D.C., and Baltimore cable television networks beginning this week. This cable television campaign is part of the coalition’s efforts to sustain Governor Larry Hogan’s veto of House Bill 732, the $250 million Digital Advertising Tax. The ad features real Maryland small business owners who utilize digital advertising and are strongly opposed to legislation that needlessly increases taxes and the cost of doing business.
Marylanders For Tax Fairness is compromised of over 170 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 6,000 Marylanders have signed the Marylanders For Tax Fairness petition supporting the governor’s veto.
Watch "Bad Time For A Bad Idea":
“Raising taxes on hard-working Marylanders and small businesses in the middle of a worldwide pandemic is unconscionable - even for the same people who brought you the infamous ‘Rain Tax,’” said Marylanders For Tax Fairness spokesman Doug Mayer. “As Senate President Ferguson said himself in committee testimony, the reality of the system is that Maryland businesses will pay these taxes and costs. As session approaches, Maryland legislators should be working on ways to make life easier for Marylanders, not harder. This is a bad time for bad idea.”
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 their 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 when the 2021 legislative session begins in January. The non-partisan Department of Legislative Services (DLS) has estimated that HB 732 will cost Maryland taxpayers $250 million every year.
Transcript:
Meet Pat and Tim. They own a small business, here, in Maryland. They advertise on the internet. Meet the Maryland legislature. They decided to tax digital ads, and thousands of small businesses. Governor Hogan said no. Now, the legislature wants to overturn Hogan’s veto. A new two hundred and fifty million dollar tax, during a pandemic. So, stand with Governor Hogan and small businesses like Pat and Tim’s. Tell your state legislator- stop the digital ad tax. It’s a bad time, for a bad idea.
-###-
Media Contact:
Doug Mayer
doug@marylandtaxfairness.org