2007 house journal index of days - Maryland General Assembly

268 Journal of Proceedings Jan. 31, 2007
In order to make our government work with greater efficiency and effectiveness, we will
be implementing StateStat – a system of open and transparent administration that sets
goals and measures progress towards achieving those goals, with relentless follow-up.
In order to make our government work more effectively, I ask for your cooperation in
creating a new sub-cabinet on Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) chaired by the
Lieutenant Governor. To help put the challenge we face in perspective, BRAC will result
in our state absorbing a city the size of Bowie – more than 25,000 households – in just a
few short years.
Maryland has been called upon to play a bigger, more important role in the defense of our
nation. And so we must bring greater coordination and cooperation to this effort. Our
State government must work more effectively with our county governments – to defend
our quality of life in Harford, Anne Arundel, Frederick, Montgomery and other counties
– while answering America’s urgent security needs.
In order to make our government work, I will also be asking for your cooperation in
elevating the importance of information technology in the management of state
government. This will mean better coordinating IT functions and creating, for the first
time, a cabinet level Department of Information Technology.
In order to make our government work for working families, we must also restore the
regulatory framework of our state government. To protect consumers and restore stability
and predictability for businesses, we now have an opportunity to put professional
regulators back on the job at the Public Service Commission.
And by making our government work, we will also start making regular, measurable
strides toward increasing the participation of minority and women-owned businesses in
the economy of our State. With a government that works, we will build from our
competitive economic strengths in science, technology, security and renewable energy to
expand earning opportunities for our citizens.
Improving Public Education and Public Safety
But beyond the means of a working government are the goals of improved public
education and improved public safety – the very foundations of strong neighborhoods,
strong counties, and a stronger and growing middle class.
To improve public education in every part of our State:
• I ask for your support for the final year of Thornton school funding – the largest single
year increase in Maryland history for education, with an additional $580 million in
funding for local school systems;