By Michael Phillips
It’s the biggest magic trick in Maryland politics: take a $5.5 billion surplus, light it on fire, bury the ashes in bureaucracy—and then blame the smoke on someone else.
That, in a nutshell, is what Republican gubernatorial candidate John Myrick says has happened under Governor Wes Moore. And while Annapolis insiders are busy patting each other on the back for “bold leadership,” Marylanders are checking their wallets—and wondering what exactly they paid for.
On July 1, over 300 new laws and fees went into effect, amounting to the largest tax increase in state history: a $1.87 billion hit to taxpayers. Want to renew your car? That’s up. Buy a tire? New fee. Use tech services? There’s a shiny 3% tech tax waiting for you. Even mattresses didn’t escape unscathed. It’s death by a thousand surcharges, and for Myrick, enough is enough.
“If someone could show me where all this new spending has improved our lives, I wouldn’t be running,” Myrick said. “But we’re poorer, we’re more burdened, and we’re no better off.”
Myrick’s first executive action if elected? Launch a full line-by-line audit of every Maryland state agency. He wants to follow the money—not the press releases. And if fraud, incompetence, or sweetheart deals are uncovered? He says those responsible will be held accountable.
“This isn’t the state’s money,” he said. “It’s your money. It’s my money. And you deserve to know where every cent is going.”
The Surplus That Disappeared
Just two years ago, Maryland was sitting on a historic surplus. But today, the state is $3.5 billion in the red—and the only thing that’s grown faster than the deficit is the number of consultants, bureaucrats, and “climate innovation” coordinators on the payroll.
“We’re spending like a TikTok influencer with a brand deal from Hellmann’s,” one resident told us. “I’ve never paid more taxes in my life—and I still drive on roads that feel like a lunar testing facility.”
Myrick agrees. In fact, he says if Maryland’s budget actually worked, “we’d be driving on roads of glass.”
Instead, many Marylanders are watching companies flee to business-friendlier pastures like Tennessee and Virginia. McCormick is considering moving. IonQ already did. The man who helped write the tax laws—Delegate Brian Crosby—moved his own company to Virginia because of the very taxes he voted for.
“That’s like a chef refusing to eat at his own restaurant,” Myrick said.
The Annapolis Math Doesn’t Add Up
Maryland spends nearly $20,000 per student on education—more than 37 other states—yet fourth and eighth graders rank below average in math and reading. Meanwhile, only 25% of education funding makes it to the classroom.
“If a private company operated this way, it would be bankrupt. Wait—we already are,” Myrick said.
Why It Matters
This isn’t just a fiscal issue—it’s a trust issue. Myrick says that while Governor Moore smiles for the cameras and signs ceremonial bills, the average Marylander is drowning under hidden taxes, high utility bills, and pothole-ridden roads that lead to nowhere—unless you’re heading to a Purple Line station no one uses.
The real problem, Myrick argues, isn’t partisanship. It’s arrogance.
“These people forget they work for us. Not the other way around.”
His solution? Audit them. Expose them. Fire them if necessary. And return some sanity—and transparency—to Maryland’s books.
Because, as Myrick puts it:
“We fought a war over a 4% tax. What are we waiting for?”
Discover more from RIPTIDE
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
