Maryland Gov. Wes Moore stood with fellow democratic elected officials in the State House on Wednesday morning, in part to blame Republicans and President Trump for the government shutdown. Moore said, “My message to President Trump is clear: stop this shutdown, you’re the one causing it.”
Moore then said he’s ordered state agencies to try to keep federally funded programs for Marylanders, and with Maryland home to about 260,000 federal workers, he’s offering an emergency loan program and says some furloughed workers may be eligible for unemployment benefits.
He has also to connect those in need with services. Moore warned that “the longer this unnecessary shutdown goes on, the harder it is for us to keep services going.” He did not take any questions from reporters after speaking.
State Republicans see the situation very differently. State Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey, who watched Moore’s announcement in the State House, blames Moore and his fellow Democrats.
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“It’s unconscionable that Senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks did not cross party lines and vote to stop this shutdown,” Hershey said, referring to Maryland’s two democratic U.S. senators, Angela Alsobrooks and Chris Van Hollen, who voted against a continuing resolution supported by Republicans which would have kept the government open at current spending levels.
At the county level, elected officials pledged to assist their residents who have been impacted by the shutdown. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich appeared at a county health center with members of the Congressional Democratic Women’s Caucus.
He blamed Republicans for the shutdown as well, but said that now, “We need to be helping the people who need help. We were elected to help people. We’ve got the ability to help people. We’re gonna keep doing that.”
Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy also called a press conference to discuss the shutdown. She said the county will help where it can and also called on the faith community to pitch in.
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“My job today isn’t necessarily to point fingers,” said Braveboy. “It’s really to open my arms along with colleagues on the council to say we hear you, we care about you, we love you, we want you to be okay.”