Governor Martin O'Malley Delivers Keynote Address before the Maryland Association of Counties
Governor addresses the fundamental reform of State government in Maryland
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OCEAN CITY, MD (August 15, 2009) –Governor Martin O’Malley delivered the keynote address today before the Maryland Association of Counties Annual Summer Conference, where he addressed the challenges and opportunities that Maryland’s State government faces and the value of local partnerships. In this context, the Governor highlighted the many points of progress that together with local partners, achieving a fundamental reform of State government in the two and a half years since taking office.
“I would submit to you that today, our biggest challenge is also our biggest opportunity: to continue the fundamental reform of our state government in Maryland, not so that it will do less for our families, but so it will do more with less. Over the last two years, that’s exactly what we have done, working together, to give the citizens of our state, a government that they deserve. A government that works,” said Governor O’Malley. “We have made real progress toward these shared priorities, even as we’ve weathered the most severe national recession in a generation. And together we’ve achieved this progress while choosing to restore fiscal responsibility – reducing the size of state government while reforming long-neglected state agencies so that they can more effectively provide critical services to the people of our State.”
Under the O’Malley-Brown Administration, State government spending has been reduced by more than $4 billion. For the first time in thirty years, the State budget is lower than it was three years prior. “Make no mistake about it, our state government is smaller today than it was three years ago. And yet, the progress we have made reforming our state government is undeniable.”
Governor O’Malley addressed the overall state of Maryland’s economy, including the impact of many of the tough choices made to restore fiscal accountability to Annapolis.
“The best days in life are not always the easiest days,” he said. “And during easier days in our State, as Democrats and Republican alike, we often failed to make the best decisions for our families and for our future; all too often failing to drive progress when our state coffers were full – neglecting to address our structural deficit, neglecting to invest in our transportation infrastructure; neglecting to establish real milestones in our efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay; and neglecting to reform long-overlooked state agencies that provide critical public services.”
The Governor noted that economic experts believe that the economic resurgence is most likely to benefit the sectors of health care, sustainability, and information technology, which are all areas where Maryland excels and enjoys a competitive advantage. Education and health services sectors in Maryland grew by 2.5 percent last year, gaining 9,400 jobs. Maryland’s professional, scientific, and technical services sector gained 4,200 jobs.
In the midst of one of the most severe economic downturns since the Great Depression, Governor O’Malley cautioned the audience not to lose sight of the long-term impact today’s budget decisions could have.
“If we’re going to remain the best public school system in America, and if we’re going to compete to be the best in the world, it will require a combination of resources, cooperation, and a government that works. It will require both landmark investments in the construction modern class rooms, and a new, landmark emphasis on the all-important STEM disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and math – these areas where American students are falling behind our global competitors,” said Governor O’Malley.
He continued, “If we allow ourselves to use this recession as an excuse to drop the ball on saving the Chesapeake Bay, protecting rural and agriculture lands, or advancing clean energy, we will lose things we can never get back – whether it’s our natural treasures, the health of our fellow citizens, or the vast economic potential we see in the emerging green economy.”
Highlighting the importance of achieving true government reform even in tough economic times, Governor O’Malley concluded, “Our economy here in Maryland and across our country will rebound, and there will come a day when we have more resources – and therefore are able to do a little more to advance our shared priorities more quickly. But until that day comes, we aren’t able to put our challenges on hold; nor our opportunities. The stakes are too high and the struggles our families are facing too severe. And thus, we continue finding ways to strengthen our connections and partnerships; choosing together a government that works for our families, and for our shared future.”
The Maryland Association of Counties (MACO) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that includes representatives from Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City meets holds its annual summer conference in Ocean City, Maryland. During the conference, attendees from every Maryland jurisdiction have an opportunity to attend workshops, policy presentations, and gather with other elected officials to form partnerships and learn about innovations in governance.
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