Earlier today, Governor O'Malley sent an email about the national foreclosure crisis and what we're doing in Maryland to end it.
Take a minute to read the email and then send a letter to your state legislator asking them to support Governor O'Malley's emergency bill to protect our families and communities from foreclosures:
Imagine having to look your children in the eyes and tell them you'll have to leave your home, maybe your whole community, for good.
Over the course of the national foreclosure crisis, thousands of Marylanders haven't had to imagine this ordeal. They've lived it. And every uprooted family, every boarded-up house, affects all of us -- our neighborhoods, our towns and cities, our state.
We can help more families stay in their homes -- by forcing mortgage companies to give homeowners facing foreclosure a chance to negotiate better terms on their loans. Yesterday, Rep. Elijah Cummings and I urged the General Assembly to pass an emergency bill to do just that.
Join us in taking action today. Urge your state legislators to support the bill, and help protect our families and communities from foreclosures:
Since 2007, we've helped thousands of families hold onto their homes through programs like the Homeowners Preserving Equity (HOPE) initiative.
But thousands more could be saved if we act together to stop huge, faceless mortgage companies from crushing homeowners under their heel because they're more concerned with profits than with helping families stay in their homes.
Writing your legislators will only take a few minutes, and your support of this emergency bill could have an immediate impact.
The emergency bill just needs three-fifths of the votes in the General Assembly to pass and be enacted immediately.
Help make today the beginning of the end of the foreclosure crisis in Maryland. Write your state legislators now:
Governor O'Malley visited GM's plant in White Marsh Tuesday to help announce the company's decision to produce its next-generation two-mode rear-wheel-drive motors and other electric drive components here in Maryland. GM will also build a high-volume electric drive manufacturing facility at the Baltimore County Transmission plant, creating 200 new jobs and retaining hundreds more.
The Governor was joined by Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin, Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, and Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith at the announcement.
Later today, I'll formally introduce our administration's fiscal year 2011 budget – but I wanted to share some important details about it with you before I do.
As with previous budgets, we kept two fundamental goals in mind when formulating this year's proposal.
First, we knew we had to maintain our commitment to fiscal responsibility, which has put Maryland in a position to emerge from the recession faster than most other states. By restoring fiscal responsibility, we are creating an environment to generate jobs and foster economic growth in our state. Our unemployment rate remains 25% lower than the national average, and we beat out all but two other states in job growth last year.
Balanced books have put us on the path back to economic recovery, and I'm proposing $1 billion in additional cuts today that are a tough – but critical – part of continuing to grow Maryland's economy.
Second, it's crucial that we continue to protect our core priorities amid these necessary cuts.
Despite the challenges our state has faced during this recession, we've managed to make important progress in job creation, public education, public safety, and environmental protection.
We can and must continue that progress. It's important for the quality of life of all Marylanders today, and for ensuring our state's prosperity in the years to come.
Our budget proposal will:
Continue to invest in our public schools, which Education Week recently ranked the best in the nation for the second year running.
Dedicate $20 million to the Job Creation and Recovery Tax Credit, encouraging businesses to hire Marylanders this year.
Support more than 20,000 construction jobs over the next fiscal year through capital budget funding.
Build on the progress we have made rebuilding our communities with the Sustainable Communities Tax Credit and support an additional 15,000 Maryland jobs.
Double our investment in the 2010 Bay Trust Fund over fiscal year 2010 to continue restoring our Bay.
Continue funding health care coverage for low-income children and adults. Since Lt. Gov. Brown and I took office, our administration has expanded health care coverage to include 200,000 more Marylanders.
To read more about our budget proposal, click here:
Robert Ehrlich claims he hasn't decided whether he'll run for governor this year. But, if he does run, he's made it clear to the Baltimore Sun that he expects to raise $10-12 million - even in a poor economy.
Governor O'Malley is asking supporters to help him raise $500,000 by January 10 to ensure that he can keep up with the Republican fundraising machine. The Governor wrote:
"Since their big wins in New Jersey and Virginia, the right wing is itching for Republicans to regain power &mdsash; and they're willing to do whatever they can to make it happen... With your help, Lt. Governor Brown and I will have the resources on hand next spring to come out swinging against the Republicans &mdsash; and continue the progress we've made for Maryland's families over the last three years."
As it is, the GOP has a significant advantage over Governor O'Malley and Lt. Governor Brown: Maryland law prevents any donations to a sitting governor's campaign during the legislative session - which runs until mid-April.
