Late last night the MD General Assembly sent a bill to the desk of Gov. Martin O’Malley that would repeal the so-called “Tech-Tax”, a 6% increase on “computer services”, which was never clearly defined to begin with. The Gov. has vowed to sign it.

This is once again proof that the people of MD are in charge, and not the government. Much like the Jessica’s Law victory last year, this is another win for the people. O’Malley is slowly getting the message that huge spending increases on top of huge tax increases, coupled with BGE bills going through the roof, and the price of gas in this country causing EVERYTHING to go up, will not stand with voters.

Mr. O’Malley, you are not bigger than the people. The voters put you in, and the voters can take you out. Raising taxes, and then giving your staffers huge pay raises does not fly in this state. Even far left states like MD have their limits.

The following was forwarded to The HON:

Join us for a rally in Annapolis on March 12 to help send lawmakers a clear message. The tech tax is a threat to Maryland’s future. It must be repealed!We need hundreds of business people to turn out. Please help us spread the work. Tell your employees, colleagues and clients. Any industry that relies on computer services to drive innovation and growth will be stifled. Industries like financial services, health care, bioscience, and government contacting will all be harmed unless the tax is repealed by April 7.

When:Wednesday, March 12 9:30 a.m.

Where: Lawyer’s Mall in front of the State House - Map | Parking

For more information, contact Will Burns at (410) 269-0642, (301) 261-2858 or wburns@mdchamber.org.

MD GOP Press Release:

ANNAPOLIS— Today, Gonzales Research and Marketing Strategies released a poll showing that Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley’s approval rating “continues to feel the effects of last fall’s special session.” In just two months, Governor O’Malley’s overall approval rating plummeted another 6%, from 39% to 37%.For the first time since taking office, less than half of all Democrats approve of the job Governor O’Malley is doing. The Gonzales poll found that only 48% of Democrats approve of O’Malley’s performance on the job, which is an 8% drop from his 52% approval among Democrats just two months ago.

Marylanders continue to be most concerned with taxes and the economy. One in five Marylanders named taxes as their number one concern while nearly one in four stated the economy was their primary concern.

Here’s WJZ’s take on it. We had to really dig around, but here’s the Sun’s take. It was buried in the Maryland section. WJZ at least had it posted on their front page as a text link. The Sun’s bias is still obvious.

As for Mr. O’Malley, it seems as though his broken campaign promises, and flat out lies have finally caught up with him. Raising taxes and the ongoing BGE rate increase debacle are the main sticking points for voters. With the national economy crumbling before our very eyes, gouging the middle and lower class citizens of MD does not seem to be a wise choice.

Mr. O’Malley, please take heed and help us. While you continue to curry favor with Mrs. Clinton, eat at fancy restaurants, and fly to Ireland on private planes, we Marylanders are all struggling to pay our heating bills. Have you even seen the price of milk???

The numbers are coming in and it looks like the two winners destroyed the competition. In the undercard, Senator John McCain beat Mike Huckabee 55% to 31%. Looks like MD Republicans prefer their candidates wishy washy and boring rather than overtly religious and semi-witty. To each his (or her) own. Like so many others, we’re not all that impressed with either.

In the main event, Barrack Obama, who just annihilated Hillary in VA, and DC, won MD by a whopping 22% (60%-37%). All of MD governor Martin O’Malley’s campaigning didn’t seem to help Hillary at all. We here at The HON are wondering aloud if there’s a politician inside the beltway who can stop the Obama juggernaut? At this point, it seems unlikely.

Well, our muscley-armed Gov. Martin O’Malley stuck his neck out early for Hillary. After tonight’s “Potomac Primary Pummeling” of Hillary by Obama, it would appear that an endorsement from MOM isn’t worth as much as you’d think. Another in a long string of bad news for the so called “Teflon Leprechaun”.

Why is Hillary’s loss important to MOM? Well, he’s obviously been looking to get on the ticket as VP. If Hill-Dog’s luck doesn’t turn around quick, Martin’s chances at higher office go down significantly. Mikulski will never retire, and Cardin isn’t going anywhere either. For MOM, it’s the White House, or nothing. Campaigning against his party’s front runner ain’t the way to get there.

Unfortunately for us Marylanders, all of this means that O’Malley will be sticking around for some time to come.

Today is primary day. Don’t forget to be good little Americans and exercise your right to vote.

