ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Wes Moore today delivered the keynote address during the closing session of the 2024 Maryland Association of Counties summer conference in Ocean City. The governor spoke about progress made by the Moore-Miller Administration and the challenging work ahead to address budget shortfalls, strengthen Maryland’s economy and the critical value of partnerships to emerge stronger as a state.
Excerpts from Governor Moore’s speech as prepared:
“Today, more Marylanders are getting to work. Wages are up. And we are building stronger pathways to prosperity for all. But let’s be clear: This next leg of our mission to address Maryland’s fiscal problems will be harder than the last one.”
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“In partnership with the Board of Public Works, we reduced spending by nearly $150 million. And don’t forget, we did it without cutting a penny from child care, Medicaid, or K-12 education. We chose to protect those priorities by studying the data.”
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“We know when the cost of child care increases, female employment decreases. We know when Marylanders don’t have health care as children, it’s harder to move up the economic ladder when they’re older. We know when our children aren’t learning how to read and write, they won’t be able to compete in the modern economy.”
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“This administration doesn’t move based on blind hope – we move based on data. And that will be the standard going forward.”
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“When I worked in the private sector, data was everything. Every program and priority was closely watched for its return. Now, we are applying that mindset to State government.”
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“We are five months from the 2025 legislative session and the introduction of our new budget. Our work will unfold over the coming months at a strategic pace. As part of that process, we will continue traveling across the state to gather input and insight.”
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“Together, we won’t just get Maryland back on solid fiscal footing – we will deliver quantifiable and irreversible results for the people we serve.”
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“A world-class education system is the prerequisite for all of our dreams as chief executives – and the dreams of future generations. It is the foundation on which we build everything else. Think about it, every goal we have relies on this. That is why I am fully committed to the implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.”
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“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make Maryland a leader in public education. I believe we can seize that opportunity – but only if we do it in partnership. As chief executives, you are on the front lines of that process, and I need your help to get this done.”
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“There is no challenge too great for us to overcome – there is no fight we cannot win. And how do I know that? It’s because that’s what we’ve always done. And in partnership, I promise you, that this time, we will leave no one behind.”View the full remarks as prepared here.