As Maryland’s budget season approaches, state Senate President Bill Ferguson said it is imperative that the state continues to make capital investments in economic drivers like hospitals and higher education. “We have to invest in the things that Maryland has a competitive edge in, and that is our education systems and our health care systems,” said Ferguson. He also stressed that Maryland must live within its means and that tough choices will be made about what can be afforded in spite of high budgetary demand.
Quoted: President Ferguson noted that the majority of the budgetary overrun is coming from entitlement programs, like Medicaid, child subsidies and increased salaries for state workers to attract people to fill the gaps in employment among agencies. Ferguson said that these investments are strategic, and there will be “real consequences” if they are rolled back.
