Press Release: Jan 8, 2026

“At a time when the state is facing serious budget shortfalls, piling even more spending on top of an already unsustainable mandate is fiscally irresponsible.”- Senator Steve Hershey

Senate Republicans Call Out Fiscal Irresponsibility of Governor’s Education Spending Plan

Annapolis, MD.:

Senate Republican leaders are raising serious concerns following Governor Moore’s announcement of increased K-12 education spending above what is already required under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, warning that the proposal lacks transparency and threatens to deepen Maryland’s growing budget crisis.

“Maryland already spends billions of dollars each year on public education under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, and that program is on track to drive up to $4 billion in new structural deficits in the coming years,” said Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey. “At a time when the state is facing serious budget shortfalls, piling even more spending on top of an already unsustainable mandate is fiscally irresponsible.”

Hershey also questioned the administration’s failure to explain how the additional spending would be funded.

“What Marylanders haven’t been told is where this money is coming from,” he said. “The Governor is announcing new spending without explaining whether it will be paid for through higher taxes, more borrowing, or cuts to other essential services.”

Senate Republicans also pointed to declining enrollment across Maryland’s public schools as a critical issue being ignored in the Governor’s proposal.

“With fewer students enrolled in our public schools, taxpayers deserve a clear explanation for why education spending must continue to rise at a pace that far outstrips enrollment, outcomes, and the state’s ability to pay,” said Senate Minority Whip Justin Ready. “This is not a sustainable model, and it puts Maryland’s long-term fiscal health at risk.”

Ready added that the proposal appears driven more by election-year politics than by meaningful reform.

“Instead of confronting the Blueprint’s role as the single largest driver of Maryland’s current and future budget deficits, the administration is choosing to double down—without accountability and without a funding plan,” Ready said. “That approach leaves taxpayers holding the bag.”

Both leaders emphasized that Senate Republicans support strong public schools while also advocating for broader educational options.

“Republicans support strong public schools, but we also recognize that public education alone is not a one-size-fits-all solution,” Hershey said. “Maryland families deserve an all-of-the-above approach that includes public schools, career and technical education, charter and private schools, and other school choice options that meet students where they are. Supporting students means investing wisely, demanding accountability, and giving parents real options—not committing taxpayers to endless spending with no clear plan to pay for it.”