The O'Malley-Brown re-election efforts received an endorsement from The Professional Firefighters of Maryland (PFFMD) earlier today.
Governor O'Malley was honored to receive the endorsement of over 7,000 professional firefighters, fire officers and EMS employees:
"It is truly one of the great honors of my life to have the opportunity to stand beside and behind Maryland's bravest. You represent all that is great and heroic about our state - risking your own lives for fellow citizens you've never met, choosing to run to the front lines of danger so that the rest of us will be safe and secure."
PFFMD cited Gov. O'Malley's commitment to public safety as the primary reason for the endorsement. Firefighters State President Mike Rund said:
"Gov. O'Malley and Lt. Gov. Brown have shown that public safety is and will continue to be a top priority for their administration. This is clearly illustrated by their actions over the last four years, and we're proud to support them for re-election."
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:
Communities across Maryland will be safer over the course of the next three years. Announced today at an event in Philadelphia, grants from the economic stimulus package will fully fund 112 Maryland law enforcement officers' salaries and benefits for the next three years.
Governor Martin O'Malley was proud to join Vice President Joe Biden, Attorney General Eric Holder and four other governors to announce the grant program. The Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) branch of the Department of Justice will administer the grants.
"We saw the value of COPS program first hand in the City of Baltimore," said Governor O'Malley. "Once the nation's most violent and drug addicted City in America, we worked with law enforcement and the people of our City to take our streets and neighborhoods back for our families. And together we achieved a 40 percent reduction in violent crime."
Eight police departments in Maryland will benefit from the COPS Hiring Recovery Program:
Baltimore - 50 positions
Bladensburg - 1 position
Cambridge - 2 positions
Laurel - 3 positions
Prince George's County - 50 positions
Princess Anne - 1 position
Riverdale - 1 position
Salisbury - 4 positions
O'Malley impressed upon the importance of keeping Maryland's families and communities safe:
"There is no greater or more solemn obligation we have as public servants than the protection of our citizens. Thanks to the leadership of President Obama and our federal delegation, local law enforcement agencies have an unprecedented opportunity to create or save jobs that directly impact the safety of our neighborhoods."
In addition to the COPS program, Governor O'Malley and the Maryland legislature have allocated an additional $10,000 of economic stimulus money for the purchase of radios, bullet-proof vests, computers and other equipment to support the new officers.
Last Thursday, Governor Martin O'Malley delivered the keynote address at the Maryland Meta-Leadership Summit for Preparedness.
During the speech, he announced an initiative to expand coordination between government agencies during emergency situations.
The Summit trained emergency preparedness and response stakeholders, brought together high-level decision makers in business, government and nonprofit organizations and provided a networking opportunity for practitioners in a variety of fields.
The Maryland Meta-Leadership Summit for Preparedness was held in Baltimore at the Tremont Grand Historic Venue. For more information on the two-day event, click here.
Governor Martin O’Malley stopped by the Kojo Nnamdi Show on WAMU yesterday to discuss the recently concluded legislative session and his vision for the future of Maryland.
In addition they discussed the effort to clean up Chesapeake Bay, the economic recession, the death penalty and Maryland’s public schools.
Governor Martin O’Malley will be appearing the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC at 9pm tonight.
He will be discussing the recent Maryland General Assembly death penalty debate and the subsequent legislation.
Governor O’Malley is committed to a full repeal of Maryland’s death penalty and feels that increasing the burden of proof in death penalty prosecutions – as the new bill will do - is a big step in the right direction.
Last week, Lt. Governor Brown appeared on Maryland Public Television to talk about the lives that the two new domestic violence bills will save in future years. Click on the image below to watch the video on the MPT web site.
Last week, Governor O'Malley asked Marylanders to write their legislators about two bills to get firearms out of domestic abusers' hands.
As many of you know, I can personally speak to why it's so important that these measures become law. Last year, my cousin Cathy's estranged boyfriend shot and killed her in her Montgomery Village home. It was a tragedy for my family.
For me and thousands of Marylanders whose families have been touched by domestic violence, the two bills in the current legislative session represent a way to prevent future tragedies.
Our legislation won't bring Cathy back, or any of the other victims of fatal domestic disputes. But they'll go a long way toward preventing future tragedies from happening.
Because of your efforts, the House of Delegates passed these two bills to prevent domestic violence. Thank you for your courage and commitment. The bills will be considered by the State Senate this week.
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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Great win Morgan State Bears! Next stop - March Madness
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In Silver Spring visiting with Riderwood residents.
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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.
