Gov. Moore highlights public safety, affordability during State of the State address
SALISBURY, Md – Governor Moore addressed the joint session of the House and Senate during his State of the State address Wednesday, touting a focus on public safety, affordability, business friendliness, and public service.
State of the State
“The State of the State is Strong,” Moore said touting a record low unemployment, new job numbers, and a statewide decrease in crime.
However, the Governor made it clear that public safety was a top priority for him, and they will listen to all stakeholders in the discussion of juvenile crime.
“The sound of a police siren does have a different pitch depending on the neighborhood that you grow up in, I felt handcuffed to my wrist when I was 11 years old because our community was overpoliced,” Moore said. “People shouldn’t have to choose between feeling safe in their skin and feeling safe in their communities.”
Moore said the discussion on public safety would include “state’s attorneys and public defenders” and come with consequences for those making Maryland unsafe, receiving a standing ovation upon his mention of getting illegal guns off of Maryland streets.
Moore also made a point to highlight his relationship with the legislature, delineating himself from his Republican predecessor Larry Hogan.
“The executive and the legislature are working together again,” Moore said.
Moore mentioned that as toured the state he heard over and over about the unaffordability of life’s essentials. He says the state is responding by building more housing and cutting childcare costs.
“We will create new financial tools to drive development and redevelopment in communities that need it the most, we will build new pathways to homeownership and wealth creation, our proposed budget includes the single largest investment for funding of childcare in Maryland’s history,” Moore said.
As part of his remarks, the governor introduced a 3-year state plan, while touting the success that could be seen without any tax hikes.
It’s a first for Maryland in over a decade, and the Enough Act aims to ensure taxes are being spent in a way that follows the data and helps businesses.
“We will cut red tape so that Maryland is the friendliest state in the nation to start and build a business,” Moore said.
His message to all those in local office, in unions, and voters who came to him with concerns was “I hear you and we’ve heard you, and we’re moving.”
Eastern Shore Delegation Response
Members of the Eastern Shore delegation say they like what they heard in the speech but are still raising concerns. Delegate Sheree Sample-Hughes says the priorities and the focus were in line with the needs of voters in her district.
“The majority of the speech was germane to what I’m hearing from in my district, honestly, as the governor noted, public service and public safety, rose to the very top because that is certainly what we’re hearing,” Sample-Hughes said.
However, she says people in her district are worried about how they will afford to pay for future education funding, as the governor touted funding for the state’s blueprint for education programs. She says she needs to hear more about how counties with wealth disparity will be able to meet capital projects and pay raises as part of Blueprint.
For Chair of the Eastern Shore Delegation Chris Adams it’s what wasn’t in the speech that has him concerned.
“You can’t have a State of the State speech without talking about our budget this year. You can talk about what you want to do. And the governor spent 40 minutes talking about the what but not the how,” Adams said.
While the governor promised no new taxes Adams believed record spending in the face deficit would only hurt taxpayers.
Both lawmakers also tell 47ABC that they’re hoping to see Governor Moore take rural areas more into account when it comes to transportation and electric vehicle requirements.
