Now that omalley

[North Beach Person]

MD has different employment requirements than the adjoining states plus a higher tax load. PA personal income tax is around 3% for everyone while MD ranges from 2 to 8% with an additional County income tax of 1/2 or so of the state rate. MD taxes retired pay, PA doesn't.
Pollution of the tributaries in other states is being tightened up but it will take time. I was in the Chesapeake watershed in WPA this AM, over 300 miles from where I'm sitting now, the Western Branch of the Susquehanna River near a town in PA by the name of Burnside.

[jonjj]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

First, in a state where Dems enjoy a 2-1 registration advantage, a gubantorial candidate only getting 55% of the vote is nothing to be proud of. It is evidence of the extreme leftist politics of Annapolis.

Secondly, check out the Maryland economy AWAY from the federal corridor and you will see stagnation and decline. Our state is small and bordered by states with lower taxes, and less regulation. I live in Cumberland and have seen the neighboring counties in PA and WV attract new retail, industry and housing, while our county continues to shrink and decline. One retail store in WV actually put up a big sign saying "Thank you Governor O'Malley" when the sales tax was raised by 20%.

Anybody who thinks the MD is business friendly and that small businesses are doing "great" needs to get out of the cul-de-sac and see how the rest of the state lives.

Here's the list. Speaks for itself. Sounds like a lot of unnecessary whining to me. MD ranks 14th in country.

Table: The Best States For Business And Careers - Forbes.com

[westsideboy]

Originally Posted by jonjj

Here's the list. Speaks for itself. Sounds like a lot of unnecessary whining to me. MD ranks 14th in country.

Table: The Best States For Business And Careers - Forbes.com

Jonjj, look a little deeper into those rankings and you will see what we are talking about. Maryland ranks 49th WORST out of 50 states in business costs. We are 29th in growth prospects.

Maryland comes in #14 overall largely because we are #1 in the nebalous "quality of life" stat. That stat is based on income levels, crime, and poverty, which you and I both know isn't uniform throughout every region of our diverse state.

Here is another ranking service, specifically for small business that ranks MD 37th.

Again, it is important to note that our state doesn't exist in a vacuum, we are right next to states with more friendly business climates and we lose out comparatively.

http://www.sbecouncil.org/uploads/SB...%20version.pdf

[LOSTINMD]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

Jonjj, look a little deeper into those rankings and you will see what we are talking about. Maryland ranks 49th WORST out of 50 states in business costs. We are 29th in growth prospects.

Maryland comes in #14 overall largely because we are #1 in the nebalous "quality of life" stat. That stat is based on income levels, crime, and poverty, which you and I both know isn't uniform throughout every region of our diverse state.

Here is another ranking service, specifically for small business that ranks MD 37th.

Again, it is important to note that our state doesn't exist in a vacuum, we are right next to states with more friendly business climates and we lose out comparatively.

http://www.sbecouncil.org/uploads/SB...%20version.pdf

My points exactly.MD has drop from 12th to 14 and will continue to in my opinion.

[$mk8795]

As long as O'Malley and his Democratic Ilk continue to dictate the State of Maryland Business and Economic Wealth will continue to decline............

[pjg66]

Interesting that when corporations want to relocate their headquarters or other significant facilities to the D.C. area, they mostly choose Northern Virginia over Maryland.

Why is that?