Moments ago, the Associated Press projected Scott Brown as the winner of the Massachusetts U.S. Senate race. He’s holding a five-point lead with 80% in. So now I can turn my attention to the Maryland race.
Larry Hogan, a potential candidate for Maryland Governor, said today that “the budget released today by the incumbent governor is the wrong prescription for Maryland’s ailing economy.”
“Martin O’Malley has been the worst anti-jobs, anti-business, anti-middle class governor this state has ever had,” charged Hogan. “For three years, the incumbent governor ignored all the warning signs of a recession and increased spending by over $3.3 billion. And, he ignored all history and common sense when he decided to push the highest tax increase in Maryland history at the onset of the recession.”
“His policies continue to drive employers out of state, or out of business and continue to cost us more jobs. His continued fixation to get the government to create jobs is having the reverse effect and keeping Maryland from experiencing what 42 other states saw last month – job growth,” said Hogan.
According to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly unemployment report, Maryland was one of just 8 states that had rising unemployment.
“The incumbent governor just doesn’t get it. While he is looking to government for a solution, our neighboring states, like Virginia, are looking to provide incentives to encourage businesses to expand and to locate there. O’Malley just doesn’t understand that, just like hard working families, government relies on a stable economy and good jobs to make ends meet,” said Hogan.
“The contrast couldn’t be greater. While our neighbors look to provide incentives to businesses to locate there and hire more people, our incumbent governor is looking at ways to increase taxes and burdensome regulations on the job creators,” Hogan said. “It’s not a strong government that will fix the economy, but rather a strong private sector that will fix Maryland’s budget problems.”
“Martin O’Malley’s failed record of lost jobs, higher spending, and record tax increases simply is not working. Marylanders deserve better,” said Hogan, who has begun to emerge as the leading potential challenger to Martin O’Malley in 2010.
Hogan a former cabinet secretary and congressional nominee is the founder and CEO of an Annapolis based business.
I don’t know if it was in an effort to be critical without being specific, but the lack of specific items pointed out by Larry Hogan is a bit bothersome. Most importantly, this release doesn’t point out whether the budget is larger than last year’s model. Granted, the General Assembly could take a hacksaw to the budget and make it significantly smaller than the FY2010 one, but I doubt that.
Then again, just crossing my wire is Larry’s reaction to Scott Brown’s victory.
In the wake of Scott Brown’s election in Massachusetts, Larry Hogan potential candidate for Maryland Governor released the following statement:
“Maryland is not immune to the winds of change that blew through Massachusetts tonight. In nine short months we plan to accomplish the exact same kind of surprising upset victory here in Maryland.
I’ve been traveling all across the state listening to the concerns of a great many Marylanders – people from all walks of life. I can tell you that they are frustrated, worried and angry like I have never seen before.
People are concerned about the economy, worried about losing their jobs and their health care. They are concerned about out of control Government spending and oppressive tax hikes.
They feel that not only are our leaders not solving the serious problems, but that they are actually making things worse.
The election of Scott Brown should send a message to the arrogant monopoly in Annapolis. This is what happens when you ignore the people you are supposed to serve.
Like in Massachusetts, it’s not about Republicans vs. Democrats – it’s about our future. I think that Marylanders are completely fed up with a one party monopoly and with politics as usual in Annapolis.
I strongly believe that the people will rise up and fight back for a change and that in November we will send a loud and clear message to Annapolis that they will hear all the way in Washington.”
Recent independent polling shows that only 39% of Maryland voters would support the incumbent, Martin O’Malley, while 48% would prefer a new person. Larry Hogan has emerged as the leading potential challenger in the 2010 Maryland Governor’s race.
Larry may be right, but that also depends on a perception of just how arrogant Annapolis is. Arrogance of those seated in government is an issue which plays well on the Eastern Shore and in rural Maryland, but those in power along the I-95 corridor don’t mind that arrogance because they think they’re more important than the rest of the state anyway – or they are part of government and know which side their bread is buttered on.
I’ve waxed before about the prospects of an upset victory here in Maryland if Scott Brown wins. Well, now that has come to pass and it’s up to the individual candidates to study the Brown campaign and use what they learn to enhance their chances for victory. We have 9 1/2 months to find out how this ends up.
Sigh, I know I’m sick of my vote not mattering here. I know it’s a majority vote, but whatever happened to Easshore!?