Albero has the Answer! Again

Albero now claims to be the first Keno customer in the State of Maryland. That was how many years ago? It certainly brought peals of laughter to this household. This is just another boast that cannot be substantiated except by Albero’s say-so. Granted, I can no more prove he wasn’t the first anymore than he can prove he was. But the odds are in my favor on this one. Hilarious to say the least.

In this vein Albero now assures us that every Chinese restaurant, cleaners and carwash is cheating the State of Md. out of sales tax. No doubt this may happen on occasion but his statement is pretty broad if you ask me.

But as usual Albero has the solution. Maryland simply has to tie in to every single retail cash register in the state. NO PROBLEM! How many million are there?
I got it! Let the State provide registers to every retail business there is. They will have no choice in the matter. If not that—the business will have to purchase registers approved only by the state (more government control). This way the state can insure the registers will work on their system to deduct sales tax. Now—who’s going to pay for the hook-up to the State system? The retailer of course! This will only tack additional hidden cost to the merchandise we wish to purchase. The retailers must also use State approved receipt paper. Do you think the state is going to give that receipt paper away? Absolutely not. It will have to be purchased from the State and again the cost will be passed on to the consumer. What happens if a glitch causes the system to go down? Every store in the State is out of business for the time being. If they can’t ring up sales on a State mandated register with official state receipts, they will just have to shut down for the duration. I was in a local business not long ago when the proprietor was complaining about how much money he was losing because the Keno system was on the fritz. How much would he lose if a register system went awry as well? Many businesses have registers that keep a control on inventory. Not all places use the same system. Will the State provide registers to do that for each business?

What about the licensed businesses that can’t use a register or always have access to hook up to a central system? I’m talking about the craft dealers that travel all around to different shows. The vendors for sporting events that operates from trailers just outside the venue. These folks give handwritten receipts. Does that make them all dishonest? The cost to implement & maintain such a system just won't cut it. I personaly do not believe this is such a great issue. One word prevents a lot of this problem from occuring. That word is "audit"


Maybe Albero calls Annapolis everyday to insure the 5% he has paid is in the proper account. I’ll bet Comptroller Peter Franchot eagerly awaits Albero’s call. That is just about as nonsensical as Albero having us believe O’Malley rushes from his bed every morning to read the rabid ranting of someone that isn’t even a citizen of this State.

Chew on this Albero. I have been owner of two businesses in this State and with the first one I didn’t have a license and I didn’t pay any sales tax to the State. And it was perfectly legal. In the second business I only paid 4 ½ % to the State. That also was perfectly legal. I have a solution to your worries about shopping in Maryland. Don’t!
Stay in tax-free Delaware. I’m sure Governor Minner will appreciate the attention.