Gov. Larry Hogan vetoed the General Assembly’s major public education reform bill Thursday, as well as several other bills that would have raised taxes.
Democrats, who have a super-majority in both chambers of the General Assembly, successfully passed the “Blueprint For Maryland’s Future” before the legislative session adjourned early due to Covid-19. They will have an opportunity to override the vetos when they convene again either later this year or next year.
The bill would have implemented new education formulas recommended by the so-called “Kirwan Commission” and required $3.8 billion in additional public education funding by 2030. During a 10-year ramp-up period, the reforms would have an overall cost to the state and local jurisdictions of $32 billion.
Hogan, a Republican, said in a letter to the General Assembly’s leadership that he vetoed the Kirwan legislation, as well as others that would have funded new programs, impose new tax hikes or have “significant fiscal impact,” because of the economic fallout of the pandemic.
“Due to the early and unprecedented actions my administration has taken, we are slowing the spread of the virus, saving lives and moving towards(sic) beginning our economic recovery,” Hogan wrote. “However, it is increasingly clear that we will be significant fiscal and economic challenges for the foreseeable future as we recover from this global pandemic and the massive economic crash it caused.”