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Gov. Wes Moore stated throughout his second State of the State speech Wednesday that Maryland has boundless alternatives however is “leaving too much potential on the table” as he charts a course ahead by means of difficult occasions that features a long-term plan for governing.
The address continued a story by the governor and others {that a} state typically thought of to be considered one of the nation’s wealthiest, benefiting from proximity to the nation’s capital, has been falling wanting its potential.
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Moore, a Democrat, started his speech by reflecting on his first 12 months assembling a brand new authorities, after a uncommon two-term Republican governor in a closely Democratic state. It was a 12 months that had its challenges for a governor who had by no means held elected workplace earlier than and pledged to convey change as the state’s first Black chief government.
“We learned a lot of lessons, some hard lessons,” the governor stated with a smile, bringing some laughs from members of the General Assembly, which is managed by Democrats, who gathered earlier than him in the House of Delegates. “But solving big problems does not happen overnight. But let’s be clear, a change is happening, and today the state of our state, it is strong.”
The governor highlighted efforts to cut back baby poverty and to extend jobs throughout his first 12 months in workplace. His first 12 months additionally included massive headlines, with Maryland profitable the web site of a brand new FBI headquarters and difficult negotiations that resulted in a brand new lease with the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore in Annapolis, MD on February 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
He additionally underscored initiatives to enhance public security, enhance reasonably priced housing and improve the state’s competitiveness in enterprise this 12 months.
Moore additionally gave a glimpse of a long-term agenda for remainder of his first time period that he plans to element on Thursday, a plan he says consists of the enter of individuals from throughout Maryland.
“Our state plan is about much more than just aspirational targets,” Moore stated. “The plan that we are going to lay out, it will lay out specific, actionable, realistic, and measurable goals. And we built these priorities by listening to the people who sent us here in the first place: Our constituents.”
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Moore pointed to positives together with the state’s lowest unemployment price for the fifth month in a row. He additionally famous that Baltimore had the lowest variety of homicides in 2023 than they have been annually in practically a decade.
“And communities that have been underestimated and undervalued now have an important seat at the table in the halls of power,” Moore stated.
On public security, the governor stated Marylanders are looking for justice and extra accountability for individuals who break the regulation, in addition to higher rehabilitation for juvenile offenders. He additionally famous plans to do extra to get unlawful weapons off the streets and enhance the variety of cops round the state.
Crime has been a spotlight of Maryland Republicans, who’ve been calling for stronger accountability and penalties for violent criminals.
Democrat Maryland Governor Wes Moore shakes arms with state delegate David Moon at the state of the state address, Wednesday, February 7. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
Sen. Steve Hershey stated whereas Republicans imagine the governor is honest in prioritizing public security, the chief government’s plan would not do sufficient to punish violent criminals.
“To make a real difference, the governor will have to push for a more proactive plan that defines swift and certain consequences for violent criminals, thus preventing Marylanders from becoming victims in the first place,” Hershey, the Senate Republican chief from the Eastern Shore, stated in the GOP’s response to Moore’s speech.
Republicans are also cautious of the situation of the state’s funds. Hershey stated whereas Republicans have been relieved Moore’s funds plan doesn’t embrace tax will increase, it additionally would not determine an answer to a rising funds hole in future years, largely resulting from an bold however costly schooling reform regulation.
The state’s financial local weather has been a spotlight of each events, significantly following a report final month by Comptroller Brooke Lierman, a statewide-elected Democrat. That report discovered the state’s financial progress successfully stalled in 2017 and has been stagnant ever since, though the state tops the nation in a number of key financial classes.
The governor stated his administration will make investments in industries of the future, with funding for all times sciences, biotech, information facilities and cyber. Moore additionally stated the administration will minimize pink tape that hinders companies.
But Hershey stated Maryland ranks amongst the worst states for tax charges, regulatory challenges and local weather for fostering non-public sector progress. He known as consideration to a GOP proposal to chop the state’s company revenue tax price from 8.25% to six.25% over the subsequent 4 years.
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The governor’s address additionally highlighted his administration’s proposals to make housing extra reasonably priced in Maryland. The proposals embrace creating new instruments to drive housing growth in communities that want it most, proposals to guard renters and minimize pink tape that makes it more durable to construct high quality housing.
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