UPDATE: Due to the ice storm and numerous road closings causing the worst traffic jams in years, polls will remain open until 9:30PM. Slow down, take your time, and carefully get to the polls.

On Nov. 12, at 1:22 in the morning, the MD State House of Delegates voted to pass the largest tax increase in MD history. These 88 Democrat delegates should be ashamed of themselves. We will preserve their names here for you to take with you to the ballots come the next MD state elections. We urge you to vote every one of these Delegates out of office.

The 88 Democrat delegates who voted for one or both of the tax bills, comprising the largest tax hike in Maryland history are:

• Saqib Ali (Montgomery County)
• Curt Anderson (Baltimore City)
• Charles Barkley (Montgomery County)
• Kumar Barve (Montgomery County)
• Benjamin Barnes (Anne Arundel and Prince George’s Counties)
• Pam Beidle (Anne Arundel County)
• Joanne Benson (Prince George’s County)
• Elizabeth Bobo (Howard County)
• John Bohanan (St. Mary’s County)
• Talmadge Branch (Baltimore City)
• Aisha Braveboy (Prince George’s County)
• William Bronrott (Montgomery County)
• Emmett Burns (Baltimore County)
• Mike Busch (Anne Arundel County)
• Rudolph Cane (Dorchester and Wicomico Counties)
• Jon Cardin (Baltimore County)
• Jill Carter (Baltimore City)
• Galen Clagett (Frederick County)
• Virginia Clagett (Anne Arundel County)
• Norman Conway (Wicomico and Worcester Counties)
• Dereck Davis (Prince George’s County)
• John Donoghue (Washington County)
• Ann Marie Doory (Baltimore City)
• Kathleen Dumais (Montgomery County)
• Brian Feldman (Montgomery County)
• William Frick (Montgomery County)
• Barbara Frush (Anne Arundel and Prince George’s Counties)
• Tawanna Gaines (Prince George’s County)
• James Gilchrist (Montgomery County)
• Cheryl Glenn (Baltimore City)
• Melony Griffith (Prince George’s County)
• Ana Sol Gutierrez (Montgomery County)
• Guy Guzzone (Howard County)
• Peter Hammen (Baltimore City)
• Hattie Harrison (Baltimore City)
• Keith Haynes (Baltimore City)
• Anne Healey (Prince George’s County)
• Henry Heller (Montgomery County)
• Sheila Hixson (Montgomery County)
• Marvin Holmes (Prince George’s County)
• Carolyn Howard (Prince George’s County)
• James Hubbard (Prince George’s County)
• Tom Hucker (Montgomery County)
• Jolene Ivey (Prince George’s County)
• Mary Dulaney James (Cecil and Harford Counties)
• Adrienne Jones (Baltimore County)
• Anne Kaiser (Montgomery County)
• Ruth Kirk (Baltimore City)
• Carolyn Krysiak (Baltimore City)
• Sue Kullen (Calvert County)
• Jane Lawton (Montgomery County)
• Susan Lee (Montgomery County)
• Gerron Levi (Prince George’s County)
• Murray Levy (Charles County)
• Mary Ann Love (Anne Arundel County)
• James Malone (Baltimore and Howard Counties)
• Roger Manno (Montgomery County)
• James Mathias (Wicomico and Worcester Counties)
• Brian McHale (Baltimore City)
• Maggie McIntosh (Baltimore City)
• Heather Mizeur (Montgomery County)
• Dan Morhaim (Baltimore County)
• Peter Murphy (Charles County)
• Shirley Nathan-Pulliam (Baltimore County)
• Doyle Niemann (Prince George’s County)
• Nathaniel Oaks (Baltimore City)
• John Olszewski (Baltimore County)
• Joseline Pena-Melnyk (Anne Arundel and Prince George’s Counties)
• Shane Pendergrass (Howard County)
• James Proctor (Calvert and Prince George’s County)
• Victor Ramirez ( Prince George’s County)
• Kirill Reznik (Montgomery County)
• Craig Rice (Montgomery County)
• Barbara Robinson (Baltimore City)
• Samuel Rosenberg (Baltimore City)
• Justin Ross (Prince George’s County)
• David Rudolph (Cecil County)
• Dana Stein (Baltimore County)
• Melvin Stukes (Baltimore City)
• Shawn Tarrant (Baltimore City)
• Herman Taylor (Montgomery County)
• Frank Turner (Howard County)
• Veronica Turner (Prince George’s County)
• Kriselda Valderrama (Prince George’s County)
• Joe Vallario (Calvert and Prince George’s Counties)
• Michael Vaughn (Prince George’s County)
• Jeffrey Waldstreicher (Montgomery County)
• Jay Walker (Prince George’s County)

Not one Republican voted in favor of these unnecessary tax hikes.

