Updates from the Governor
April 8: Steady Progress for Working Families
Dear Friends,
Over the last 14 months, we have come together to make real and steady progress for the people of Maryland even in these difficult economic times. And as we close another legislative session, Lt. Governor Brown and I wanted to share with you some of things we have been able to accomplish to protect our priorities working with the Maryland General Assembly.
Together we have restored fiscal accountability to our State of Maryland; we have reduced spending by $1.8 billion, and we have worked to protect our middle class families, expand opportunity and defend our quality of life.
Together, we have restored professional leadership at the Public Service Commission that resulted in $2 billon in immediate and long-term relief for Maryland ratepayers, and passed nation-leading legislation to protect homeowners from foreclosure. The Washington Post called our efforts to protect homeownership “among the most sweeping in the country.”
Together, we are working to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay, creating the Bay Trust Fund, updating our Critical Area law for the first time in almost 25 years, and fully funding Program Open Space.
Together, we repealed the $200 million computer tax to protect our middle class and small, innovative businesses, which are the engine of our global economy – and at the same time we made our tax system fairer and more progressive for our working families.
Together, we passed legislation to expand our State DNA fingerprint database to take violent predators off our streets, improve public safety in our communities and give our state and local law enforcement the tools they need to solve violent crimes.
Together, we made record investments in public education to build the workforce of tomorrow, including $733 million for school construction over the last two years and freezing college tuition for the third consecutive year to make college more affordable for Maryland families. In just three years, our public university tuition has gone from the 6th highest in the nation to 16th – making the goal of a college education attainable for many families.
As One Maryland, we have accomplished a great deal in the face of great adversity over these last 14 months. Despite an inherited $1.7 billion structural deficit and a downturn in the national economy, we have found a way forward. And together, we will continue to make steady progress because we will continue to protect our priorities.
