Gov. Moore estimates $2 billion needed for Key Bridge, talks Morin and immigration

Gov. Wes Moore said in an interview with CBS’ “Face the Nation” over the weekend that rebuilding the Key Bridge will likely cost close to $2 billion. Moore said the state needs federal money to get the project completed in a timely manner.

He is pushing for a 100% federal cost share, meaning the federal government would cover the entire cost.

“I need to get this done on time and on budget,” Moore said. “We know that in order to move fast, we’ve got to get that 100% cost share. So we are spending time working with- with members of both sides of the aisle, Democrats and Republicans.”

The governor also spoke out on the Rachel Morin case, the 37-year-old mother found murdered last August in Harford County.

The Harford County sheriff called out the president and Congress for “failed immigration policies” when announcing that an immigrant living in the country illegally had been arrested for Morin’s death.

Moore said he agreed with the sheriff and said the nation has an immigration policy that needs to be dealt with.

“We have an immigration policy that needed to have been dealt with and was not,” Moore said. “And the consequences then fall on us as the chief executives of our state, the consequences fall on us as the leaders of our individualized jurisdictions. And– and we know that we have got to fix a broken immigration policy. And we know that we need Congress to act on this.”

He referenced President Biden’s executive order on immigration, saying he agrees with the action, but it is not going to be enough. Moore says Congress needs to be on the same page when it comes to stricter border policies.

Source: WBAL

Gov. Moore: Crews remove 1,100 tons of steel from Key Bridge collapse site

Salvage crews in Baltimore are doing some heavy lifting as they work to clear the wreckage of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge and open a third temporary shipping channel by month’s end.

Speaking at an afternoon news conference on Tuesday, Gov. Wes Moore said in the three weeks since the collapse, crews have removed 1,100 tons of steel from the Patapsco River, which is equivalent to five times the weight of the Statue of Liberty.

Moore noted this has been done without a single injury on the job.

In a show of bipartisan unity, the Democratic governor was joined by former Republican Gov. Bob Ehrlich and GOP state lawmakers who helped pass the Maryland PORT Act, emergency legislation that supports businesses and workers impacted by the collapse.

READ MORE: Maryland makes bipartisan case for federal funding after Key Bridge collapse

Moore says he plans to travel to Washington again to continue the push for full federal funding to rebuild the bridge.

Gov. Wes Moore talks Baltimore Key Bridge collapse, efforts and victims families

President Joe Biden is expected to ask Congress for supplemental funding perhaps of a billion dollars or more to replace the Baltimore Francis Scott Key Bridge before he comes to Baltimore on Friday. For the time being, federal and state agencies are looking to get the port back in operation, ASAP. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore joined The T.J. Smith Show on Tuesday and discussed the current recovery efforts given the fact that overnight and into the dawn, a severe thunderstorm hit Baltimore with heavy rain expected on and off into Wednesday.

“The lightning…that really does hinder some of the salvage operations that can take place. It can hinder the mobility of the cranes that we have,” Moore said.

This Tuesday marks an official one week since the Key Bridge collapsed.

Moore highlighted how crews worked quickly to remove enough steel to create a shallow channel for some smaller craft to help with the effort.

“We have been working, really, around the clock speaking with these CEOs, speaking with these businesses; and letting them know that even if there is any form of temporary disruption, this is temporary,” Moore said. “We want to be able to keep them in the Port of Baltimore.”

Moore also reacted to the Singapore-flagged ship’s owner and operating companies looking to limit their liabilities for the destruction of the bridge and loss of six lives under an 1850s maritime law:

“We expected them to try to push toward the limitation of their liability,” Moore said.” There is an active investigation that’s going on at NTSB. And if people need to be accountable for this disaster, they will be held accountable.”

Gov. Moore provides updates after Baltimore Key Bridge collapse, says ‘These families are living a nightmare’

ONFIRE-TV.com – Gov. Wes Moore held a news conference the day after the Key Bridge collapsed in Baltimore.

On Tuesday morning after the collapse, it was reported that two people were rescued from the water. One refused treatment while the other was transported to shock trauma. Later that day, it was reported that 6 people, construction workers who were on the bridge at the time, were still missing and presumably dead. On Wednesday, Moore addressed the search for the remaining crew members.

“They [the rescue team] are in frigid conditions,” Moore said. “They are down there in darkness where they can literally see about a foot in front of them. They are trying to navigate mangled metal and they are also in a place where it is now presumed that people have lost their lives. So, the work of these first responders, the work of these divers; I cannot stress enough how remarkable these individuals are.”

Gonzales Poll: More than half of Maryland voters approve of job by Gov. Moore

Maryland voters offered their opinions on numerous topics in the latest Gonzales Poll, which included their views of how Gov. Wes Moore has done in office.

I Gonzales Poll: Part 1 results

The February Gonzales Poll of 815 registered voters was conducted between Jan. 23 and Feb. 2. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5%.

Gov. Wes Moore job approval:

More than half of voters in Maryland approved of the job that Moore has done since taking office.

Among voters in Maryland, 58% approve of the job Moore is doing as governor. Among voters, 27.4% strongly approve and 30.3% somewhat approve. While 28.2% disapprove, 15.2% strongly disapprove and 13.0% somewhat disapprove.

Democrats heavily supported Moore, with a 74% approval rating, while more than half of Republicans were discouraged by Moore’s term so far, with a 56.9% disapproval rating.

Democrats heavily supported Moore, with a 74% approval rating, while more than half of Republicans were discouraged by Moore’s term so far, with a 56.9% disapproval rating.

I Breakdown of Moore’s job approval, disapproval rating in Maryland:
Democrat:  74% – 15%
Republican: 27% –  57%
Independent: 52% – 26%

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore focuses on 4 pillars in 2024 State of the State address

In his second State of the State address, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore further advanced his vision to “leave no one behind” through four pillars.

Moore’s address on Wednesday focused on making the state safer, more affordable and competitive, as well as a state that serves. To do so, he said his administration will enact a state plan that prioritizes public safety, housing, child care and child poverty.

The governor declared the state of the state as strong while acknowledging unfinished work to solve big problems, as well as lessons learned in his first year in office.

“One year ago, we began our work together. We knew our state had boundless opportunities and blinding potential. But we were leaving too much on the table. One year later, we still have work to do. We learned a lot of lessons. And solving big problems can’t happen overnight. But change is happening. And today, the state of our state is strong,” Moore said.

Moore pointed to a new state plan that he said will establish “specific, measurable, actionable, realistic and time-bound goals” for the next three years that will be accomplished through a partnership between the executive and legislative branches.

“We need to stand united – with a clear commitment to doing the work, and with a clear understanding that the months and years ahead will be hard,” Moore said. “But if there’s one thing the last 12 months have taught us, it’s that Marylanders do hard things – and they want us to accomplish hard things in partnership.”

Senate Minority Leader Stephen Hershey Jr., R-District 36, delivered the Republican Response, saying Maryland Republicans are prepared to work alongside the governor to find common ground.

“Gov. Moore has put forth a bold and ambitious plan for Maryland, one that is built on the promise that no Marylander will be left behind. This is a vision we can certainly support; after all, our ultimate goal is the success and well-being of every single Marylander,” Hershey said. “However, we must underscore that achieving such a lofty goal requires much more than grand declarations. It necessitates concrete actions and collaborative efforts.”