Harford Property Tax Revolt

 


Editor:
In response to Ms. McNamara’s
criticism of the TEA Party movement
and Ms. O’Shea’s challenge to the value
of Homestead Tax Credit Amendment
that passed the County Council and will
be signed by County Executive Craig on
July 16:

Since when is “Support the
Constitution” a partisan message? Does
this really make you think of Republican
vs. Democrat? If it does, then there is a
serious problem in politics.
The Constitution, along with
the Declaration of Independence,
forms the backbone of our system of
government. This Constitution is meant
to defend the God-given liberties granted
to all citizens. This message should be
shouted from the hills of Darlington and
talked about at dinner tables across this
great County.

The TEA (Taxed Enough Already)
Party movement is a genuine grassroots
effort with no central organization and no
political party affiliation. Trust me: the
TEA Party Participants are as displeased
with the Republican’s deficit spending
as they are with Democrats’. Our ideals
support a smaller government that
follows the Constitution, supported by
fairer taxes. I reiterate this point very
frequently: We have no problem paying
taxes but we want them to be fair and
sustainable. In Harford County, the
budget has exploded since 2005, growing
45 percent, while the population has
grown only 1.4 percent. Nine percent
increases year after year are unfair and
unsustainable — this idea that led to
the Homestead Tax Credit Amendment
that will save the median household in
Harford County approximately $10,000
over the next decade and lead to an $850
million cumulative savings.

There is still a lot to do before we
can declare victory. The Maryland State
Property Assessment system needs to be
reformed and the Harford County Tax
rate is still the third highest in the State
behind only Baltimore City and County,
respectively.

In passing the Amendment, the County
Council and County Executive have taken
a good step towards keeping Harford
County competitive and affordable for
families. Thank you to the TEA Partiers
that brought this issue to the front of
people’s minds.
Patrick McGrady
Aberdeen Resident and Tea Party
Organizer

 


Comments

NTemple

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:57:41

"Support the Constitution" became a partisan message when the teabagger movement, the birthers, self-serving blowhards like Pat McDonough and Rick Impallaria made it one. Messages like this, once legitimate support of the foundations of American democracy, have become facades to mask xenophobia, closed-mindedness and less than subtle nods to the radical elements of the out-of-touch right. Should it be a partisan message? Not at all. But party, personal, partisan politics have hijacked what should be legitimate debates and attempted to boil down any discussion to accusations of anti-Americanism. Christ- McDonough spent more than a week trying to prove that the rules of a small-town podunk parade were unconstitutional and that Michael Blum was a fascist. It isn't about the Constitution. It's about small-minded self-inflation.

 



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    About Patrick McGrady

    I'm fed up with the way Government at all levels has usurped the individual liberties of the people. 


    It starts with you and me. Let's take them back!

Fair taxes for Harford County!