Simonaire Recognized for
Taxpayer Advocacy

Reported by the Baltimore Examiner

In his first two years in office, Sen. Bryan Simonaire has consistently voted against tax increases, including during the 2007 special session when taxes were raised $1.3 billion annually.

Simonaire...recently received the Maryland Taxpayers Association's Taxpayer Advocate award for 2008 for his voting record.

"It reflects my view that we shouldn't tax people heavily, and it's in line with my philosophy...People deserve to keep more of their hard-earned income," Simonaire said.

"We are certainly facing difficult times ahead, but government cannot solve the problem by taking more money [from] the pockets of citizens struggling to pay their bills."

Dee Hodges, chairman of the Maryland Taxpayers Association, commended Simonaire for voting against tax increases in both 2007 and 2008.

"He voted against the past two irresponsible budgets, the first of which set up the egregious tax increases and the second has set up a continuing spending deficit," Hodges said.

"The voters should be happy to find out they elected not just another politician, but a statesman, who supports constituents genuinely in need, and who recognizes that for most constituents low taxes and a rising economy provide the best kind of support."