Governor speaking to studentsFighting for Families

There is no more powerful place in our State than a family's home. We can only have a strong, growing, upwardly mobile middle class . . . we can only reach our full potential for creating jobs and expanding opportunity . . . and we can only protect our quality of life, if we recognize this fundamental truth about the power of the family home.

Signing of the Death Penalty Repeal in Maryland

With the signing of this historic bill, Maryland eliminates a policy that is proven not to work. Evidence shows that the death penalty is not a deterrent, it cannot be administered without racial bias, and it costs three times as much as life in prison without parole. Read more

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Administration
Accomplishments

  • Marylanders earn the highest median household income in the nation- 39% above the national average.
  • Maryland's poverty rate- while still too high- is the second lowest in the nation.
  • We set a goal of reducing infant mortality in Maryland by 10% by 2012.  We achieved this goal in 2009 and exceeded it in 2010. 
  • Compared to our first year in office, 61% more Maryland students are eating breakfast at school and 33% more are eating lunch at school.
  • Home sales increased nearly 14% in Maryland in April reaching an eight-month-high.
  • Maryland’s median home sales price continues to rise increasing nearly 7% in April and rising over-the-year for the 15th consecutive month.

Insuring Access to Healthcare

Through March 2013, we have expanded health care coverage to over 380,000 previously uninsured Marylanders- nearly half of them children. While Maryland has one of the smallest uninsured populations in the country- nearly 20% below the national average- we still have work to do. It's our goal to expand health coverage to at least 400,000 Marylanders by the end of 2013.

2013 Health Legislation

Health Benefit Exchange Act of 2013
Ensures the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange will be fully operational by January 1, 2014.

Mental Health First Aid
Invests in Maryland's first-in-the-nation Mental Health First-Aid program to train more members of law enforcement, educators and the public about mental illness and substance abuse problems.

Expand Crisis Intervention Teams
Creates Crisis Intervention Teams in Baltimore City to prevent and diffuse dangerous or threatening emergencies involving individuals experiencing a mental health crisis in the community and supports training for other parts of the state.

Expand Crisis Response Services
Strengthens Maryland's mental health system, establishes an overnight crisis response team in Baltimore City and boosts efforts on the Eastern Shore.

Intervention for Serious Mental Illness
Establishes an academic center of excellence to advance understanding of effective early mental illness intervention.


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