State of the State 2010
Earlier today, Governor O'Malley delivered the 2010 State of the State Address to the Maryland General Assembly.
The O'Malley Blog
Category » Fiscal Responsibility
First look at our 2011 budget
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:
A question about a certain radio talk show host
Watch this clip from our town hall meeting as Governor O'Malley responds to Steve in Annapolis, who submitted this question: "A certain radio talk show host keeps claiming he scrimped and saved and left the state in great fiscal shape with a $1 billion surplus, and he blames you for the present budget gap. What's up with that?"
Only one day until Gov. O’Malley’s Town Hall Meeting
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.
Join Gov. O’Malley for an Online Town Hall Meeting next Wednesday
On Wednesday, December 9, at 8 PM Governor Martin O’Malley will hold an online Town Hall Meeting to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Maryland in the coming year.
RSVP for the event and submit your questions for the Governor now:
http://www.martinomalley.com/onlinetownhall
The event will be broadcast live here on MartinOMalley.com and will encourage viewers to participate in the discussion in real time.
First on the agenda? Jobs. Job creation. And Maryland's efforts to create good jobs, retain good jobs and make sure Maryland is prepared to lead in this global economy.
Five Marylanders who submit questions will be invited to attend the filming of the meeting so they can ask their question in person! Submit your question here by Friday, December 4 at 4 PM to be eligible to attend the event in person.
Gov. O’Malley: upgrading Port of Baltimore will bring 5,700 new jobs
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’s budget actions
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:
http://www.gov.state.md.us/pressreleases/091118.asp
Yesterday's actions are one more step in our efforts to reform Maryland's government so that it's as smart and efficient as possible. They include:
For more information, click here:
- 11 million in savings from efforts to reduce Medicaid fraud and ensure that only people who are eligible receive services
- $3 million in savings from suspending non-essential vehicle purchases and reducing travel
- $3 million in savings from streamlining operations and consolidating functions across our government
http://www.gov.state.md.us/pressreleases/091118.asp
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
If you would like to get updates like this one and know the latest news about Maryland and the Governor, sign up today:
Governor of the Year
Governing magazine has named Gov. O'Malley its 2009 governor of the year.
The magazine singled out Gov. O'Malley for "bringing no-nonsense, statistics-based performance measurement to his state, producing a better-informed, better-managed government."
Governing pointed out that as states throughout the country are struggling through difficult economic circumstances - Gov. O'Malley is helping to prove that "strong, smart leadership is possible in the most difficult of circumstances."
Governor O'Malley was praised for his use of programs like StateStat and BayStat, which ensure that taxpayers' dollars are put to the best use.
Will you show your support for Governor O'Malley by making a donation now? He needs our support so that he can continue to put his unique vision to work for Maryland in the years to come.
Governors O’Malley and Schwarzenegger talk to White House reporters about recovery funds
Governor O'Malley and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke to reporters outside the White House Friday about the impact the federal stimulus funding has had on the state of Maryland. The Governors had just left a meeting with Vice President Biden. Watch the video of their remarks below:
Gov. O’Malley announces Maryland jobs gains
Numbers are good.
14,000 more Marylanders are earning a paycheck, thanks, in part, to numbers.
After President Obama passed the economic stimulus package, Maryland went to work figuring out the best way to allocate the funds and track how they were being used.
During difficult times, wasting money isn’t an option.
That’s why Governor O’Malley launched StateStat to ensure that every penny is maximized.
After eight and a half months, it looks like the hard work is paying off.
But Governor O’Malley and the rest of his administration realize that the work is far from finished.
“Over the next several months, we’ll continue to move forward to put Recovery Act funds to work, reporting every penny spent and every job saved or created providing unprecedented transparency for the people of Maryland,” said Governor O’Malley.
If you are interested in seeing the numbers for yourself, check out StateStat’s Recovery Jobs database.
If you aren’t a fan of number crunching, focus on just a few more numbers:
- 89 percent – the amount of funding that Maryland has yet to allocate, meaning that more good numbers are on the horizon.
- $2 billion – the amount of anticipated funding that Maryland has yet to even receive from the Federal government.
- 1 – the ranking of StateStat by non-profit Good Jobs First for economic stimulus reporting.
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.
