Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Gov. Larry Hogan pushed for tax deductions on retirees and college graduates, increased oversight on school systems, and harsher sentences for gun law violators on Wednesday to thunderous applause.
Speaking to a joint session of the General Assembly, the Republican governor reminded lawmakers of his years of bipartisan cooperation and commonsense pragmatism. He said his new proposals would enable Maryland retirees and college graduates to continue living in Maryland.
“We have shown the rest of America that a divided government does not have to be a divisive government,” said Hogan, sporting a royal blue suit with a red and blue tie.
Hogan’s State of the State address began with laughs and smiles as he jokingly thanked the speaker for allowing him to give his speech in the House chambers and then discovered that the teleprompter was malfunctioning. After trying to read from the teleprompter and failing, he interrupted his opening remarks to say, “I’m gonna read the speech how about that?” and was answered by warm laughter.
Hogan proposed a $46.6 million budget that would go towards public education and pay raises for state employees, emphasizing the progress that Maryland has already made. His tax cut proposal would include expanding tax credits for manufacturers and law enforcement officers’ retirement benefits, as well as increasing the tax deduction on student loan interest.
“More businesses are working, and more people are working than ever before in the history of the state,” he said.
His call for the General Assembly to keep the state on track and continue to make strides to meet the needs of the people resonated strongly throughout the room.
“The hard-pressed Marylanders deserve a break for a change,” said Hogan on his tax cuts as some people stood and applauded.
Hogan said $4.4 billion of his proposed budget would go towards innovative technology, and afterschool programs, and would include raising the wages of teachers in public schools and passing the Building Opportunity Fund for school construction. He pushed for the enactment of the Accountability in Education Act, which would go towards giving more opportunities to more Maryland children.
Hogan also pushed for the Repeat Firearms Offender Act, which would give harsher punishments and longer sentences to Marylanders who have repeatedly violated gun laws. With his voice shaking with emotion, Hogan spoke of Taylor Hayes, a 7-year-old girl and her 5-year-old sister, Amy, who were shot and killed last year.
“People who live in Baltimore don’t feel safe in their own neighborhoods, and citizens all across the state are outraged by the daily reports of this rampant gang violence,” said Hogan.
Hogan kept his speech centered on Maryland issues, not mentioning the historic federal government shutdown and its effects on workers and businesses.
Maryland House of Delegates Majority Leader, Kathleen Dumais, pointed to Hogan’s failure to bring up the Kirwan Commission recommendations, policies that if implemented would go towards improving public schools.
“We applaud the governor’s desire to increase funding to build new schools, but we must improve the quality education inside the buildings as well,” said Dumais. “Without an engine, a shiny new car won’t go anywhere.”
Dumais promised that Democrats would work with the governor but would not compromise their values, especially in certain areas such as health care.