You think Maryland is a socialist state now... if KKT gets elected governor, you ain't seen nothin' yet.
"I want to make sure the money is used for expanded coverage, not filling in gaps," Townsend said.
Maryland's $1-a-pack cigarette tax is already among the highest in the nation. It was raised 34 cents by the General Assembly this year to help pay for state aid to public schools.
A tax that is earmarked for a certain place means that the state legislature does not have to finance that operation. So, if this tax is destined for health care, the state legislature will simply reduce funding for health care by the amount collected.
Do not be fooled by the double talk, a tax is a tax. Cigarette tax earmarked for education means simply that there will be less funding from the general budget for the same item.
This principal applies in a roundabout way with corporate taxes. A corporation builds into its price structure any taxes it pays to the state or feds. Ultimately, corporations DON'T pay taxes, you do.
I'm not so naive to think that if corporate taxes were reduced 15%, prices on all products would go down 15%. However a reduction of all corporate taxes would immediately give business a 15% shot in the arm that they could use for other things like modernization and staffing.