Mismatched priorities?

AP

Maryland has lost more jobs so far this year than any other state in the nation according to the U.S. Department of Labor. After last Friday's release of June state unemployment figures, there is now six months of data with which to compare the states. Maryland, which lost just over 10,000 jobs since the beginning of this year, is among a dozen states to have experienced declines during this period.

"This is a very disturbing trend, which needs to be addressed," said Change Maryland Chairman Larry Hogan. "I'm deeply concerned that state government's onslaught of taxes and fees is causing us to lose businesses, jobs and taxpayers at an alarming rate." Maryland has raised taxes and fees 24 times since 2007, removing an additional $2.4 billion from the economy annually.

...A comparison frequently made on all sides of the political spectrum is between Maryland and Virginia. Maryland's unemployment rate, at 6.9%, contrasts sharply with Virginia's 5.7%. This is the widest gap between the two states since 2001, when Parris Glendening was governor. -- The Baynet