2007 house journal index of days - Maryland General Assembly

Jan. 31, 2007 Maryland House of Delegates 267
Yes, we are a strong state, today. But not as strong as we should be – or as strong as our
country needs us to be.
E.B. White once wrote that we are torn by two powerful drives: The desire to enjoy the
world and the urge to set it straight. And so it is with Maryland. We know that to sustain
those things which we so love about our state – our Bay, our neighborhoods, our places
of higher thought, our quality of life – we must set things straight… or they will be
irreparably harmed, perhaps forever lost.
We have consensus around the goals we share. Now, we must forge consensus around the
obligations we must meet to sustain our progress toward those shared goals.
Strengthen and Grow Our Middle Class
To strengthen and grow our middle class – especially as we face our budget challenges –
it is time to apply our strengths to solving the problems of our day. Time to apply our
strengths to addressing our weaknesses.
Time to improve public education at all levels… to simultaneously improve public safety
and homeland security… to extend health care coverage… to conserve, protect and
improve the environmental health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed… to strengthen
women and minority owned businesses in our state … to advance and realize a statewide
vision for transportation that includes mass transit, as well as roads… and time to stand
up again to powerful wealthy special interests whenever they try to profiteer on the backs
of the working people of our State.
Making Our Government Work Again
Since all of these endeavors will require a working government, let us first resolve to
make our government work again.
Facing structural deficits amounting to more than $4 billion in the years to come, I ask
you to approve a rate of growth in this year’s budget that is just 2.5% – lower than the
rate of inflation, lower than last year’s 12% growth in government spending, and lower
than 9 of the last 10 state budgets.
I also ask for your support in confirming the best leaders we can find to run the very
costly and complex departments of our government. Lieutenant Governor Brown and I
are grateful for your patience, President Miller, as we assemble a professional cabinet
with the ability, the expertise, and the professionalism to work with each member of this
Assembly – regardless of party affiliation.