Annapolis, MD — Today, Larry Hogan will spin his failed jobs record in an interview with the Economic Club of Greater Washington in Bethesda. Regardless of his political soundbites, Maryland families are living with the negative results of his efforts to disinvest in Maryland’s middle class.
“Under Hogan, Maryland families are falling further and further behind our neighbors in Delaware, Virginia, and across the Mid-Atlantic region,” said Maryland Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Matthews. “While Hogan cherry-picks data on jobs, the vast majority of Marylanders are no better off than they were four years ago. We need a governor who has a plan to invest in and build up the middle class. Larry Hogan, more than three years in, has no plan, while Ben Jealous has bold ideas to boost wages, reduce family debt and move Maryland towards economic prosperity.”
Hogan’s jobs record:
- The latest jobs report shows Maryland lost 5,500 jobs in June, including 1,500 private sector jobs.
- Over the past year, Maryland is dead last in the region for job growth while the nation created jobs eight times faster, and Virginia five times faster, than Maryland. Maryland is also well behind Virginia in manufacturing job growth.
- During Hogan’s time as governor, Maryland workers have taken home less than $1,000 in wage growth when adjusted for inflation. Meanwhile, workers nationwide have taken home more than $5,500 in increased wage growth, Virginia workers have taken home an additional $8,000, and workers in Delaware have taken home a whopping additional $15,000 in wage growth in the same time frame.
- Hogan is the first Maryland governor to lose a Fortune 500 company.
Jealous “Make it in Maryland” jobs plan:
- Raise the minimum wage to $15/hour
- Create initiatives to boost capital for minority and women owned businesses
- Expand rural broadband
- “Ban the Box” statewide policy to help the formerly incarcerated become employed
