| Page 2 of 3 < > |
O'Malley Begins With Call for Harmony
Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, his wife, Patricia Arzuaga, first lady Catherine O'Malley and Gov. Martin O'Malley wave to supporters from their perch in the inaugural parade reviewing stand.
(By Bill O'leary -- The Washington Post)
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
The crowd burst into applause as he mentioned his campaign promise to make higher education more affordable after several years of tuition increases during Ehrlich's tenure. O'Malley spoke of creating a Maryland "where working parents will never have to tell their children, 'There is no way our family can ever afford college.' "
O'Malley also pledged to "restore our regulatory framework so that your government can stand up to powerful, wealthy special interests if ever they try to profiteer on the backs of the working people of our state."
That was a reference to the electricity rate increases approved by the state's utility regulators, whom O'Malley has vowed to replace. He also has promised several changes to distance regulators from the industries they oversee.
O'Malley also referred to "cleaner-burning cars" amid a list of environmental goals, sparking speculation that the new governor will back a bill this session to require tighter emissions standards on automobiles sold in Maryland. O'Malley has been noncommittal on the concept, modeled on initiatives in California and other states.
O'Malley spokesman Rick Abbruzzese said after the speech that the governor is "very interested in working with the General Assembly on this particular piece of legislation."
O'Malley, a student of history, noted that he was delivering his speech on the steps of a State House where Gen. George Washington resigned his command of the Continental Army in 1783.
"We can, once again, lead our country into yet another chapter of the American Revolution, a revolution based on the dignity of the individual and powered by our shared responsibility to advance the common good," O'Malley said.
Most of Ehrlich's Cabinet had resigned before noon yesterday, prompting O'Malley to name acting secretaries in several of the major departments for which he has not yet announced nominees.
The ceremony was the centerpiece of a long day of festivities that began with a prayer breakfast in Prince George's County, where O'Malley and Brown were warmly received in a heavily Democratic jurisdiction that helped elect them.
"What this administration wants to do is unify us under a spirit of excellence and to strive for that for everybody in the state," said the Rev. Jonathan Weaver, pastor of Greater Mount Nebo AME Church in Bowie, who offered the closing prayer.
Maryland Chief Judge Robert M. Bell delivered the official oath of office to O'Malley at noon in the Senate chamber of the State House, a performance repeated on the outdoor stage.
A parade featuring marching bands from Maryland's 24 jurisdictions followed, and O'Malley and Brown later received well-wishers at Government House, the 54-room Georgian-style mansion where the governor and his family will soon reside.
