Opinions about Gov. Martin O’Malley’s tax proposals are rolling in, and not just from Maryland observers.

A Wall Street Journal editorial titled “Tax ‘Fairness’ in Action” doesn’t mince words. “Every state has its problems,” it begins, “but we’re especially glad this month that we don’t live in Maryland.” The editorial runs through the governor’s proposals for closing an estimated $1.5 billion budget shortfall, opining that those most severely impacted by the tax increases will be small business owners and “the not-so-upper middle class.” It closes with this shot: “The losers will be Maryland citizens, unless they move to another state, which we’d guess some of them will.”

That seems like a bit of an overstatement to me. Still, the tax proposals are raising eyebrows — and voices — in many corners of the legislative land.

Among those chiming in is the MACPA, which is part of a coalition of Maryland business organizations that recently released a study analyzing the impacts of the various tax proposals being considered. We encourage you to read the study, and to get involved in Maryland’s legislative process. Here are a couple of ways in which you can make a difference:

• Attend CPA Day in Annapolis, scheduled for Jan. 23 at the Governor Calvert House.
• Contribute to our political action committee.
• Stay current by reading Legislative Insider, the MACPA’s legislative blog, and by reading the Maryland Chamber of Commerce’s blog, which offers excellent analyses of state legislative issues.

What do you think of the tax proposals?