Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan promoted the state’s economic conditions and his legislative agenda, especially his retiree tax-cut initiative, in his 2020 State of the State address to the General Assembly on Wednesday.
“As we gather here once again in this historic place to take the first steps of this new decade, we do so with optimism and confidence in our collective ability to continue changing Maryland for the better,” Hogan said.
The Republican governor also decried the “toxic politics” happening on the national level and reiterated a passage from his first inaugural address: “I said that the politics that have divided our nation need not divide our state, and I asked all Marylanders to seek that middle ground where we could all stand together.”
Hogan encouraged legislators at the Maryland State House to pass his plan to eliminate state income tax for retirees with an income of $50,000 or less, and a 50% reduction for those making $100,000 or less.
鈥淣early every day,鈥� Hogan said, 鈥淚 hear from folks who say, 鈥業 love the state of Maryland. I’ve spent my whole life here, and I don’t want to leave my kids and grandkids, but I just can鈥檛 afford to stay here on a fixed income.鈥欌��
The Retirement Tax Reduction Act of 2020 鈥渨ill provide more than $1 billion in tax relief over five years,鈥� Hogan said.
Education spending
Hogan boasted of the amount of money that has been spent on Maryland education during his tenure 鈥� “We have provided record funding six years in a row, committing nearly $40 billion to K-12 education,” he said, adding that “more than 75% of our entire capital budget goes toward education. No governor in the history of this state has ever invested more in education.”
He also touted his Building Opportunity Act of 2020, which would provide $3.9 billion in school construction money.
He also called for “productive discussions about how we can hold local school systems accountable for the billions of state tax dollars we are already investing, and let鈥檚 make sure those dollars are getting into the classrooms where they belong.”
Redistricting
Hogan called again for a nonpartisan redistricting commission, saying that Maryland had the most gerrymandered districts in the country, and that 鈥渢he overwhelming majority of Maryland citizens鈥� wanted change.
鈥淲e serve in the nation鈥檚 oldest state house, that once served as the first capitol of the United States after the Revolutionary War,” Hogan said. “American democracy literally began right here in this very place. And yet, when it comes to free and fair elections, we are failing to live up to that proud legacy.鈥�
Violent crime
Hogan addressed violent crime in Baltimore City, citing recent cases involving the shooting of a 2-year-old boy and a 73-year-old woman, and saying that more than 1,000 people were shot, 348 fatally, in Baltimore last year.
鈥淚’m a big believer in the power of prayer. And yes; we do need prayers. But prayers are not enough,鈥� Hogan said.
He called on state legislators to pass the bill that hikes penalties for those who use guns to commit violent crimes, possess firearms that are stolen or whose serial numbers have been obliterated, and those who supply illegal guns to violent criminals.
鈥淚f you do not consider any other legislation, and if you accomplish nothing else in the next 61 days, pass the Violent Firearm Offenders Act of 2020,鈥� Hogan said.
Hogan introduced special guest Marvin McDowell, of UMAR Boxing, who works with Baltimore kids to teach boxing skills and the determination to succeed in life. On a recent visit, Hogan said, 鈥淚 met just as many kids who were there studying as there were boxing.鈥�
He added, 鈥淢arvin is fighting every day to save young people and the city that he loves. Marvin said, 鈥業f everybody had the same attitude I had, of hope, then that would be a change.鈥欌��
The governor said, 鈥淢arvin is absolutely right. If we could all start from a place of hope and optimism 鈥� then we can bring about change in Baltimore City, and we will continue to change Maryland for the better.鈥�
Transportation and the environment
Hogan touted his 鈥渂alanced, all-inclusive approach to infrastructure,鈥� especially the $14 billion that鈥檚 been invested in transit. He specified the start of construction on the Purple Line, a deal to begin work on the Howard Street Tunnel and a regional traffic relief proposal.
鈥淎s chairman of the nation鈥檚 governors, I鈥檓 leading a national initiative focused on rebuilding America鈥檚 crumbling infrastructure,鈥� Hogan said.
The governor also emphasized the environmental efforts that have been undertaken during his time in office, particularly the $6 billion that has been committed to the cleanup of the Chesapeake Bay.
He added that his administration has been 鈥減ushing for action to hold the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the EPA accountable for the pollution coming down the Susquehanna River, over the Conowingo Dam, and into the Bay.”
鈥淢aryland has made historic progress in Bay restoration, but we cannot, and should not, have to do it alone. I intend to keep pushing our upstream neighbors and federal partners to ensure that they are doing their fair share to protect this national treasure.鈥�
Changes in leadership
Hogan began his speech by praising the changes at the top of the legislature.
He mentioned Adrienne Jones, the state鈥檚 first African-American House speaker and first woman speaker. 鈥淚t is my distinct privilege to be the first Maryland governor to begin a State of the State address by saying: Madam Speaker,鈥� Hogan said to applause.
Hogan paid tribute to longtime House Speaker Michael Busch, who died last year. Busch 鈥渄edicated the greater part of his life in service to our state and 鈥� left Maryland a better place than he found it,鈥� Hogan said.
He also praised longtime Senate President Mike Miller, who stepped down as president due to his own health struggles but continues to serve in the Senate. 鈥淒uring his recent battles, Mike Miller has shown us all the true meaning of courage and determination,鈥� Hogan said.
Unity
Hogan pointed to the national political scene in Washington — “just 30 miles down the road” — and said “both parties seem to be consumed with partisanship and dysfunction.”
He added, however, that “I believe that in spite of all that divides us in America today, there is far more that unites us. And as America searches for healing and a path forward, let them look to us.”
Democratic responses
In the official Democratic response to the address, Senate President Pro Tem Melony Griffith, a Democrat from Prince George鈥檚 County, mostly emphasized areas of agreement with Hogan, saying, 鈥淲e鈥檒l spend this session working together to address the issues Marylanders face, regardless of race, gender, ZIP code or income level.鈥�
Griffith added, 鈥淲e thank the governor for his willing to work with the General Assembly.鈥�
She emphasized the issue of education and its relationship to workforce development, saying that two-thirds of the jobs in Maryland require a degree or certification, while only 30% of Marylanders were getting those credentials.
She called for 鈥渓ong-term investments in our students and our teachers,鈥� including universal pre-kindergarten and competitive teacher salaries.
Other Democrats were more pointed in their assessments of the governor鈥檚 speech.
Sen. Jim Rosapepe told Maryland Public Television he appreciated the governor鈥檚 amiable approach, but said that Hogan鈥檚 policies had contributed to the spike in violent crime in Baltimore.
He said, 鈥淎 third of the people who are committing these crimes and murders in Baltimore are under parole and probation under Gov. Hogan鈥檚 administration. So, we鈥檙e glad 鈥� if he wants to come back to the table, we have a crime plan that we鈥檙e very enthusiastic about.鈥�
Rosapepe added that Hogan鈥檚 plans for crime were vague: 鈥淚 think he鈥檚 against crime, which is terrific.鈥�
Del. Terri Hill, from Howard County, told the TV station that Hogan鈥檚 priorities, especially the lowering of tolls on state roads, are depleting the Transportation Trust Fund. 鈥淚鈥檓 concerned that we鈥檙e not meeting our responsibilities, and we鈥檙e going to pay for it,鈥� Hill said.
She called Hogan “a nice man 鈥� a good man. [But] I don鈥檛 think he gets it, and I think he鈥檚 setting us up for more problems down the road.鈥�
You can see video of the speech below and on
