Editor's note: Each week, The Herald-Mail invites readers to answer poll questions on its Web site, www.herald-mail.com. Readers also may submit comments about the poll question when voting. Each Sunday, a sampling of edited reader comments will run in The Herald-Mail.

Last week's poll question was: Maryland faces a $1.5 billion deficit. Gov. Martin O'Malley's proposed tax increases are painful, but necessary; way too much; more tax and spend; not the solution; or too complicated for me?

"O'Malley's taxes will create TEN new tax hikes, costing a minimum of $2.5 billion in the first year, and $25 billion over the next 10 years. The deficit during that time period is projected to be only $7 billion. Taxpayers should ask, 'Why do we need an extra $18 billion out of our pockets?' The answer is obvious. Maryland politicians have always been inflicted by a communicable disease known as 'spending mania.' Democrat leadership in Annapolis has increased spending by $15 billion in the last 10 years."

"If I were an expert on the state's budget and finances, I could answer this poll question by clicking on answers 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 - as did 16 people as I type this message. Since I am not an expert, I'll be honest, as usual, and vote for answer 5 - Too complicated for me."

"How about giving solutions about not cutting taxes? When prices for the state go up, salaries, infrastructures, education, health care for children and elderly, I see no other way than to increase taxes OR look for other ways to increase revenues. Complaining will not help, and complaining about the Democrats or Republicans will not help."

"How about this, you cut spending all across the board. How is that for a solution. Cut spending! Wow, what a concept!"

"Another solution - stop welfare spending in this state. One more solution - scale down the size of the government workers in the state. Maybe end some things like the ridiculous emissions checks that get done and if you don't pass, you still get to drive your vehicle. It is interesting that when you have Democrats in office, spending always goes up!"

"Saying you're cutting spending when everything else in the world is going up in prices is stupid. How does anyone know if we have too many state workers? Cut welfare will really help? Please tell me how, especially for the children and elderly that can't work? When insurance prices go up for state property, how do you cut that? When education costs go up to try to be competitive with teachers' salaries, how do you cut that? Again, to simply say 'cut spending' does not help unless you have proven areas that can be cut."

"Be specific in areas that you're going to cut or just not say a word. Anyone want to cut the number of state police troopers? Teachers? How about fire department? We can cut snow removal - heck it only snows for three to four months! Come on people, be realistic and think twice before we 'cut across the board.'"

"Please don't cut any law enforcement. You can't find any now when you need them."

"What adds insult to injury on these tax increases is the fact that O'Malley is coming up with more entitlement programs such as in-state tuition for illegals, increase in government funded health care. The state of Maryland needs to realize that our pockets are only so deep. If we can live within our means, why can't the government?"

"I feel it is more government tax and spend. The more they collect, the more they spend. It is like having a credit card that is maxed out, so you get a second card to pay the first card. I bet we can cut spending, but not necessary services, which is the way the government always threatens to go. The politicians do not need more perks and wage increases every year, do they? We do not need more things like stadiums and nonservice items. We should not give illegals in-state tuition when we cannot afford to send our own children and we foot the bill. The prisoners do not need a college education for the same reason. Does anyone know where the money actually goes? I bet they do not shop around when it comes to buying supplies and I bet there is a lot of waste and overpay. They are not going to cut in places we don't care about and we feel they should because they want to have the power over the money and where it goes. Maryland is now a socialist state."

"What are other states doing differently that they do not have the high taxes we do? Their children are as well educated and the crime rate in some is much lower than our state. We do have better roads then many, but we have tolls to help pay for them. Perhaps the answer to the spending problem lies in what is being done elsewhere. If we do not do something soon, we will lose businesses and population, which means the tax revenue will decrease and they will have to invent new ways to take from those who remain. This will not be the last hike - it seems to be an annual event."

"Didn't (former Maryland Gov. Robert) Ehrlich have a billion-dollar surplus one year??? I think those who vote Democrat should pay the extra taxes!"

"Republicans traditionally have been for lower taxes, smaller government. The fact that they strayed from this in recent years is why we in the party are disgusted and looking for true conservatives. Don't blame all the new spending that Gov. O'Malley is doing on the Republican Party. In this state, Democrats control things and nobody cares what Republicans think or want, they just want us to shut up and hand over money."

"More tax more spend. Makes no sense!! Those who vote Democrat should be the ones paying the extra!!!"

"You wanted the Democrats in, now you pay for it. As if people in Maryland aren't taxed enough. Every Democrat should rejoice and shut up. You knew what the deal was."