Steve Burns
WMAL.com
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – (WMAL) Democratic leadership in the Maryland General Assembly may be stonewalling a proposal from Governor Larry Hogan to give a $20 million loan to defense contracting giant Northrop Grumman as incentive to keep jobs in the state. Democrats, unsatisfied with Hogan’s refusal to spend more money on schools, canceled a meeting needed to approve the loan.
“The Governor is prioritizing corporate welfare over the interests of our children,” Senator Rich Madaleno (D-Montgomery County) told WMAL. “What are the Governor’s priorities? We can’t make sure we have adequate facilities for our children, but we’re going to turn around and give a $20 million check to one of the most profitable corporations in the country?”
The loan would not have to be repaid if Northrop keeps 10,000 jobs in Maryland and meets several other goals. Madaleno and other Democrats are bristling at Hogan’s decision to keep $100 million on the table, money meant to renovate dilapidated schools and fund teacher pensions.
Republicans have said an economic downturn is what kept the Governor from spending the schools money, and that downturn could be worsened if Northrop sees no advantages to staying in Maryland.
“The Governor sets the budget priorities, and the Governor feels keeping Northrop Grumman in Maryland and keeping the jobs in Maryland is a priority,” Maryland GOP Executive Director Joe Cluster told WMAL. “(Hogan) did fully fund the education budget that is mandated by the state. Democrats are trying to spend more money than the budget allows.”
Maryland has had trouble keeping jobs in the state in recent years, Cluster said. Madaleno was more skeptical, indicating Northrop never had any plans to move jobs.
“In all their testimony, they said over and over, ‘We have no intention of reducing any positions,’” he said.
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