On government, I believe what our Founders believed and spelled out in the Declaration of Independence:

1. There is a “Creator” God;

2. Our rights come from Him; and

3. The purpose of government is to protect God-given rights.

On taxes, my position is crystal clear — no ifs, ands or buts. If elected, I will never vote for any tax increase at any time on anything, period! In addition, if elected, I will seek to repeal the so-called “rain tax” and to reduce other taxes we must now pay. My Democratic opponent, incidentally, supports the rain tax and has been quoted in the Maryland Gazette as saying the multibillion dollar rain tax increase is “absolutely essential.”

When I knocked on doors during my primary campaign, however, I heard no one say they thought any kind of tax increases were essential. In fact, many folks mentioned that their tax burden was crushing them (and by tax burden I include increases in fees, tolls and surcharges.)

One lady in a military family told me she and her family were leaving Anne Arundel County because of taxes that are too high. She asked me, shrugging, “How can I stay?”

I heard similar complaints when I watched opponents of the rain tax testify before County Council.

One small-business owner said that even before the rain tax he was, in his words, getting creamed by taxes. He wondered where all the taxing would end? Another man who testified against the rain tax was a business/finance manager with three hardware stores in Anne Arundel County employing about 100 people. He said he was tired of taxes from all directions. He said if taxes continue to increase, small businesses would disappear or go places other than Anne Arundel County.

Well, I agree wholeheartedly with these folks.

Since 2007, almost 80 taxes, tolls, fees and surcharges we pay have been increased, according to information compiled by the Maryland Department of Legislative Services and released by the Maryland House Republican Caucus.

Christopher Summers, president of the Maryland Public Policy Institute, says, “The overall tax policy climate in Maryland for business is downright toxic and should be the priority issue for every campaign. And because of this toxic climate Maryland continues to drive out its wealth, its entrepreneurship class, and is having a hard time attracting innovation and wealth to the state. These toxic tax policies do not lift up or allow people to move up the economic ladder.”

Amen!

Finally, I do agree with at least one statement in your editorial about me. I agree that I am “a highly unusual sort of Republican.” And I am “a highly unusual sort of Republican” because politics as usual has been a disaster, particularly in terms of increasing our taxes and debt, which will plague our children and their children and their children.