Growing up in blue collar Baltimore in the 1970's, money was always tight. Our neighborhood was populated by proud, hard working Marylanders.

On that rare occasion when a neighbor bought a new car, my family would visit with that neighbor and congratulate them. We wanted to learn from their success. A new job in our neighborhood was celebrated.

Hard work was rewarded - and rightfully so.

After all, by learning from our neighbors - we too could have a better life. This is a uniquely American ideal.

Today, we are governed by folks who envision a very different Maryland.

You see, the folks who control Annapolis believe that your success must be penalized, demonized and degraded. Annapolis wants to take more from Maryland's hard working men & women. They want to replace hard work with the politics of envy & deceit.

They want to pit neighbor against neighbor.

The all-out-attack is so egregious that Calvert County families will have income tax increases retroactive to January 1st of this year!

In the jargon of Annapolis - your success is bad.

Today, Marylanders everywhere are outraged. There are 150,000 fewer jobs today than there were in 2007! The people know their government is out-of-control and they want change.

Rest assured that I will continue to fight to renew Maryland as a land of economic opportunity - where hard work is rewarded and success is celebrated.