Some Maryland lawmakers are calling for transparency regarding the state’s governance, with State Senator Steve Hershey voicing concerns about the performance of agencies under Governor Wes Moore.
“Marylanders need to know that the agencies the governor is running are not performing at the standards that they should,” said Hershey.
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Governor Moore has recently highlighted Maryland’s achievements in national television interviews, stating, “We’ve had one of the fastest drops in violent crime, our population is growing, Maryland is moving.”
However, Hershey argues that the reality is different, pointing to three recent audits that he describes as troubling. An audit of Maryland’s social services agency revealed that foster care children were being housed with child sex offenders. Another audit of the state’s transportation department uncovered millions in unauthorized expenses. Additionally, an audit of the state’s general services found little oversight in signing leases for state buildings, costing millions of tax dollars.
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“These are his departments. He should be well aware of what’s going on. And we have not heard from Governor Moore in respect to any of these audits,” said Hershey, who is considering a run for governor himself.
Since taking office, seven of Governor Moore’s cabinet secretaries have stepped down, including the commerce, health, transportation, and most recently, the budget secretary.
“I think people are waiting for the next shoe to fall and see what happens. One after another after another has been worse than the one we’ve seen previous,” Hershey said.