Governor Hogan penned a joint op-ed with former Senator Joe Lieberman, arguing that after the events of January 6th we must bring our democracy back from the brink by demanding “our elected leaders address the gridlock that's poisoning our politics in the first place.”

Read the full op-ed here and below. 

We Must Bring Democracy Back From the Brink

Larry Hogan and Joe Lieberman

Newsweek

“There are a handful of days in our history that reverberate across generations, defining the story of America. January 6, 2021–the date insurrectionists attacked the heart of our democracy to stop the orderly peaceful transfer of power–will be one of those days. But what will that date mean to our children and grandchildren? Will it be the moment when we finally recognize that what unites us as Americans far outweighs our divisions, or will it be when we are overcome by all the hate, partisanship and dysfunction.

We belong to different political parties, but we share a commitment to ensuring that January 6 is a turning point in this history of America, not a harbinger of more to come. And we believe that will only be possible if we begin to address the underlying issues of how we got here in the first place.

There is no doubt that President Donald Trump is directly responsible for inciting the assault on the Capitol. Over the last two months, he chose to fan the flames of hate and mislead millions of voters through lies and conspiracy theories rather than face the reality of his own defeat.

But this unprecedented attack on our democracy could have gained traction only in a nation where so many have stopped believing that democracy still works for them. President Trump lit the match on January 6 after pouring gasoline on our divisions for four years, but America has been piling up the tinder for a long time.

Americans across the political spectrum are profoundly disillusioned. Public trust in the federal government is at record lows. Just 20 percent of U.S. adults say they trust Washington to ‘do the right thing,’ down from nearly 80 percent before Watergate. The current distrust in the integrity of our elections is just a symptom of this much wider crisis of distrust.

This trend coincides with a dramatic increase in congressional gridlock, which has risen dramatically over the last few decades. When the nation's leaders fail to deliver, the American people stop believing Washington is working for them. For some of the most alienated Americans, this void has been filled by online conspiracy theories about ‘the deep state,’ QAnon and demagogues who take advantage of public frustration for their own political power.

Political incentives drive this all in the wrong direction. Campaign donations, social media likes and press attention flow to figures most adamantly opposed to working across the aisle, creating a vicious cycle of gridlock and dysfunction.

We understand that the damage done to our democracy cannot be undone overnight. But if gridlock provided a foundation for extremism, problem solving can start to chip away at the root problem. If sunlight is the best disinfectant for corruption, bipartisan progress may well be the salve for despair.

After January 6, Americans can no longer afford to treat the political disarray in Washington as just a passing irritation. It is not just a threat to our economy, our national security and our standing in the world. It is a threat to our Constitution and our democracy. It is not just another issue. It is the issue.

Each of us—especially those who hold elective office—have a choice to make. We can show those who feel forgotten that we actually can deliver solutions to the serious problems that face us, or we can continue to perpetuate this toxic politics, rabid tribalism and hatred.

We can either face the truth or be destroyed by lies. We can either descend into chaos and rancor, or we can rise above and meet this test with real courage and patriotism.

Those who were responsible for the violence in Washington need to be held to account. But we can't stop at demanding justice. We need to demand that our elected leaders address the gridlock that's poisoning our politics in the first place. Though partisan warfare may be more politically expedient in the short-term, recent events have proven that the status quo has put our democracy on the brink. And if January 6 proved anything, it's that all of us will ultimately pay the price for that failure.” 

Earlier this week, Governor Hogan unveiled his FY 2022 Recovery budget that sets a national model on common sense conservative governance during difficult economic times. 

 

Thanks to belt-tightening early in the pandemic, Governor Hogan’s budget includes immediate tax relief for those who need it most during the pandemic, including working families, small businesses, and first responders, as well permanent tax relief for retirees to protect the state’s long-term economic recovery. 

 

Governor Hogan’s proposal also achieves record investments in K-12 education, public health, and crime prevention. Despite substantial revenue losses from the national economic downturn, Governor Hogan has proven that it’s possible to provide significant economic and tax relief and fully fund critical priorities – without passing on any debt to future generations. 

 

Here’s what they are saying about Governor Hogan’s “Recovery Budget”: 

 

Washington Post: “The proposal does not include a tax increase or layoffs of any essential state workers, Hogan said, adding that the state managed to stave off both with ‘a little belt-tightening and a bit of luck.”

 

Associated Press: “The Republican governor’s top priority this session is his pandemic relief proposal. It includes payments of up to $450 for individuals and $750 for families that have claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit. Hogan also is proposing ending local and state income taxes on unemployment benefits. The plan includes allowing Maryland restaurants and small businesses to keep up to $12,000 of sales tax over the next four months.” 

 

Capital News Service: “Despite economic turmoil brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Larry Hogan announced a budget aimed at providing economic relief to Marylanders while also funding essential services.”