Maryland's Stormwater Bill

     Over the last few years, I was one of many people to push for the new Stormwater Bill in Maryland to be passed. It addressed the antiquated Stormwater systems that dumped polluted water from our streets into the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. It also will raise money to fix and replace leaky septic systems that were adding to the declining health of our state's most valuable resource. Many stormwater systems were designed and installed over 50 years ago. They are outdated and need to be modernized. To see the new Governor push to repeal the bill is heartbreaking. The health of the Bay affects the health of millions of people, will cost thousands of jobs if left to get worse and lead to the loss of thousands of species of plant and animal life. 

     The what upsets me the most is that the opponents of the bill have labeled it a "rain tax", with people who do not fully understand the language and purpose of the bill believing they have to pay a tax every time it rains. That's absurd! People have just made the jump from the term "Rain Tax" to thinking they are paying more in taxes each time a storm rolls through. I guess snow isn't included in that, huh? Can people be so lazy that they don't even read the language of passed legislation before they start to argue against it? 

     Many against the bill acknowledge the declining health of the Chesapeake and refuse to swim or let their children swim in its waters. Yet they don't even think twice about eating crabs. Oysters and rockfish that are caught in the ever increasing pollution. 

     Like so many in the world, they want to reap the rewards at the cost of the future. Clean water means healthy things to eat, more jobs and water safe to swim in. You are going to prevent that if the Stormwater Legislation is overturned. Think about it. Can you afford an extra $6.25 a month to clean up the waters in the Chesapeake? What if it meant it would be safer to go crabbing or fishing or waterskiing?

Learn the real facts and intent of the Maryland Stormwater Remediation Legislation.