How rich the irony. Progressive blogs blasted Gov. Martin O?Malley for being pro-business.
After pushing for and signing into law a slew of new tax increases, we thought the evidence cleared him of ever being accused of such an offense.
But we were wrong. Turns out the Web site of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development touted the state?s supposedly anti-union, pro-jobs climate. “While not a ?right-to-work? state, Maryland offers businesses a very favorable labor climate,” it said. “The percentage of private sector union membership in Maryland is 7.2 percent, which is lower than the national average of 7.5 percent and lower than most Northeast and Midwest states.”
The promotion went on to say how very few companies that moved to the state were petitioned by unions and that unions won representation in only 1 percent of new firms between 1990 and 2001.
Those are great statistics ? and something the state should publicize. Following increases in the sales, income and corporate income taxes, DBED must have been scraping the bottom of the barrel to find something positive to market to prospective businesses about the state.
What we don?t understand is why DBED took the material down. Was the information false? Or worse, does the governor wish that union representation was growing? Even we doubt that.
CNBC?s most recent ranking of America?s Top States for Businesses in the work force category listed right-to-work states in the top spots. It?s not a coincidence. Forced unionism means uncompetitive labor costs and fewer jobs.
We don?t blame the unions for going afterthe governor. It?s their right to support their organizations.
But O?Malley should not be ashamed of the truth. Nor should he bow to pressure from unions whose interest in self-preservation must not trump the overriding imperative of growing jobs and attracting businesses to Maryland.
