O'Malley speech touts job creation

Governor strives for upbeat message

Friday, Feb. 5, 2010

ANNAPOLIS — Continuing his focus on job creation and riding out the recession, Gov. Martin O'Malley called on lawmakers to embrace a $3,000 employer tax credit and protect homeowners from foreclosure in Tuesday's State of the State address.

"There is no government program that is as important or as empowering as a job. Therefore, progress requires that we focus the energies of this session on three primary areas: creating jobs, saving jobs and protecting jobs," O'Malley said.

O'Malley (D) revealed no new programs or legislative initiatives in the speech, instead using the 27-minute address as a mission statement for the final General Assembly session of his term.

He touched on a number of proposals that have already been released, including a $3,000 tax credit for businesses that hire someone who is currently unemployed and a controversial plan to reduce rates on unemployment insurance premiums paid by businesses.

O'Malley mentioned the word "job" or "jobs" 29 times and "joblessness" once.

O'Malley also asked lawmakers for their support for an administration bill that would require mediation between mortgage companies and homeowners before a foreclosure proceeds.

A number of those proposals will be headed to the House Economic Matters Committee. Its chairman, Del. Dereck E. Davis, didn't fault the governor for being light on details in the speech.

"Right now I think broad strokes, a general outline of what he wants to do, that works better in a setting like this," said Davis (D-Prince George's).

O'Malley elicited the strongest reaction with an attempt at inspiration: "The recession will end. Our journey is not over. And our best days are still in front of us."

He then received a 20-second standing ovation. All told, applause filled the chamber 16 times during the course of the speech.

"He gives a great speech, but the issue is whether the action is there," Senate Minority Leader Allan H. Kittleman (R-Howard, Carroll) said later.

Democrats generally hailed the speech as an upbeat statement in the face of a staggering economy. Republicans said O'Malley is having an election-year conversion to the importance of jobs.

"I thought the priorities were right. He had to emphasize the economy, and he hit the jobs thing hard," said Senate Judicial Proceedings Chairman Brian E. Frosh (D-Montgomery).

House Minority Leader Anthony J. O'Donnell, however, said the governor's speech lacked substance and showed "a complete detachment from reality."

His administration's policies in the past three years have discouraged job growth and pushed some businesses to move to more tax-friendly states, he said.

"He talked about government creating jobs and the necessary role of government creating jobs. The reality is we need the private sector to create jobs. He has just decimated, through policy decisions, private sector development of jobs," said O'Donnell (R-Calvert, St. Mary's)

Other Republicans questioned the governor's claims about preserving the environment and protecting children from sex offenders.

"It was a day late and a lot of dollars short," said Senate Minority Leader Nancy Jacobs (R-Harford, Cecil).

Predictably, Democrats had a different take.

"For me it was an uplifting speech," said Del. John L. Bohanan Jr (D-St. Mary's).

Republican criticisms show they're more interested in partisan rhetoric than coming up with solutions, he added.

Gubernatorial candidate George W. Owings III, who was chatting up reporters before and after the speech, offered some praise — to O'Malley's speechwriters.

"It was a well-orchestrated speech, but I somehow lost the substance of what he was trying to say," said Owings, a former Democratic delegate from Calvert County.

abrody@somdnews.com