On January 8th of this year The Frederick News Post published an editorial in which they advised me that I should “step away from (my) radio show for the rest of (my) term and dedicate (myself) to (my) public office.”

On January 15th they published my reply. Among other things, I advised the News-Post that, like them, I have the right to earn a living. I have an obligation to abide by the law and all county ethical regulations, but I have the absolute right to earn a living, just as everyone who works for The Frederick News Post does.

Six months later it appears that the great thinkers at the News-Post have come up with another reason why I should now give up my radio show. The powers-that-be at the News-Post have concluded, in their ultimate wisdom, that because I have stated that I might run for governor I should immediately shut down the show and give up a portion of my annual income. Thank you, Mr. Editor, for continuing to watch out for me and my family.

Because as the News-Post further states, I am somehow now going back on some pledge (which I never made) that I would completely quit politics after one term as a member of the Board of County Commissioners, supposedly all in the interest of my family.

While I greatly appreciate the continued and repeated advice from the News-Post as to how best to take care of my family, I think I will assume that responsibility on my own, without their overeager assistance.

And let me make myself clear, again, for these editors who apparently have trouble understanding the English language.

What I said during the entire 2010 campaign, and what I say now and will follow to the letter, is that I will never again run for county commissioner or any other county office. I know what words did and did not come out of my own mouth. I ran because I was tired of just complaining about what I saw to be a complete lack of leadership at the county level. I ran with three other candidates as a slate, we got elected, and since we’ve been in office we have done what is apparently unthinkable at the News-Post: We have kept our promises and done what we said we would do throughout the campaign.

For the News-Post to tell me now, in the interest of my family, I should deprive them of a source of my annual income, is the height of arrogance. Remember, this is the same newspaper that just a few weeks ago advised that I should not run for governor. So, if I follow the advice of the News-Post, I would not run for office and I would also not be on the radio. It makes me wonder what their real agenda is. Stop and silence Blaine Young.

READ THE FULL LETTER - http://thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=5194

                Government spending is a way of life here in Levyland where tax cuts are unnatural acts and budget cuts are hate crimes.
                In Levyland government spending cures all ills.  Test scores plummeting?  Spend more money.  Traffic congested?  Spend more money.  Bay polluted?  Spend more money.  Not enough jobs?  Spend more money.  Too much crime?  Spend more money.
                Nothing can stop it.  Good times or bad times, it doesn’t matter, we just keep spending.  Levyland’s governor, Martin O’Malley, says he cut spending $7 billion during his six years in office.  But that’s a fib.  His first budget was $30 billion, his latest budget is $35 billion.  That’s a $5 billion increase, not a $7 billion cut.
                And how does Levyland’s government afford all this spending?  By raising taxes.  That’s what Levyland’s voters want, or at least, that’s the message Levyland’s lawmakers heard when they were all reelected in 2010.
                Heck, some enlightened professors over at the University of Levyland even have studies proving that Levyland’s citizens are seriously under-taxed compared to select European countries.
                But, despite their mandate, Levyland’s lawmakers goofed during the final hours of their recent 90 day session.  Time ran out before they could raise more taxes.  So Governor O’Malley is convening a special session next Monday to finish the job.
                In Levyland the question is never, “taxes, yes or no?”, it’s always, “taxes, how high and on whom?”  That’s what next Monday is all about.  The only problem facing Levyland’s lawmakers is that they’re running out of taxes to raise.
                During Governor O’Malley’s six year tenure they’ve increased just about every tax and fee on the books, some of them twice!  You don’t believe me?  Here’s a list compiled by “Change Maryland”, a taxpayers group led by Larry Hogan.

·         Raised the sales tax from 5% to 6% in 2007.  New revenue: $603 million per year.

·         Raised the income tax on corporations from 7% to 8.25% in 2007.  New revenue:  $118.6 million per year.

·         Raised the state’s flat 4.75% income tax rate in 2007 by creating new rates up to 5.5%.  New revenue:  $191.3 million per year.  During next week’s special session, Maryland’s “thousandaires” (people making over $100,000) will have their income taxes raised, again.  New revenue:  $250 million per year.

·         Created a “millionaire’s tax” rate of 6.25% on incomes over $1 million.  Enacted in 2008, it expired in 2010.  New Revenue:  $154.6 million per year.

·         Increased motor vehicle titling tax in 2007 from $23 per title to $50.  New Revenue:  $23 million per year.  Increased motor vehicle titling tax, again, in 2011 from $50 per title to $100.  New revenue:  $52.4 million per year.

·         Increased motor vehicle sales tax from 5% to 6% in 2007.  New revenue:  $36.9 million per year.

·         Applied state’s recordation and transfer tax to certain types of transfers in 2007.  New revenue:  $14.1 million per year.

·         Eliminated captive real estate investment trusts for income tax purposes in 2007.  New revenue:  $10 million per year.

·         Applied state admissions/amusement tax to electronic bingo and tip jar proceeds in 2007.  New revenue; $14.1 million per year.

·         Doubled cigarette tax from $1 per pack to $2 in 2007.  New revenue:  $133 million per year.

·         Increased sales tax on alcoholic beverages from 6% to 9% in 2011.  New revenue: $84.8 million per year.

·         Tripled motor vehicle dealer processing charge from $100 per vehicle to $300 in 2011.  New revenue:  $5.3 million per year.

·         Doubled motor vehicle vanity plate fee from $25 to $50 in 2011.  New revenue:  $2.5 million per year.

·         Raised hospital assessment rates in 2011.  New revenues:  $390 million per year.

·         Doubled Chesapeake Bay Restoration “flush tax” from $30 to $60 in 2012.  New revenue:  $53 million per year.

·         Doubled the fee on birth certificates from $12 to $24 in 2011.  New revenue:  $4 million per year.

·         Increased state road and bridge tolls in 2011.  New revenue:  $90 million per year.

               This list doesn’t include the new Metro fare increases in both the Baltimore and the DC systems, or state speed camera fines ($11.6 million per year) or new tax increases at the local level.
               Deep cuts in state aid to the counties for highways, community colleges and public safety coupled with the state’s shift of $250 million in teacher pension costs to the counties are slamming local governments just as their property tax bases are shrinking due to foreclosures and declining home values.
               So, Levyland’s 24 local governments are boosting taxes and fees, too, including property tax rates, local income tax rates, energy tax increases, telephone taxes, bottle taxes, plastic bag taxes, water and sewer rates, trash pick-up fees, parks and recreation fees, recordation fees, building permit and inspection fees and so on.
               And, of course, state taxes and local taxes mostly hit the same people.  But the different levels of government don’t care so long as they all get paid.
               Finally, even dying in the Free State isn’t free because we have one of the nation’s harshest death taxes.  Yes, Levyland may be “the land of pleasant living” but don’t die here.
               Instead, try to die in Virginia which repealed its death tax so you can finally rest in peace.