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Marlin Steel Wire president Drew Greenblatt explains why he is opposed to Maryland's gas tax increase.
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Democratic governor Martin O'Malley of Maryland wants to raise the state gas tax rate now to fund roads highways and bridges the president Maryland chamber of commerce.
Join us on Friday -- say the majority of their members agree.
-- -- Greenblatt is president Billy.
In dollar shortfall of -- transportation needs that there is no money to build so for eight years Maryland chamber has called for an increase in our state gasoline.
Tax.
So that was her as he's jury what is president of the Baltimore based marlin steel wire small business he -- it.
Very different view -- -- are you member of the chamber of commerce by the way.
No and this is the primary reason I think that.
This is a very bad idea of because it's gonna hurt the working poor in Maryland and hurt the business climate in Maryland's.
If anything we should be lowering.
Our gas tax New Jersey has a gas tax -- half.
What our gas taxes.
And if we want our state to be very competitive.
We should have taxes that are in line with our neighboring state.
Yeah it and I wanna mention I mean you're a -- browser you're you're pictured with the governor you traveled with him on an economic trade mission to Asia last summer he credited used specifically in a speech with creating jobs.
In this state how do you let him know how you feel about this.
Well I I.
Think that the governor is doing good things on many fronts however.
I believe that it's better for our state.
To have -- The trust funds.
Not be impacted by a the politicians.
And going into the trust fund we have a trust fund for our transportation.
That's been used as a piggy bank over the last couple.
-- -- bipartisan topic -- bit over the last couple administrations and I think it would behoove us sit that we leave the trust fund alone we -- -- for transportation.
And we don't use it for temporary shortfalls yeah.
Let me ask you -- the chamber of commerce it made the argument that small business owners do support this because they to use the roads they have to go to work -- workers have to get work Pickens stuck in traffic because of potholes this that the other thing.
And said that's the reason why you would support it do you agree with fat and and what impact -- would have.
I think the right way to do this is to have more toll roads so for example in Virginia.
They're building a very large toll road around some congested areas.
And an outside third party private company is building the road and they're spending the money.
And then over many years they're gonna get tolls for that so I think that's the right way to do it rather than an across the board.
Gasoline tax increase.
It makes it -- expensive.
To move product for example we bought a brand new laser we're shipping all over the mid Atlantic when the trucks come to pick up from us.
That we have to pay them more for the -- Because the gas taxes so high and now it's gonna be doubling.
So this is gonna make us less competitive.
And -- I want our state to be the most competitive in the nation we have great school systems but we also need very competitive gasoline prices.
It's -- the whole blend of activity that's gonna make us more successful and grow jobs and our state.
Drew Greenblatt thank you so much for coming on -- -- your point of view we appreciate it thank.
