As a candidate for the Senate, I am deeply committed to addressing the most pressing issues faced by Marylanders today. During my tenure as governor, my main objective was simple: to provide financial relief by ensuring folks held onto more of their hard-earned money. Over our eight years in office, we managed to cut taxes annually, resulting in a remarkable $4.7 billion in savings for Marylanders. At a time when inflation has driven up the costs of basic necessities like housing, food, and childcare, every dollar counts for working families, retirees, first responders, and small businesses trying to make ends meet.
My opponent, Angela Alsobrooks, plans to increase Social Security taxes that would financially burden middle-class Marylanders by billions. Such proposals could potentially jeopardize jobs and shrink wages, not to mention amplify the financial strain consumers already endure due to increasing prices. In contrast, I vow to reach across the aisle to craft a practical and bipartisan approach that will make life more affordable. My commitment is to deliver genuine tax relief, starting with enhancements to the child tax credit and earned income tax credit, providing vital support for working families.
We also must confront the escalating housing affordability crisis, and my track record reflects our strong commitment to finding solutions. Our administration initiated the construction of over 28,000 affordable housing units and made historic investments in workforce housing. In the Senate, my priority will be eliminating prohibitive regulations and pushing for policies that promote affordable homeownership, ensuring our communities have the resources needed to expand opportunities for working families.
Health care affordability is another critical area requiring prompt action. While partisanship dominated the discourse in Washington, we in Maryland were successful in reducing insurance premiums by 30% using innovative strategies. As a Senator, I am determined to further reduce healthcare costs by improving transparency and competition. I plan to hold middlemen accountable for price exploitation and fight to overturn recent cuts to Medicare Advantage.
Education should open doors, not shut them. Under my governance, we managed to maintain affordable education options by avoiding tuition hikes, expanding scholarships for community college students, and implementing a highly effective school-choice program for low-income families. Unlike my opponent, who opposes school choice and public charter schools, I remain steadfast in advocating for more educational choices. This will include tax credits, scholarship accounts, and increased flexibility with 529 plans.
Moreover, it is critical that we rein in unnecessary government expenses and burdensome regulations that inflate the costs of energy, food, and household essentials. As governor, we successfully transformed a $5.1 billion deficit into a $5.5 billion surplus by streamlining policies and embracing responsible fiscal management. In the Senate, I am determined to combat reckless spending and seek balanced solutions to alleviate the economic strain on Maryland families.
These priorities transcend party lines, as they are rooted in pragmatism and the shared goal of economic relief for all Marylanders. With real-world challenges ahead, my commitment is unwavering: to work collaboratively, achieving results for our great state, just as I have done in the past. Maryland deserves solutions, not more political gridlock, and I am ready to champion that change in the Senate.
