During his third State of the State, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore pledged to improve schools, grow the workforce and increase affordable housing.
He discussed his three pillars. They are investing in growing sectors of the economy, reforming the tax system and investing in “our people.”
With the state’s $3 million deficit looming, Moore said he would increase taxes on the wealthy while decreasing it slightly for the middle class.
The state is being challenged both fiscally and by actions of the administration of President Donald Trump, Moore told receptive state delegates, senator and cabinet members.
The goal, according to Moore, is to close the deficit while “still growing the middle class.”
He pledged to rein in spending but also said he was adding $750 million to boost the economic capacity of the workforce, especially in the IT, aerospace and defense and biotech industries.
Moore will invest in transportation and roads. He specifically pointed to Routes 8 and 15 in western Maryland “all the way to Maryland Route 97 in Montgomery County.”
Moore said he will focus on reforming the state’s tax code and strive to eliminate Marylanders having to pay both an estate and inheritance tax.
He aims to cut taxes for about 2/3 of residents while increasing it for the others, who are “exceptionally well off,” including himself. Higher income residents will see their tax rate jump by a half a point, he said.
He pledged to spend $550 million to recruit and retain teachers throughout the state’s schools, calling teacher staffing shortage a barrier to improving education.
He also stressed a commitment to the men and boys of the state, who he said have a higher suicide rate and are more likely to serve jail time.
To confront this issue, Moore said he hopes to work with the Assembly to allow people with cannabis sentences, including those who broke parole, to have their records expunged so they can get better jobs.
Moore boasted that since becoming governor, 100,000 new jobs were created, 100,000 new Maryland residents were connected to broadband and 16,000 more children were able to attend preschool.
Homicide and non-fatal shootings “are the lowest they have been in a decade,” he said. “Today, Maryland is safer and more competitive than it was two years ago,” he said.
He ended the 35-minute speech by declaring, “Let’s rally together as one people.”
We had @GovWesMoore in the House chamber today to deliver the State of the State address. Watch it here: https://t.co/KQmGMjNSyp pic.twitter.com/3ZzHZ1ILe6
— Marc Korman (@mkorman) February 5, 2025
