Ehrlich Outlines Immediate Priorities For Maryland

Ehrlich: “Strong Leadership” Needed To Change Direction in Maryland

ANNAPOLIS – Bob Ehrlich today outlined four bold actions he will take immediately after taking office in order to restore Maryland’s economy and rein in government excess. These actions are in direct conflict with Martin O’Malley’s agenda to spend money that doesn’t exist, raise taxes on families yet again, and force Washington’s costly mandates on individual Marylanders.

“Serious times require strong leadership,” Ehrlich said.  “This election is far from over but with unemployment doubled and massive deficits created by Martin O’Malley, Marylanders deserve to know their next Governor will hit the ground running.  On Day One, my Administration will put an end to the era of blank check spending, jumpstart the economy, lower taxes, and take on Washington’s health care mess.”  

Jump Start the Economy:  Ehrlich will announce members of the “Recovery Maryland” team, a bipartisan panel of entrepreneurs charged with identifying barriers to job creation in state government.  The Recovery Maryland team will report back to Ehrlich in 90 days with findings.  Those regulations deemed most detrimental to job creation will be dismantled.

Lower Taxes on Families & Entrepreneurs:  Ehrlich will introduce legislation to repeal O’Malley’s 20 percent increase in the sales tax to spur economic activity and to lessen the tax burden on low and middle income Marylanders. The Democratic Governors Association, which Martin O’Malley vice-chairs, admitted last week that sales tax increases “hurt those who have the least.”  Bob Ehrlich agrees and that’s why he’s seeking an immediate repeal.

Say “No” to What We Can’t Afford:  Bob Ehrlich will order government contractors to cease all work on the unaffordable Purple Line & Baltimore Red Line and redirect the funds into local transportation projects across the state.  This directive will save $300 million in engineering over the next several years.  Ehrlich will also instruct his Department of Transportation to pursue a cost effective, rapid-bus alternative to the Purple Line and work with Baltimore transit advocates to identify service alternatives to the Red Line. 

Take On Washington’s Health Care Mess:  The Ehrlich Administration will seek to exempt Maryland from Washington’s health care mandate, which unconstitutionally forces Marylanders to buy care, rations health care for families, hurts small businesses, and drives up costs for state government.