Do you think you know everything there is to know about Gov. Martin O'Malley's plan to rid the state of its budget deficit? Test your knowledge and brush up on the facts.
1. Gov. Martin O’Malley's plan to rid the state of its $1.7 billion budget deficit is multi-pronged. It includes:
Legalizing slot machines.
Raising alcohol, boating and corporate income taxes and legalizing slot machines.
Raising sales, tobacco and corporate income taxes and legalizing slot machines.
Introducing a tax aimed toward out-of-state college students.
2. How does O’Malley want to raise the sales tax per dollar?
From 3 cents to 4 cents
From 5 cents to 6 cents
From 8 cents to 9 cents
From 15 cents to 20 cents
3. What percentage of the sales tax increase would businesses pay under O’Malley’s plan?
10 percent
25 percent
40 percent
50 percent
4. How many state-owned and operated slot machines does O’Malley want to bring to Maryland?
2,000
5,000
9,500
15,000
5. How much does O’Malley propose raising tobacco taxes per pack of cigarettes?
$1
$2
$2.50
$3
6. What numerical oddity makes state Republicans question the accuracy of O’Malley’s predictions of who pays what in sales taxes?
Families and single people making the same amount of money would pay the same amount of taxes.
Businesses with 100 employees or less would have to pay the same amount of taxes as businesses with 100-plus employees.
Those making $125,000 and $750,000 would pay the same amount of sales taxes.
The income tax exemption will be enlarged to include 95 percent of the population by 2012.
7. Which group of Marylanders would benefit from an increased income tax exemption under O’Malley’s plan?
Families with minor children
Working teenagers
Single professionals
Senior citizens
8. How does Gov. Martin O’Malley propose to raise corporate income taxes?
From 5 percent to 6 percent
From 7 percent to 8 percent
From 10 percent to 12 percent
From 15 percent to 20 percent
9. What issue do state Republicans believe fails to merit a special session of the General Assembly?
Tobacco tax
Corporate tax
Slot machines
Sales tax
10. How has the governor’s approval fared since March?
Decreased from 52 percent to 46 percent
Decreased from 37 percent to 29 percent
Increased from 27 percent to 31 percent
Increased from 55 percent to 62 percent
