Annapolis, Md. – Calls are growing louder from all corners of Maryland for Governor Larry Hogan to host a “town hall” forum to clear the air, listen to his constituents and break his long silence on the early actions of the Trump administration.
Progressive Maryland members hand-delivered a letter signed by over 1,000 Marylanders to Hogan Wednesday during a Board of Public Works Meeting, and since then support for clarity and answers from the governor has taken off, with 2,247 signatures currently.
The letter, which was published in the Baltimore Sun.
(http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bs-ed-state-of-state-20170201-story.html), calls for a public forum with Hogan to address the people of Maryland and clarify his stance on new federal developments that would have a profound effect on Maryland and its economy.
“It’s vital that the governor hears the concerns of his constituents,” said Samantha Easton a Maryland resident, and current beneficiary of the Affordable Care Act, who joined protesters in delivering the petition on Wednesday. “That’s why we want a town hall forum. If he decides that the Trump administration’s actions aren’t germane to Maryland affairs, he’s entitled to that opinion, but he owes it to Marylanders who will be affected to listen.”
In his recent State of the State address, the governor did not address plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which has provided healthcare for over 400,000 Marylanders. Nor did he make any mention of the Muslim Travel Ban, which would prevent many talented researchers, medical professionals and students from coming to Maryland. Governor Hogan has also not addressed new immigration enforcement policies and more aggressive raids that would threaten Maryland residents and contribute to a culture of fear within our immigrant communities.
On issue after issue where new federal policies would have a clear, negative impact on his state, Governor Hogan has remained silent, with no response to the letter nor to repeated protests, phone calls to his office, and public criticism from citizens and politicians alike.
Progressive Maryland, it’s members and allies will continue to keep up the pressure on the governor in pursuit of the transparency and communication that Marylanders deserve from their elected officials.