The assault on the middle class tax payer continues in Annapolis. Our friends at O’Malley Watch have posted a scorecard showing which elected officials have voted to support unnecessary new taxes in MD. We urge you to take note of how your local officials voted, and remember that come election time.

All of us here at The HON hate taxes. We are absolutely opposed to all of hard-rockin’ Governor O’Malley’s tax increases. Delegate Pat McDonough hates them too. We don’t agree with all of Pat’s views, and quite frankly, he’s a little on the scary side of the right for our taste, but as far as this tax sham is concerned, we’re 100% behind him. From Pat’s website:

The attached list contains Maryland elected officials that represent conservative-moderate districts. Please contact them to voice your opposition to the Governor’s proposed tax hikes.Sen. John Astle Dis. 30 Anne Arundel D 410-841-3578

John.Astle@senate.state.md.us

Sen. James DeGrange Dis. 32 Anne Arundel D 410-841-3593

James.DeGrange@senate.state.md.us

Sen. Jim Brochin Dis. 42 Baltimore D 410-841-3648

Jim.Brochin@senate.state.md.us

Del. John Bohanan Dis. 29B Cal,StMarys,Charles D 410-841-3227

John.Bohanan@house.state.md.us

Del. Eric Bromwell Dis. 8 Baltimore D 410-841-3766

Eric.Bromwell@house.state.md.us

Del. Rudolph Cane Dis. 37A Dorch/Wic D 410-841-3427

Rudolph.Cane@house.state.md.us

Del. Galen Clagett Dis. 3A Frederick D 410-841-3436

Galen.Clagett@house.state.md.us

Del. Virginia Clagett Dis. 30 Anne Arundel D 410-841-3211

Virginia.Clagett@house.state.md.us

Del. Norman Conway Dis. 38B Wic/Worc D 410-841-3407

Norman.Conway@house.state.md.us

Del. Steven DeBoy Dis. 12A Baltimore D 410-841-3328

Steven.DeBoy@house.state.md.us

Sen. George Della Dis. 46 Balt. City D 410-841-3600

George.Della@senate.state.md.us

Del. John Donoghue Dis. 2C Washington D 410-841-3125

John.Donoghue@house.state.md.us

Del. Ann Marie Doory Dis. 43 Balt. City D 410-841-3476

Annmarie.Doory@house.state.md.us

Sen. Roy Dyson Dis. 29 Cal/StMary/Charles D 410-841-3673

Roy.Dyson@senate.state.md.us

Del. Sue Hecht Dis. 3A Frederick D 410-841-3472

Sue.Hecht@house.state.md.us

Del. Mary-Dulaney James Dis. 34A Harford D 410-841-3289

Mary.Dulaney.James@house.state.md.us

Sen. Ed Kasemeyer Dis. 12 Balt/Howard D 410-841-3653

Edward.Kasemeyer@senate.state.md.us

Del. Kevin Kelly Dis. 1B Allegany D 410-841-3404

Kevin.Kelly@house.state.md.us

Sen. Kathy Klausmeier Dis. 8 Baltimore D 410-841-3620

Katherine.Klausmeier@senate.state.md.us

Del. Carolyn Krysiak Dis. 46 Balt. City D 410-841-3303

Carolyn.Krysiak@house.state.md.us

Del. Sue Kullen Dis. 27B Calvert D 410-841-3231

Sue.Kullen@house.state.md.us

Del.Stephen Lafferty Dis. 42 Baltimore D 410-841-3487

Stephen.Lafferty@senate.state.md.us

Del. Murray Levy Dis. 28 Charles D 410-841-3325

Murray.Levy@house.state.md.us

Del. Mary Ann Love Dis. 32 Anne Arundel D 410-841-3511

Maryann.Love@house.state.md.us

Del. James Malone Dis. 12 Baltimore D 410-841-3378

James.Malone@house.state.md.us

Del. James Mathias Dis. 38B Wic/Wor D 410-841-3431

James.Mathias@house.state.md.us

Del. Brian McHale Dis. 46 Balt. City D 410-841-3319

Brian.McHale@house.state.md.u

Sen. Mac Middleton Dis. 28 Charles D 410-841-3616

Thomas.McLain.Middleton@senate.state.md.us

Sen. President Mike Miller Dis. 27 Calver/PG D 410-841-3700

Thomas.V.Mike.Miller@senate.state.md.us

Del. Joseph Minnick Dis. 6 Baltimore D 410-841-3332

Joseph.Minnick@house.state.md.us

Del. John Olszewski Dis. 6 Baltimore D 410-841-3458

John.Olszewski@house.state.md.us

Del. Daniel Riley Dis. 34A Harford D 410-841-3289

Daniel.Riley@house.state.md.us

Del. David Rudolph Dis. 34B Cecil D 410-841-3444

David.Rudolph@house.state.md.us

