WWNO News Features
(2010-03-11)
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ANNAPOLIS, MD
(wypr) -
The poll results came out just as the Senate Committee on Budget and Taxation gathered for a hearing today on the proposal to increase the alcohol tax by a dime a drink. And they showed not only overwhelming support for the tax, but suggested that voters might base their decisions in November on what lawmakers do with the tax during this session.
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It should be no surprise that in a blue state like Maryland more people said they would vote for a Democrat than a Republican for a General Assembly seat. What was surprising was how the margins shifted when the alcohol tax was added to the equation.
Steve Raabe, of Opinion Works, the firm that conducted the poll, said that the Democrats margin shot up by 16 points if, as the question suggested, the Democrat voted for the tax and the Republican opposed it.
"But if you reverse it, and say that the Republican supports the tax and the Democrat opposes it, then all of a sudden there's a 26 point swing in favor of the Republican and the Republican leads by 10 points.
The money would have to be dedicated to a fund for drug and alcohol treatment and prevention, health care for the uninsured and programs for the developmentally disabled.
Chances of the bill passing, however, are slim, despite the poll results, as leaders in both houses have vowed no new taxes during this session.
I'm Joel McCord, reporting in Annapolis for 88.1, WYPR.
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