Ehrlich on Washington column, April 19, 1999

NEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 21093 315 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 EHRLICH ON WASHINGTON Week of April 19, 1999 By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. TAX TIME: PROOF OUR GOVERNMENT IS TOO BIG Like you, I have filed my federal and state income tax returns for this year. Certainly, at this time of year when everyone experiences "sticker shock" at the tremendous cost of government, it should come as no surprise when I say taxes are simply too high. This onerous federal and state tax burden is further proof our government is too big. Incredibly, too many of my colleagues insist the government "needs" more and more of our money to operate. This belief results in all Americans continuing to be taxed at an ever increasing rate. Despite the tax relief provided by last session’s Republican Congress, the federal tax bite presently stands at 20.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - a post-World War II record of which we should not be proud. Average American families routinely turn over nearly 40% of their hard earned money in local, state, and federal income taxes, more than they would spend on food, clothing, shelter, and transportation combined. Add to that percentage sales taxes, gasoline taxes, excise fees and telephone taxes and we quickly see the enormity of the overall tax crunch. To do my part in trying to correct this unfairness against working families, last week I joined 219 of my colleagues in voting for a ten year, $778 billion federal tax cut. Unfortunately and, perhaps, unbelievably, some of our elected officials disagree with my vote to cut taxes. They see nothing wrong with taking nearly forty cents out of every dollar you earn. In fact, many of these professional pols are demanding more, such as Governor Glendening’s for