Del. Todd Schuler Dis. 8 Baltimore D 410-841-3526

Todd.Schuler@house.state.md.us

Del. Ted Sophocleus Dis. 32 Anne Arundel D 410-841-3372

Ted.Sophocleus@house.state.md.us

Sen. Norman Stone Dis. 6 Baltimore D 410-841-3587

Norman.Stone@senate.state.md.us

Del. Michael Weir Dis. 6 Baltimore D 410-841-3328

Michael.Weir@house.state.md.us

Del. John Wood Dis. 29A St.Mary’s D 410-841-3170

John.Wood@house.state.md.us

Keep calling the above elected officials. There’s still time to stop the Robber Barons in Annapolis.

Also, we urge all of you to keep your eye on O’Malley Watch, as they are keeping tabs on all of the elected officials who are voting for tax increases.

The blogosphere is all abuzz over the revelation that a new live action GI Joe film will get the Hollywood Liberal treatment. From Town Hall:

Hi-jacking G.I. Joe
Posted by: Michael Medved at 6:27 PM

“G.I. Joe” once served his country as an American icon, waving the flag and fighting the nation’s enemies as a World War II comic book hero, popular action figure, and star of Saturday morning cartoons.

But now Paramount is planning a live action version of the story with Joe fighting not for the U.S.A., but for an international organization based in Brussels known as the “Globally Integrated Joint Operations Entity”—an acronym for—you guessed it—“G.I. JOE.” This time the muscular hero won’t battle neo-Nazi terrorists of COBRA, but instead takes on arms merchants based in Scotland.

Paramount said changes were necessary for worldwide success, because the US military is no longer popular in other countries. But it seems ridiculous to think that a comic-based, slam-bam action film like this one would appeal to sophisticated quiche-eating audiences—even if the good guys are based in Belgium. Say it ain’t so, Joe.

Hasbro has since released this pandering press release:

First and foremost, we are not changing what the G.I. Joe brand is about. The name “G.I. Joe” will always be synonymous with bravery and heroism.

The G.I. Joe brand has enjoyed a successful 43-year history, spanning two key generations. The first was the line of 12-inch “realistic military” figures that were popular with kids in the 1960s and 1970s.

The second generation, was created in 1982, and is based on a cast of fictional heroes and villains that make up the “G.I. Joe vs. Cobra” fantasy. The premise of this fantasy is the story of the G.I. Joe team, led by Duke, and their “fight for freedom wherever there is trouble” against the evil Cobra Commander and his Cobra force. This storyline was an instant hit with kids in the early 1980s, spawning a highly popular 3-3/4-inch action figure line, comic book collection and animated series.

This movie will be a modern telling of the “G.I. Joe vs. Cobra” storyline and its compelling characters that Hasbro created 25 years ago. The G.I. Joe team will not be based in Brussels. Instead, they will be based out of the “Pit” as they were throughout the 1980s comic book series. And, in keeping with the G.I. Joe vs. Cobra fantasy, the movie will feature characters and locations from around the world. Duke, the lead character and head of the G.I. Joe team, will embody the values of bravery and heroism that the first generation of G.I. Joe figures established.

G.I. Joe is a very important property to Hasbro and we thank all of our fans for their enthusiasm. Without all of you, the brand would not be where it is today.

Well, there’s two sides to every story. All we know is that GI Joe was always “A Real American Hero”, and now they’re not. Instead, they’ll be some sort of UN type, politically correct version of what used to be a true American Icon. We’re wondering if Cobra Commander will still be a terrorist, or if he’ll be a “Freedom Fighter”. Yo, Joe.