Ehrlich Campaign Thanks Governor O’Malley For Highlighting Bob Ehrlich Successes In New TV Ads

ANNAPOLIS – The Bob Ehrlich for Maryland campaign released the following statement regarding Governor Martin O’Malley’s TV ads. The ads were released less than 24 hours after disappointing unemployment numbers confirming that 211,000 Marylanders are currently unable to find a job.

“After four years without a jobs agenda, Governor O’Malley is now trying to save his own job by highlighting successes from Bob Ehrlich’s tenure as Governor,” said Ehrlich Communications Director Henry Fawell. “This election is about who is better prepared to lead a long-term economic resurgence in Maryland. Bob Ehrlich has offered a concrete Entrepreneur Agenda that will create jobs, lower taxes, and improve Maryland’s deteriorating business climate. Since he can’t point to a single net new job created on his watch, Governor O’Malley is now celebrating tax credits enacted by Bob Ehrlich.”



BACKGROUND: The Biotechnology Tax Credit Governor O’Malley touts in his new advertisement was signed into law by Bob Ehrlich in 2005. “Bob Ehrlich is proud to learn that the Biotech Tax Credit he signed into law is a big reason for BioMarker Strategies’ success,” said Fawell.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce study Governor O’Malley touts in his ad measures Maryland’s success over the past ten years, including Bob Ehrlich’s four years as Governor. More than 100,000 private sector jobs were created in Maryland during Ehrlich’s tenure. Job growth was a key metric in the Chamber’s study. Also, business confidence reached an all-time high on Bob Ehrlich’s watch, as measured by the Jacob France Institute.

Conversely, nearly 3,000 small businesses closed in Maryland last year under Governor O’Malley. Maryland ranks 45th in the nation in business tax climate, according to the Tax Foundation. Maryland is easily outranked by neighboring Virginia in 8 out of 10 economic categories in CNBC’s Top States for Business Survey, including overall economy, quality of life, business friendliness, transportation, and cost of living.