Gov. Wes Moore said in his second State of the State address Wednesday that Maryland has endless opportunities, but “there are too many” as he charts a path forward through difficult times, including a long-term plan for governance. “We are leaving the possibility of this on the table.”
The speech continued with governors saying the state, which benefits from its proximity to the nation’s capital and is considered one of the wealthiest states in the nation, is not living up to its potential.
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Moore, a Democrat, began his speech by looking back on his first year in office after serving as an unusual Republican governor in a heavily Democratic state for two terms. It’s been a year of challenges for the governor, who has never held elected office and vowed to make a difference as the state’s first black leader.
“We’ve learned a lot of lessons, some tough ones,” the governor said with a smile, drawing laughter from Democratic-controlled General Assembly members gathered in the House of Delegates. “But solving big problems won’t happen overnight. But let me be clear: Change is happening and our state is strong today.”
In his first year in office, the governor emphasized efforts to reduce child poverty and expand employment. His first year also included major headlines, including Maryland’s acquisition of the site for a new FBI headquarters and his failure to negotiate a new lease with the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore on February 7, 2024 in Annapolis, Maryland. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
He also highlighted efforts this year to improve public safety, increase affordable housing, and strengthen the state’s business competitiveness.
Moore also offered a glimpse of his long-term agenda for the remainder of his first term, which he plans to elaborate on Thursday. The plan includes input from all over Maryland, he said.
“Our state plan is much more than just ambitious goals,” Moore said. “The plan we are developing represents concrete, actionable, realistic, and measurable goals. , we built these priorities by listening to our constituents.”
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Moore pointed to positive factors such as the lowest unemployment rate in the state for five consecutive months. He also noted that 2023 had the lowest number of homicides in Baltimore in every year in nearly a decade.
“And communities that have been underrepresented and underrepresented now have important seats in the halls of power,” Moore said.
On public safety, the governor said Marylanders want justice and more accountability for those who break the law, and better rehabilitation for juvenile offenders. He also mentioned plans to do more to remove illegal guns from the streets and increase the number of police officers across the state.
The Maryland Republican Party is focused on crime, calling for increased accountability and punishment for violent criminals.
Democratic Maryland Governor Wes Moore shakes hands with state representative David Moon during his State of the State address on Wednesday, February 7th. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
Sen. Steve Hershey said Republicans believe the governor is sincere about prioritizing public safety, but the administrator’s plan doesn’t go far enough to punish violent criminals.
“To bring about real change, the governor must move forward with a more aggressive plan that provides swift and certain consequences for violent offenders,” said Hershey, the Senate Republican leader from the Eastern Shore. “We need to prevent Marylanders from becoming victims in the first place.” said the Republican response to Moore’s speech.
Republicans are also wary of the state’s budget. Hershey said that while Republicans are relieved that Moore’s budget proposal does not include tax increases, it also addresses the growing budget gap in the coming years, largely due to ambitious but expensive education reform legislation. He also said that he had not specified any measures.
The state’s economic situation has been a focus for both parties, especially following last month’s report from Comptroller Brooke Lierman, a Democratic state elected official. The report says that although the state ranks among the nation’s leaders in several key economic sectors, the state’s economic growth effectively stalled in 2017 and has stagnated ever since. found.
The governor said his administration will invest in the industries of the future, funding life sciences, biotechnology, data centers and cyber. Moore also said his administration would eliminate bureaucracy that hinders business.
But Hershey said Maryland ranks among the worst states in terms of tax rates, regulatory challenges and environment conducive to private sector growth. He drew attention to a Republican proposal to lower the state’s corporate tax rate from 8.25% to 6.25% over the next four years.
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The governor’s address also highlighted his administration’s proposals to make housing more affordable in Maryland. Proposals include creating new tools to drive housing development in areas that need it most, and protecting renters and eliminating red tape that makes it difficult to build quality housing. Contains suggestions.
