Ehrlich asks for chance to change ‘business culture’ in Annapolis

Posted: 10:46 pm Thu, October 28, 2010
By Nicholas Sohr
Daily Record Business Writer

Former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich blasted the state’s stance towards the private sector Thursday night, telling business owners and executives Maryland has become “a flyover state.”

Ehrlich drew applause from listeners during his speech as he criticized regulators and a proposal to alter the way business taxes are assessed, which could be costly for some industries. He urged the dinner crowd at the Maryland Chamber of Commerce conference to send him and more Republicans to Annapolis.

“We’ve never had this opportunity in my lifetime to change the business culture of that city,” Ehrlich said. “It’s hard.”

Gov. Martin O’Malley was also invited to address to conference, but could not rearrange his schedule in the days leading up to the election, which have seen the Democrat crisscross the state on a bus tour.

Chamber President and CEO Kathleen T. Snyder said business owners are still looking for answers about some of the biggest questions dogging the private sector.

“What are you going to do about the budget?” she asked rhetorically in an interview before Ehrlich arrived. “What are you going to do about transportation? What are you going to do to make Maryland competitive so we can get the next [Northrop Grumman Corp.]?”

Asked how he would make the state more competitive in landing headquarters of businesses like Northrop, which passed up Maryland for Northern Virginia this year, and to grow the companies that are already here, Ehrlich repeated his oft-voiced criticism of the Department of the Environment and the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

“Clean out DLLR completely,” Ehrlich said of his plans, drawing applause from the crowd. “Not completely. The leadership. There are some good people there.”

Ehrlich also said as governor he would be a check on the Democrat-dominated General Assembly, which has been criticized by the business community for business taxes and regulations passed in recent years.

“What I think I [hear] from business is not just ‘enough,” but, ‘Stop doing gratuitous, discretionary things that hurt us,” Ehrlich said, referencing the 75 business roundtables he has held as part of the campaign.

The Republican drew laughs from the crowd when describing his displeasure with slots, which he called “sloppy, negligent.”

“I’ve had one great idea over the last idea over the last eight years, which is to convene the National Guard, go across the river into Delaware, steal the slots and get back before dawn,” he said.

Ehrlich lamented the shift in the legislature, which he said had more small business owners, including many in positions of power, when he a state delegate. To return the state to a more welcoming place for business, the General Assembly needs more people who “sign the front of checks,” he said.