Poll: Close Deficit With Sales Tax Hike?

The weeks ahead promise more than a few tough votes as Gov. Martin O'Malley's agenda goes forward in the Maryland General Assembly. He may call for raising the state's sales or gas taxes to pay for job creation initiatives and help address the $1.1 billion budget deficit.

O'Malley is toying with the idea of raising the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent.

“I’m saying it’s another idea, and if the legislature doesn’t like the things that are proposed I think we should remember that no one in our state lost a house, lost a job or lost a business because of the additional penny on the sales tax, and that these bridges don’t build themselves,” O’Malley told reporters Wednesday, according to The Washington Post.

Columbia blogger Tom Coale of Hoco Rising is among those buzzing about the possible increase—and how it has been reported in the media.

“I get angry when reporters buy into clear soundbites by politicians without filter.  For instance, Gov. O'Malley's 'one cent' tax increase,” he wrote Thursday. "Well, one cent? HA. What's the harm in that, deary?  I think I paid my tax accidentally when I reached into my pocket to get my iPhone and a penny fell out. …. It's not one cent it is one percent.  The governor would like to increase the sales tax by 1%.  Is that so hard?”

The idea of a higher sales tax is a big deal, some lawmakers said.

"It’s repulsive, and I mean that sincerely," said Senate Minority Leader E.J. Pipkin in the Washington Post, saying there is "palpable" pain among working class families

Also on the table is the about 15-cent increase to the gas tax.

"We'll be rolling these proposals out over the next few days," said O'Malley, of the possible revenue-raising alternatives.

Do you think a sales tax increase is the answer to the state's deficit? Vote in our poll or tell us in comments.