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Study: State economy may benefit from gay marriage (MD)
FrederickNewsPost.com ^ | 12-02-07 | Nicholas C. Stern

Posted on 12/03/2007 1:01:57 PM PST by JZelle

Same-sex marriages could raise money for Maryland's coffers, according to a November study by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law.

More than $3 million in net gains -- mostly to the wedding industry and from sales and lodging taxes -- could result if half of Maryland's approximately 15,600 same-sex couples received the same rights as married couples, said Lee Badgett, author of the study.

Data for same-sex couples was taken from the 2000 U.S. Census and state census samples in 2005, according to the study. The Charles R. Williams Project on Sexual Orientation Law is a think tank dedicated to the field of sexual orientation law and public policy.

Results of the study take into account losses to state tax revenue that would result if same-sex couples were to gain those benefits afforded to married couples. For example, decreases in estimated state income tax would be approximately $132,000 per year, inheritance tax $212,000 per year, and the real estate transfer tax $1.37 million per year.

In September, the Maryland Court of Appeals upheld a 1973 law providing that marriage is between a man and a woman. The court ruled same-sex couples in Maryland do not have a constitutional right to marriage or civil union, though it left open the possibility that the General Assembly could grant such a right in the future.

Several proposed amendments to the Maryland constitution that would have strictly prohibited marriage and civil unions for same-sex couples were voted down in 2006.

Maryland lawmakers, however, are skeptical about whether same-sex legislation will be passed.

Delegate Galen Clagett, a Democrat who represents Frederick County, said he had not considered the financial aspect of the same-sex marriage issue, and would have to look closer at the study.

(Excerpt) Read more at fredericknewspost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: Maryland
KEYWORDS: gaymarriage
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Guess this will be next.
1 posted on 12/03/2007 1:01:58 PM PST by JZelle
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To: JZelle

So, how would the economy do if the percentage of Catholics who stopped using function halls other than K of C offset the 2% gain if every Gay couple got hitched?


2 posted on 12/03/2007 1:08:31 PM PST by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: JZelle

It doesn’t matter if it’s moral...It brings in money to buy votes, so it must be a good thing, right?


3 posted on 12/03/2007 1:08:35 PM PST by somfphite (We gotta do it, cause no one else will!)
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To: somfphite

You beat me to it. Forget morals, just go for the money.


4 posted on 12/03/2007 1:09:52 PM PST by RC2
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To: JZelle

Same hocus-pocus phony baloney arguments could be made for *any* activity illegal across states lines.

State Economy could benefit from crack cocaine drug bazaars and opium dens. Think of the money that would be rolling in from the drug addicts flocking to the state.

Or machine gun purchases. Or gambling.


5 posted on 12/03/2007 1:09:59 PM PST by WOSG (Pro-life, pro-family, pro-freedom, pro-strong defense, pro-GWOT, pro-capitalism)
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To: JZelle

If they can only get married in state run casinos, just think of the revenue!


6 posted on 12/03/2007 1:12:07 PM PST by Tijeras_Slim
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To: JZelle

Kiddie porn is probably big bucks, too.


7 posted on 12/03/2007 1:12:48 PM PST by samtheman
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To: JZelle

That’s 53 cents per Marylander. These data shouldn’t change any minds.


8 posted on 12/03/2007 1:17:50 PM PST by Our man in washington
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To: JZelle

Hey, as long as we’re using this as a rationale, I think setting up Elkton as a major competitor of Bangkok in the child sex trade would help the economy, too.


9 posted on 12/03/2007 1:19:21 PM PST by Antoninus (Republicans who support Rudy owe Bill Clinton an apology.)
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To: JZelle

Oh, hell...I’ve only lived here 8 months and already want to storm the state house.


10 posted on 12/03/2007 1:19:53 PM PST by RockinRight (Huck supporters OPEN YOUR EYES. Socialism isn't compatible with social conservatism in the long run.)
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To: JZelle

Yes because as you know, we determine our morality by the highest bidder....

The older I get, the more I cam convinced, bloodshed is the only way this nation will get back to its roots, and it will not happen soon.


11 posted on 12/03/2007 1:20:22 PM PST by HamiltonJay
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To: massgopguy

two steps forward and three back

the gay population is 2% nationwide, the Catholics and others revolting is ???? (50% maybe)


12 posted on 12/03/2007 1:21:06 PM PST by elpadre
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To: JZelle

Not to mention the explosion in Gerbil sales....


13 posted on 12/03/2007 1:22:11 PM PST by traditional1 (Thompson/Hunter '08)
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To: JZelle

in the case of Massachusetts, we have had white flight for the last five years or so. Politics and taxes. I can’t wait to get away from the virulent Gays in this state, it is now a completely amoral cesspool. They are busy polluting the public school system, plumbing for recruits.


14 posted on 12/03/2007 1:26:04 PM PST by acapesket (never had a vote count in all my years here)
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To: traditional1
“Not to mention the explosion in Gerbil sales....”

And not to mention soap-on-a-rope sales at that little shop across from the YMCA

15 posted on 12/03/2007 1:26:55 PM PST by TRY ONE (NUKE the unborn gay whales!)
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To: JZelle

the legal profession windfall:
dewey, cheetam, and howe, attorneys-at- law
specializing in homosexual divorces


16 posted on 12/03/2007 1:30:02 PM PST by JohnLongIsland
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To: JZelle

Legalized prostitution would also boosted the economy, as would “child-sex” tourism. That’s no argument in favor of anything.


17 posted on 12/03/2007 1:33:46 PM PST by WashingtonSource
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To: TRY ONE
"And not to mention soap-on-a-rope sales at that little shop across from the YMCA"

LOL


18 posted on 12/03/2007 1:37:08 PM PST by traditional1 (Thompson/Hunter '08)
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To: JZelle
Being married in MD brings a huge tax penalty and MD just increased it a few weeks ago with the special session. Shouldn't they have a lower tax bracket for same sex marriages like tuition discounts to illegals?
19 posted on 12/03/2007 1:53:25 PM PST by sickoflibs (Are libs really as dumb as they act??(maybe they just assume we are that dumb))
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To: JZelle

But what if traditional heterosexual couples boycotted companies that provide services for “gay marriages”?


20 posted on 12/03/2007 1:55:31 PM PST by Paleo Conservative
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