Maryland tea partiers plan counter state address

ANNAPOLIS — A group of Maryland tea partiers is planning its own state of the state address to express its opposition a series of fees and taxes lawmakers have floated as they seek to pass a budget.

Charles Lollar, head of Americans for Prosperity Maryland, plans to speak out Friday against proposed new fees on car purchasing, vanity plates and a possible hike in the alcohol tax. He’ll make his remarks in front of the State House in a speech modeled after the governor’s annual State of the State Address.

Lollar lost a congressional race last year to U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer. Lollar now runs Americans for Prosperity Maryland, a group that’s been at the center of Maryland’s tea party efforts.

State lawmakers plan to end their 2011 session at midnight Monday.