Don't let the Democrats sneak through a new tax

Letter to the Editor; Catonsville Times; 12/29/04

Once again the leaders of the Democratic Party are proving they have never met a tax that they didn't like. Their solution to the medical malpractice issue is a proposed 2 percent tax increase on health maintenance organizations.

The party claiming to be the protectors of Maryland's poor and vulnerable are about to convince these same consumers that they need another tax.

When will the Democrats realize you can't tax a business? Businesses are accountable to stockholders, owners and employees to maintain jobs and income. Additional expenses such as a 2 percent premium tax will only be passed on to consumers, not absorbed by the HMO.

Employer health-care costs have grown by double-digits recently, and this tax will only add to the growing health-care cost problem. Thousands of state employees are insured through HMO plans, and these, too, will cost more.

This means consumers will have the joy of experiencing an increase in their own HMO premiums, plus the added experience of seeing the cost of state government escalate. After all, it is the taxpayer who is subsidizing the premiums for state employees.

Call your legislators and tell them you pay enough for health care now. Tell them that taxing HMOs is the same as directly increasing your health-care premiums.

Don't let them sneak this through in a special session.

Albert Nalley

Catonsville

Authority: Citizens for Albert Nalley - Dave Amann, Treasurer