Governor Moore’s “State of the State”
Originally Published: February 16, 2024
Stresses Partnership, Tells Marylanders “We Hear You”
Governor Wes Moore gave his State of the State address to a joint session of the Maryland Legislature on February 7th, striking a hopeful but realistic tone on bipartisanship while unveiling his administration’s four-pillared plan for the state. Moore began by listing first year successes including 40K new jobs across the state, the lowest unemployment rate in the country, and homicides in Baltimore at their lowest in 9 years. Further, Moore said Maryland has “launched a full frontal assault” on childhood poverty, helping 160K kids, returned “stolen SNAP benefits to thousands of Marylanders living paycheck to paycheck,” and joined watermen and farmers to get healthy meals to food deserts.
A clear tone of this speech was partnership. “We choose to sweat the details of governing, knowing that our constituents expect nothing less,” Moore told those assembled. He commented on the Hogan Administration’s adversarial tactics with the General Assembly and leadership throughout the state, saying the Moore Administration is approaching things differently.
Public safety was Moore’s first priority. Maryland will be the first state to launch a statewide center for firearm violence prevention and intervention. Investments in local safety resources will continue because Moore said “people shouldn’t have to choose between feeling safe in the skin and feeling safe in their communities.”
People want Maryland to be more affordable, Moore said. In 2022, Maryland was ranked as the 7th most expensive state to live in, leading to stories like that of a “mom in Leonardtown, who works multiple jobs just to put food on the table.” The most comprehensive housing package in years has been introduced in the legislature, the Governor explained. New financial tools to drive development and redevelopment where it’s needed, building new pathways to ownership and wealth creation, and cutting red tape that makes it harder to build quality housing are a few ways the Administration is addressing the housing issue.
The Governor celebrated the new FBI HQ coming to Prince George’s County, keeping the Orioles in Baltimore, delivering $1.4B to small and minority owned businesses through the Board of Public Works, and providing more than 130K laptops to underserved households. This was a great start at getting Maryland more competitive. Moore said the work will continue by investing in life sciences, bio tech, data centers, and cyber, cutting red tape so Maryland is the “friendliest state to start a business,” improving transportation access, growing apprenticeship programs, and funding substance use services and mental health.
Fourth, Moore wants to continue building Maryland as the “State that serves.” Legislation to “ensure firefighters receive medical benefits they deserve,” as well as focusing on veterans and their families, and doubling the number of participants in Maryland’s service year options are a few priorities.
Bringing it back to partnership, Moore cited bipartisan mobilization last year to address the crisis at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home. “Republicans, like Senator Jack Bailey, worked with Democrats, like Delegate Brian Crosby, to respond,” Moore said. Members of the Administration have made multiple visits to CHVH since then, following up regularly to see how things are going. During his last visit, one veteran told Moore the response by everyone to the matter “made thank you for your service actually mean something.”
