ROCKVILLE, MD (February 1, 2017) – The Maryland Public Policy Institute issued the following statement today in response to Governor Larry Hogan’s 2017 State of the State address.

“Given the acrimony that dominates our national politics, Governor Hogan’s call for bipartisan compromise is sorely-needed,” said Christopher B. Summers, president and chief executive officer of the Institute. “Big challenges lie ahead for Maryland. The Hogan Administration and the General Assembly must work together to fix the state employee pension crisis, expand school choice for families in need, clean up the Chesapeake Bay, and to combat the opioid addiction crisis impacting neighborhoods all across Maryland.”

In his State of the State, Governor Hogan called on lawmakers to:

• Provide relief for Maryland’s retired military, police, fire, and first responders;
• Seek innovative solutions to reduce pollution which flows over the Conowingo Dam and into the Chesapeake Bay, and;
• Pass the State Retirement Choice Act for the 21^st Century Workforce, which would offer a 401(k)-style retirement option for state employees similar to the defined contribution plans available to 77 million private sector workers.

The full State of the State address can be found at: http://governor.maryland.gov.

To read the Institute’s policy analysis on these issues and more, visit mdpolicy.org.

About the Maryland Public Policy Institute: Founded in 2001, the Maryland Public Policy Institute is a nonpartisan public policy research and education organization that focuses on state policy issues. The Institute’s mission is to formulate and promote public policies at all levels of government based on principles of free enterprise, limited government, and civil society.  Learn more at mdpolicy.org.

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