Baltimore County lawmakers said Gov. Martin O?Malley?s other legislative initiatives will help the county?s increasing gang problems, revamp a county-located detention center and improve safety along county roadways.
The county?s mostly Democratic General Assembly delegation largely praised O?Malley?s modestly priced initiatives in the wake of a historic $1.3 billion tax increase approved during a special session in November. Even some county Republicans offered compliments for goals such as fully funding Program Open Space ? an initiative that has, in part, enabled the county to permanently preserve 53,000 acres of rural land.
“I think that is great,” said Del. Sue Aumann, a Towson Republican. “I?m all for conservation.”
O?Malley this week has highlighted plans including expanding the state?s DNA database, rebuilding a smaller and safer Charles H. Hickey Jr. juvenile detention center in Parkville, and tightening development regulations in environmentally sensitive areas.
With 130 miles of shoreline, veteran Sen. Norman Stone, a Dundalk Democrat, counted the goal among those that will benefit Baltimore County.
“We have a lot of waterfront homes,” Stone said. “This will undoubtedly help.”
Not all county lawmakersare pleased with O?Malley?s agenda. Following his second annual state of the state address Wednesday ? during which O?Malley named four law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty last year ? frequent O?Malley critic Del. Pat McDonough called the governor a hypocrite.
The governor, he said, has imposed a “de facto ban” on the death penalty by delaying new regulations on lethal injection.
“These fallen heroes will never receive justice as long as he is governor,” McDonough said. “He will do for crime in Maryland what he did for it in Baltimore City.”
Lawmakers expressed disappointment in a $20 million allocation for school improvements after County Executive Jim Smith had requested $80 million.
