Maryland
My Turn: Rafael Garcia – Maryland State Education Association
Discovering a Profession
I’ve been a particular schooling instructors assistant for the previous few faculty years at Tuscarora Elementary College in Frederick County. Earlier than this, I used to be within the service as a hospital corpsman with america Navy.
After I left the service, I went into regulation enforcement as a deputy sheriff in my hometown in Virginia. However after I moved to Maryland six years in the past, I wasn’t certain what I needed to do. I enrolled at Frederick Group Faculty within the nursing program, however shortly discovered that it wasn’t the correct match for me. I knew I loved working with youngsters—I did plenty of command occasions whereas in service with varied native Particular Olympic packages. With that in thoughts, I made a decision to pursue a profession in particular schooling.
I’ve by no means questioned my determination. One of the vital fulfilling elements of my job is realizing that slowly however certainly, I’m making progress with the scholars I work with—whether or not it’s the primary time they rely to 10 or taking deep breaths and efficiently de-escalating. Every success is one step nearer to getting them to their targets. These are pivotal moments for me in my profession.
In my downtime, I get pleasure from going out into the wilderness. I often take climbing and tenting journeys to the Rocky Mountains and different locations in order that I could be Zen and recharge my battery. I additionally get pleasure from looking and fishing, which isn’t about what I’ll or might not catch, however reasonably the method. And music festivals and sporting occasions with my youngsters or an in depth group of pals is all the time enjoyable.
I’m nonetheless comparatively new to FASSE, however I can say that from the start that I’ve felt nothing however welcomed. I went to the Summer time Management Convention in July to attend the Rising Leaders program and I left with a real sense of what it meant to be within the union. I realized that the union is there when issues come up, however its bigger position is in organizing us as staff to be the change we need to see, and which means motion—not simply speak. I used to be just lately elected because the constructing rep for help workers in my constructing and I’ve taken the values from the convention into my new position. I view this as the start of the change I need to make inside our occupation. All of us must work collectively, even when our views might differ.
Newest Information
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
Skip to content
Contact Us
BALTIMORE — Maryland Governor Wes Moore is expected to share his Fiscal Year 2025 budget proposal and legislative priorities Tuesday as the state faces a $2.7 billion deficit, the largest in 20 years.
The Maryland General Assembly’s 2025 legislative session got underway on January 8, during which the governor said he plans to take an aggressive approach by cutting $2 billion in spending.
Gov. Moore said he plans to focus on government efficiency and bringing new streams of revenue to the state.
The state is legally required to pass a balanced budget, and the legislature will likely vote on the 83rd day of the session, on April 1, 2025.
The budget was a hot topic during the Jan. 8 meeting. Democrats called it a difficult year and Gov. Moore said he is committed to optimizing spending.
“I inherited a structural deficit when I became the governor because the state was both spending at a clip of what that was not sustainable, and we were growing at a clip that was embarrassing,” Gov. Moore said.
A structural deficit occurs when the government is spending more money than it makes in taxes.
Did Gov. Moore inherit a deficit?
In 2022, former Governor Larry Hogan and state lawmakers closed out the legislative session with an estimated $2.5 billion budget surplus, which allowed for infrastructure and school upgrades along with tax relief. The state also had about $3 billion – 12% of the state’s general fund – in its Rainy Day Fund.
Hogan met with Gov. Moore’s administration in December 2022 to share budget recommendations during which time he urged the administration and lawmakers to maintain the surplus.
“With continued inflation and economic uncertainty at the national level, we believe this is critically important, and it would be a mistake for the legislature to use its newly expanded budgetary power to return to the old habits of raiding the Rainy Day Fund or recklessly spending down the surplus,” Hogan said at the time.
During the 2022 meeting, Hogan also recommended more than $720 million in spending to expand community policing and behavioral health services, replace an aging hospital on the Eastern Shore and construct a new school and care center.
Maryland went into the 2024 legislative session facing an estimated $761 million structural deficit. At that time, Gov. Moore proposed $3.3 billion in cuts.
LA fires live: risk of ‘rapid fire spread’ as near hurricane-force winds forecast in some areas
Toyota Game Recap: 1/14/2025 | Colorado Avalanche
Governor sets fiscal line, mayors demand reset
Delaware Lottery Mega Millions, Play 3 Day winning numbers for Jan. 14, 2025
Manatees congregate in warm waters near power plants as US winter storms graze Florida
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
Why Marjorie Taylor Greene was ‘kicked out’ of the Freedom Caucus according to Rep. Buck
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
Video: Fires Continue to Burn One Week Later in California
Biden says he's been carrying out ‘most aggressive climate agenda’ in history as he designates CA monuments
Looking for a job in IT? These countries are desperate for new hires
SEC sues Elon Musk, says he didn't disclose Twitter ownership on time before purchase
Palisades and Eaton Fires May Not Be Fully Extinguished for Weeks
-
Health1 week agoOzempic ‘microdosing’ is the new weight-loss trend: Should you try it?
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25822586/STK169_ZUCKERBERG_MAGA_STKS491_CVIRGINIA_A.jpg "Meta is highlighting a splintering global approach to online speech")
Technology6 days agoMeta is highlighting a splintering global approach to online speech
-
Science4 days agoMetro will offer free rides in L.A. through Sunday due to fires
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25821992/videoframe_720397.png "Las Vegas police release ChatGPT logs from the suspect in the Cybertruck explosion")
Technology1 week agoLas Vegas police release ChatGPT logs from the suspect in the Cybertruck explosion
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago‘How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies’ Review: Thai Oscar Entry Is a Disarmingly Sentimental Tear-Jerker
-
Health1 week agoMichael J. Fox honored with Presidential Medal of Freedom for Parkinson’s research efforts
-
Movie Reviews1 week agoMovie Review: Millennials try to buy-in or opt-out of the “American Meltdown”
-
News1 week agoPhotos: Pacific Palisades Wildfire Engulfs Homes in an L.A. Neighborhood