How Perry Hall's Legislators Voted on Income Tax Hike

Local legislators uniformly expressed disappointment over the proposed income tax increase.

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The Maryland State House. Ron Cassie

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Credit Ron Cassie

The Perry Hall Improvement Association hosted its annual legislative session wrap-up on Wednesday.

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A controversial income tax increase gained approval from Maryland's legislature during the special session planned to override more than $500 million in projected budget cuts, Patch reported.

The Maryland House of Delegates approved a tax hike on high income earners on May 16, while the Senate approved the same bill the previous day. Single filers reporting an annual income above $100,000 will see an income tax increase of a quarter percentage. The increase will impact joint filers with a combined taxable income of $150,000.

Perry Hall's delegation, during a Perry Hall Improvement Association meeting on May 9, uniformly expressed disappointment over the proposed income tax increase. Each of the local legislators ultimately voted against the tax increase, with the exception of State Sen. Kathy Klausmeier, who was absent from the special session for personal reasons.

See how your representatives voted in the following charts. Names were collected from a blog post and Associated Press article on The Washington Post.

Maryland Senate Vote on May 15

Name	Party	District	Vote
Kathy Klausmeier	D	8	Absent from Vote
J.B. Jennings	R	7	Against

Maryland House of Delegates Vote on May 16

Name	Party	District	Vote
Joseph Boteler	R	8	Against
Eric Bromwell	D	8	Against
John Cluster	R	8	Against
Rick Impallaria	R	7	Against
Pat McDonough	R	7	Against
Kathy Szeliga	R	7	Against

Do you agree or disagree with the way your representatives voted? How do you feel about their job performance? Tell us in the comments.

Thanks. We'll email you the next time we update this story.

Neil B

11:53 am on Thursday, May 17, 2012

Thank you for posting this.

Neil B

11:54 am on Thursday, May 17, 2012

Klausmier was the only senator not to vote too.

Tim

12:03 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012

Absent from vote? What, was she too busy to do what she's paid for?

Neil B

12:20 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012

I sent her an email to see if she wanted to comment on not being there.

Paul Amirault

1:04 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012

I believe she was on vacation, previously scheduled. I spoke to her, she would have voted "Against".

Tim

1:05 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012

ahh, if that's the case that's understandable then.

Neil B

3:19 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012

Her aid responded to my email saying she had a personal commitment.

Tim

3:34 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012

A personal commitment? LOL, that could be anything.

Neil B

3:50 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012

I was happy to at least get a response.

Tim

4:11 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012

and this low level of expectation is what's sad about our political system.

This was a critical issue and she was AWOL. Unless she was out of the country on vacation (and I suppose it could be argued that she shouldn't have scheduled a vacation this time of year), there can't be many legitimate excuses for being a no show on this.

VS

1:01 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012

It is sickening that we are once again be taxed to death in Maryland. I wish I could move out of this state.

Tim

1:06 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012

Being held here against your will?

Gomer Pyle

3:15 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012

So Klausmeier's vacation was more important than voting on tax increases affecting the citizen's of Maryland? Shows where her priorities are. Another reason for term limits.

Neil B

3:20 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012

Now we have a good idea what is important to her.

Jason

2:41 pm on Friday, May 18, 2012

Her vote wouldn't have made a difference. They already had enough votes to pass it anyway. When I'm on vacation I'm on vacation.

VS

9:19 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012

Tim, somewhat. Have to finish out 30 years w my current employer for retirement, and family is here. If not for these things, I'd be gone!

Mike the house buyer

8:18 am on Friday, May 18, 2012

Just my opinion but, since she wasn't opposed to Obama Care, I have an idea how she would have voted for tax increases. Jmho.

Eric Bromwell

8:32 am on Friday, May 18, 2012

With all due respect, I have to once again defend my Senator. Nobody works harder than Kathy Klausmeier. Kathy is as active in the community, and as dedicated to her work as anyone I have ever known. Respectfully, to say that she should not have scheduled a vacation this time of year doesn't make sense, as the regular session of the MD General Assembly goes from January-April. This would normally be a great time to plan a family vacation.

Unfortunately, when the Governor calls a special session, individual legislators have no say and little warning when that session would occur, as was the case with this week's session. We received only a few days warning that the session would begin Monday. Kathy has said before and after the session that she would have voted no on the tax increase, and given her voting record, I see no reason to doubt that. In the end, her NO vote would not have made a difference in the Senate. I'm willing to give my Senator the benefit of the doubt, considering her impeccable record both in the House of Delegates and Senate.

Neil B

8:41 am on Friday, May 18, 2012

We pay her to represent our needs in the state congress. When I have to work extra hours to get something done I do it. In the end it was her choice. Just like it will be our choice to not vote for her next time.

Paul Amirault

8:47 am on Friday, May 18, 2012

Neil, how many vacations have you cancelled? There is always work to do, that's why my laptop goes with me. So you want to her to work 24/7?

Neil B

8:51 am on Friday, May 18, 2012

I am not a state senator, her job is to represent us. She should do her job same as us. I don't have a whole district of people depending on me. The good thing is, I can do is write this down and remember it when election time comes.

Gomer Pyle

9:45 am on Friday, May 18, 2012

She is an elected official. This isn't a standard 9-5 job. If a vacation needs to be cancelled for an important vote such as this, well that just goes with the territory. I'd expect our representatives on the federal level of governmet to do the same.

I wonder how many of you in Annapolis would have showed up if the vote was for enacting term limits?

Paul Amirault

8:43 am on Friday, May 18, 2012

I agree with Eric, I spoke to her and she would have voted "Against" the bill. I would have voted for Obamacare+, but I was opposed to this tax increase. As everyone knows, opinions are very inexpensive.

Neil B

8:58 am on Friday, May 18, 2012

The last time I sent the Senator an email about voting against raising taxes, this was her response:

"I do the best job I can for the residents of District 8."

I don't think going on vacation is the best job she can do for us.

Gomer Pyle

9:37 am on Friday, May 18, 2012

Neil B, I feel the same way as you. If these fools in Annapolis would have done there jobs during the regular legislative session, then a special session would not have been necessary. We need term limits so that the Mike Miller's, Busch's, and all those "family dynasty" politicians don't get too comfortable in office.