Today Bob Ehrlich unveiled a package of campaign promises to business owners, and once again his record contradicts his rhetoric.
Start with his dismal record on businesses leaving Maryland, downsizing, failing, and choosing neighboring states when he was governor, then see...
Unemployment tax
Mr. Ehrlich has spent the past several weeks blaming his successor for a sharp increase in unemployment insurance taxes business pay, but Washington Post reporter John Wagner pointed out,
The increases are largely the result of a recession-sensitive formula that was signed into law in 2005 by Ehrlich -- a fact he has glossed over while discussing the issue with irritated business owners. Ehrlich also rarely mentions a deal O'Malley and lawmakers cut with business representatives this year that will provide some relief going forward.
Even worse, when Mr. Ehrlich was governor, he did nothing when businesses were hit with the same kind of unemployment insurance surcharge he criticizes today. Gov. O’Malley, on the other hand, worked with businesses and labor this year and succeeded in softening the impact.
Maryland Republicans tried to pin the unemployment tax hike on Democrats, claiming the fund was drained by recipients seeking part-time work under a 2009 law, but the nonpartisan Department of Legislative Services showsthat change had a nominal impact and the fund was drawn down because claims increased dramatically in Maryland and all states in the deepest recession since the Great Depression.
Ehrlich’s tax hikes hit business
Only weeks after his 2003 inauguration, Mr. Ehrlich raised property taxes 57 percent and increased corporate filing fees. Businesses of all sizes own real property, and had to pay Mr. Ehrlich’s property tax hike along with their customers. The next year Mr. Ehrlich raised taxes by $2 billion, much of which fell on small and big business.
Ehrlich’s favoritism and corruption
Every time Mr. Ehrlich handed out state business to a crony or supporter, or a client of his friend David Hamilton, he took business away from a legitimate business expecting to compete fair and square for the work. Any business owner who knows this yet supports Bob Ehrlich does so in disrespect of honest business principles.
- Steve Lebowitz, Annapolis
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