The Opioid epidemic has killed over 6,139 Marylanders since Governor Hogan took office.
Despite campaign promises, upon taking office Governor Hogan did not declare a formal state emergency although there was clear need for immediate action and resources. In the year it took for the governor’s plan to be developed there were 1,856 opioid related deaths in 2016. The state has the opportunity now to make save lives by making treatment available in prisons and jails but needs the leadership to press corrections to do so.
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Chose Big Pharma over lower drug prices for consumers.
Governor Hogan opposed a bill to lower prescription drug prices, siding with drug companies. Although he claims to care about consumers struggles by saying the , “The legislation does have a laudable goal, to combat price-gouging of consumers for life-saving drugs, and I am supportive of that goal.” However, he did not support or sign the bill, nor share a concrete plan for driving down exorbitant drug prices. Once again siding with corporations that put profit over the needs of people. We need a governor with a REAL plan for affordable healthcare for all.
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Hogan mischaracterized data when he claimed heroin overdoses have decreased on his watch
Hogan claimed that under his administration, the number of heroin overdoses dropped 20 percent statewide. He failed to mention that this drop is primarily due to a huge spike in overdoses due to fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid that is often sold as heroin on the illicit market. The data distinguishes between "heroin-related" fatalities and "fentanyl-related" fatalities, so while his original comment was not wrong, it sends the wrong message. To be clear, the total number of opioid-related deaths has more than doubled since 2014 when Hogan took office.
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Governor Hogan Vetoed The Paid Sick Leave Bill
Governor Hogan’s decision to deny hardworking Marylanders the ability to take time to care for their families is nothing short of heartless. Make no mistake – the victims of this decision are Maryland parents and children. Instead of being able to take the time they need to care for their families, these Marylanders will continue to be forced to make decisions like taking off work to visit their sick child in the hospital or paying the rent that month. The Governor has also turned his back on Maryland businesses, who could have had eight months to implement this smart policy, which will reduce turnover and enhance the health of their workplace.
"He just vetoed sick leave for 700,000 Marylanders who are trying to work their way out of poverty," the Baltimore Democrat. Delegate Luke Clippinger, said.
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Rising healthcare premiums puts profit over the health of Marylanders.
Under Governor Hogan healthcare premiums have risen as much as 120% for some Marylanders. Businesses or individuals that want to offer or purchase healthcare shouldn’t have to choose between putting food on the table or risking a health crisis without adequate insurance coverage. This risks the lives of hard-working Marylanders and their families by putting profit over health. We need real affordable healthcare options that serve the needs of all Marylanders.
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