During those three months, Ehrlich and the Republicans will be able to raise money from right-wingers across the country, while Governor O'Malley is fighting to create jobs and protect Maryland's schools.
Tomorrow, Governor O'Malley will host his first online Town Hall meeting.
The Town Hall meeting will feature questions from you, like this one from Bill in Chevy Chase:
What role will higher education play in Maryland's plan for expanding opportunity and creating jobs? How has the tuition freeze helped Maryland be prepared to lead in the global economy and students realize their dreams of a college education?
That's a great question and we're looking for more like it - but time is running out. Submit your question now.
Even if you don't have a burning question, don't forget to signup, so you can watch the event live from the comfort of your computer chair.
Today, Governor O'Malley announced a public-private partnership with Ports America that will bring 5,700 new jobs to the state of Maryland.
This public-private partnership is about three things: jobs, jobs, and more jobs," said Governor O'Malley. "These challenging economic times call for new ways of doing business."
3,000 of the jobs will be in construction - both improving the highway and the port - and the other 2,700 jobs will handle the increased container business. Because of the nature of the jobs, this project will net more jobs per $1 million spent than the jobs that are created by economic stimulus funds.
In addition to new jobs, the partnership will net Maryland $1.3 billion over the next fifty years.
The agreement leases control of the Port of Baltimore to Ports America for fifty years. As part of the agreement, the company will build a new fifty-foot berth and make other improvements to the port.
As the Panama Canal is being expanded, more large ships will be porting on the East Coast of the United States. With the capacity to handle larger ships, Baltimore will become one of the primary destinations for the increased traffic - bringing even more revenue to the state.
Yesterday, Governor O'Malley sent an email to his supporters in Maryland explaining his plan to close a hole in the state budget:
Yesterday, I announced our administration's plan for closing a $363 million hole in our state budget.
These decisions are the result of our making some very difficult choices. But yesterday's actions are a necessary part of our ongoing work to keep Maryland fiscally responsible and prepare us to recover from the global economic recession as quickly as possible.
Despite the many cuts we've had to make — and with a state general fund that is smaller today than it was four years ago — we have still managed to protect our core priorities: public education, public safety and job creation. And our tough fiscal policy has allowed Maryland to maintain its Triple A Bond rating — making us one of only seven states to still hold that distinction.
To learn more about yesterday's budget cuts, click here:
None of this is easy, but I hope all of us can take heart that the sacrifices we make today will ensure we're better off tomorrow. Our state will come out of the recession stronger and more quickly than other states because of the steps we've taken together to be fiscally responsible.
Thanks so much for everything you're doing to see Maryland through these tough times, as well as for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Gov. Martin O'Malley
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On the eve of the one-year anniversary of the Partnership to End Hunger in Maryland, Governor Martin O'Malley renewed his commitment to the project by declaring this week- November 16 through 20 - "Maryland Hunger Awareness Week."
Governor O'Malley made the announcement at a lunch with children at Annapolis Child Care on Friday.
"Especially during these tough times, together, we must ensure that no child goes without the basic nourishment needed to thrive. Ending childhood hunger is an issue which transcends politics," the Governor said. "It's an issue that speaks to who we are as a people, to what kind of society we choose to be in the tough times when our shared efforts matter most, to what kind of society we choose to leave for future generations. When a child goes hungry anywhere in Maryland - it impacts us all. It's all connected."
Governor O'Malley launched the Partnership to End Hunger in Maryland last year with nonprofit organization Share our Strength.
Funding and participation in school lunch, summer meals and food supplement programs has increased substantially since the public-private partnership was founded.
The effects of the nation's economic hardship are hitting Maryland hard. We're fighting every day to protect Maryland’s families during these tough economic times. We’re also working every day to make sure that government and its programs work for people.
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Congrats to the Maryland Terps and the Morgan State Bears for making it into the tournament. Bring on March Madness!
17 hours, 37 minutes ago from GovernorOMalley
Great win Morgan State Bears! Next stop - March Madness
1 day, 17 hours, 11 minutes ago from GovernorOMalley
In Silver Spring visiting with Riderwood residents.
1 day, 18 hours, 57 minutes ago from GovernorOMalley
Ribbon cutting at the Germantown Boys and Girls Club.
1 day, 22 hours, 41 minutes ago from GovernorOMalley
The effects of the nation's economic hardship are hitting Maryland hard. We're fighting every day to protect Maryland’s families during these tough economic times. We’re also working every day to make sure that government and its programs work for people.
