Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-06
For Teachers Pay Raise

Apparently a question mas
arisen among some of the
teachers and PTA groups of
Prince Georges County con-
corning my support Of the
teachers pay raise bill because
of the fact that on second
reading of the sales tax meas
ure in the House of Delegates,
I voted mo" This should GER
tainly not be construed in any
way as showing opposition on
my part to the proposed pay
raise, for nothing could be
further from the truth.
The teachers pay raise bill,
H.B. IS, was introduced in the
House of Delegates by myself,
other members of the Prince
Georges County delegation
and many other delegates.
Thereafter, it was referred to
the House Ways and Means
Committee. This committe in
considering the matter pro-
posed and introduced H.B. 154,
which was a sales tax meas
ure designed to finance the
pay increase Subsequently,
H.B. 1853 was introduced, which
provided this financing
through an increase in the
State income tax. Being one
of the sponsors of the teachefs
pay bill, I was most interested
in obtaining its passage; how
ever. inasmuch as the effective
date of this raise was not until
September, 1857. and with a
history of SURPRISES being
found annually when the
budget is considered, I felt it
advisable to wait for the 1857
session to arrange for its A.
nancing. In waiting for 1857,
there was thus the possibility
of no tax increase being
needed.
Notwithstanding, on second
reading, being faced with two
tax measures and the threat OF
H.B. IS failing without some
financing being provided, I
voted in favor Of the increase
on income tax rather than an
increase in the sales tax. 1t is
pointed out here that the sec
ond reading is merely an inter-
mediate step before final vote,
and defeat of the sales tax here
would not have prevented lib.
IS from coming to the floor. 1t
should be borne in mind also
that the sales tax has a his
tory of unpopularity in Prince
Georges and Montgomery
Counties, hitting those hardest
who can least afford it and
putting local businesses, with
an increased sales tax rate, at
a definite disadvantage in COM
petition with District of Co
lumbia businesses. The income
tax bill failed on second read
ing and the sales tax pro-
crossed beyond this step.
After this passage of the
sales tax, sentiment appeared
even stronger than before that
the pay raise would pass with
out any tax measure whatso-
ever; and this, in fact, is what
did occur.
I believed that the Governor
would veto both the pay raise
bill and the sales tax If it did
pass, but, without some fl
nancing measure, his reasons
could appear much stronger.
Accordingly, when the sales tax
bill came up for final determ1-
nation, voted in favor Of it.
The pay raise bill obtained
overwhelming approval. and
this should certainly demon
strate to the Governor that If
he does veto this measure. the
veto will undoubtedly be over
ridden. Further, the strong
vote for the financing meas
ures showed there would be no
difficulty with the Legislature
in supplying the financing II
1t should be necessary next
year when more and careful
consideration can be given to
q proper tax measure for this
purpose.
My voting record has demon
strated beyond any question
my complete support for pub
lie education, teachers and
schools in general. Anything
contrary to this is absolutely
false.
--l 4-nln~- t.