Montgomery County Big Government Kills Business Development

In the 18 years I’ve lived in Montgomery County, I’ve seen a lot of businesses, both big and small. leave the area. The pundits say our area has unfriendly business policies and I’ve no doubt that is part of the reason.


Earlier this week the Washington Examiner ran an article* about how Montgomery County needs to mend its ways to attract as well as maintain businesses critical to supporting our local economies. The president of the Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Camber of Congress noted big government hassles of “zoning and permit processes”. Another example of big government noted by the president of Baltimore-based SPG Trend Advisors id burdensome state taxes and regulations.


A recent example of Montgomery County’s business and consumer unfriendly policies is the bag tax. This tax goes too far including paper bags. At least DC is pretending to save the environment. From a practical perspective, reusable bags quickly become unsanitary and the cost of cleaning them is an additional burden on consumers and when they outlived their usefulness add more bulk to land fills. Financially, the bag tax adds unnecessary burdens on those with lower incomes. It adds tactical burdens on those can afford it – scurrying to find a bag or dropping all one’s purchases because you decided to skip the bag.


It’s the same big government officials making and maintaining other business and consumer unfriendly policies. Will they really learn to do better?

The other part of attracting and maintaining businesses is Montgomery County’s incentives shouldn’t harm consumers in the process. In 2003, Doug Duncan enacted the Fuel-energy tax to close a loophole excluding some businesses. Instead of just fixing the loophole, the tax over penalizes residential customers. For those who forgot, this tax was only supposed end after two-years but every month, my utility bills show it’s still alive and kicking!


Ike Leggett is "not sure privatizing development is in the best interest of the county." It's the residents' interest that is suffering. Montgomery County officials consistently show they know nothing about business or lower-income constituents. Let’s get them out of our pockets.

Let me know what you think.


* http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/maryland/2012/01/montgomery-county-seeks-more-business-friendly-reputation/2057581#ixzz1in8BfJjl

PEPCO: the Most Hated Company in America

After spending three hours without power on Wednesday (7/6/11) for no apparent reason, I wasn’t surprised to read the PEPCO was coined the “‘most hated’ company in America” by Rachel Baye based on a recent American Customer Satisfaction Index. PEPCO spokesman, Bob Hainery, is quoted as saying “We are committed to upgrading and modernizing our system through hard work and advanced technology” (Washington Examiner, ‘Satisfaction with Pepco plunges’, July 12, 2011, p 5). I have been hearing their same song and dance for the last 18 years, but with no real results. There I was on a nice summer day in the backyard with a flashlight. PEPCO’s recurring statements of commitment have no meaning if there are no tangible results two decades later.

What’s the best approach to getting PEPCO to actually do something? Support the efforts by our officials.

I expressed my personal concerns to Governor O’Malley in June and assured him of my support for Maryland’s investigation. After reading an article saying Montgomery County was not fully participating in this investigation, I wrote County Executive Leggett. He responded promptly and indicated Montgomery County was participating in the state-wide investigation - although it was not clear how far, fully or partially. He added that he created a 12-member work group to do its own investigation and has engaged outside special counsel (e-mail, June 20, 2011). He also explained that ‘the Public Service Commission has exclusive jurisdiction regarding utility companies.’  
 
Assuming that the commission has sole jurisdiction, then I don’t understand what Mr. Leggett hopes to accomplish with the work group and special counsel. Don’t get me wrong. I think PEPCO acts like we’re living in a third-world country. But, I don’t think we need more than one investigation, especially if it turns out we taxpayers are paying for all of the above.