Maryland residents leaving for Virginia

Culpeper Star-Exponent ^ | June 07, 2012

[DeaconBenjamin]

Back in January, we noted in this space that Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell "offer competing political visions. … McDonnell stresses fiscal restraint and believes government should live within its means," while O'Malley "sees taxes as boosters of prosperity."

The piece noted that others have remarked on the dichotomy — such as The Washington Post's metro columnist, Robert McCartney, who wrote: "Two states. Two governors. Two philosophies. Take your pick and see which succeeds." We concluded "conservatives are fond of likening the states to laboratories of public policy. The experiments on opposite sides of the Potomac will be fun to watch."

It's getting funner by the minute.

The other day, Larry Hogan, chairman of a nonpartisan group called Change Maryland, penned a piece for Reason magazine. He noted that Maryland and Virginia have "similar economies, demographics and a shared dependence on federal government employment and procurement" — but "sharply divergent job growth."

Our neighbor to the north "accounted for the largest taxpayer exodus of any state in the region between 2007 and 2010," Hogan writes, "with a net migration resulting in 31,000 residents having left the state. Where did most of them go? Virginia. Virginia is now home to nearly 11,500 former Marylanders — a shift of $390 million from the tax rolls of one state to another. … That's the position Maryland finds itself in after six years of damaging tax increases. Since 2007, taxes and fees have been raised 24 times, taking an additional $2.4 billion out of the economy each year."

But Maryland's tax-happy governor doesn't seem to have gotten the hint: "When Northrop Grumman opted to relocate its corporate headquarters in Northern Virginia over Maryland in 2010, the governor said 'it was a win for the Washington region,' as if the Redskins won the Super Bowl. It was not a win for Maryland job seekers who would have liked to work for the defense contractor. Other such 'regional wins' include Maryland losing out to Virginia in every major corporate relocation in recent years. Add Computer Sciences Corporation, Hilton Worldwide, SAIC and Volkswagen North America to the growing list of companies that chose the Old Dominion over the Free State."

The Free State. What an odd nickname for a state that taxes its citizens out the wazoo, costing them so much prosperity in the process.

[FlingWingFlyer]

This fag “governor” was smirking on election night on FNC when he said that somebody was going to “indict” Governor Walker for something. Anybody know how that worked out for him? Did they “indict” a ham sandwich instead or what?

[tflabo]

Problem becomes how many Maryland Dems flee their LIEberal hades hole state and then metastasize like cancer to Va. and elsewhere still voting for ‘Rats. Cant stand that snarky lil leftist jerk Governor {O’Malady}.

[central_va]

Unfortunately they bring their socialist voting habits with them to VA. Liberals are so stupid they vote in what they are fleeing.

[y6162]

I saw O’Malley election night too. He had that crazed Howard Dean thing going.

[alarm rider]

We chose West Virginia. It has been a fine choice.

[mrsmith]

“Virginia is now home to nearly 11,500 former Marylanders “

... and people wonder why Va is voting so Dem!

Some learn, but most immigrants want the same as they had before. They think socialism is great and the heavy taxes they left were just coincidental to- not the certain result of- socialism.

[ronniesgal]

we’re good here, thanks.

[JoeDetweiler]

Amen. That’s what California has been doing to Nevada.

[Grams A]

Sadly that appears to be what’s happening to Texas. Lobotomy for liberal newcomers perhaps?

[CatherineofAragon]

Exactly. And the ruin spreads.

[Mears]

bfl

[FlingWingFlyer]

I thought the way he acted was very childish. The boy needs to grow up. I can’t believe anyone would waste a vote on him.

[Hotlanta Mike]

This fag “governor” was smirking on election night on FNC when he said that somebody was going to “indict” Governor Walker for something. Anybody know how that worked out for him? Did they “indict” a ham sandwich instead or what?

---

I saw that too...what a smarmy pol.

[RetiredArmy]

Well I hope it is the conservatives that are leaving otherwise they will only move there and elect more liberals like where they moved from. Where liberals go, they take and elect their own kind with them.

[wvguy]

They have been coming here for a while. Northern Virginia is one big nest of moonbats.

[randita]

Unfortunately they bring their socialist voting habits with them to VA.

We're soon to be VA residents (western part of the state which is solidly conservative) and are happy to be leaving the People's Republik of PA.

But the liberal trend in the DC metro area is very disturbing. Too many government trough feeders there who vote for the continuance of bloated bureaucracy.

[berdie]

I like the lobotomy idea!!

But maybe before they load up their U Hauls, we could remind them how hot is in Texas.

And the excessive bug population.

And snakes...lots of snakes.

[Pharmboy]

Oh but I wish I could leave Montgomery County and head to Loudon County across the Potomac. Wife will not...she has all her friends and social life here. And she is a scream-at-the-tv conservative like me. But, y'know, the VA-MD animosity has been going on since colonial times, when they fought over the oyster beds in the Potomac.

She just will not leave...

[Vision]

I saw O’Malley election night too. He had that crazed Howard Dean thing going.

He is crazed. He once said Dubya was a bigger threat to the world that Bin Ladin. He's so in love with himself he believes he'll be president one day, he's very wrong.