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O'Malley Delivers State Of The State Address

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- The budget, job creation and tough decisions will be even tougher. That's Governor Martin O' Malley on the state of the state.

Kai Jackson has the governor's message to you.

O'Malley says considering the state of the economy, Maryland is doing pretty good, yet with so many individuals and businesses financially strapped, he admits pretty good isn't good enough.

As lawmakers clap for Governor O'Malley just before his State of The State Address, they realize the urgency to roll up their sleeves and put those hands to work.

The governor says Maryland is doing better than it was just a year ago.

"But better isn't good enough, not with so many moms and dads out of work, so many businesses just barely holding on," O'Malley said.

Jobs are a top priority for the administration. Governor O'Malley says cutting-edge facilities like the University of Maryland BioPark in Baltimore are critical to the state's future.

"Passing this legislation could well be the difference between running ahead and running in place, creating thousands of jobs in Maryland or seeing them go to other states, creating the next world-changing company here in Maryland or watching it happen [someplace else]," said O'Malley.

Education is also among the governor's priorities. Yet his tough words about funding will be hard for state leaders to swallow.

"Yes, it is level funding. Most school systems for the first time during this crisis will now have to make the same tough choices that the rest of government has been making for the last four years," O'Malley said.

Maryland is facing a projected $1.4 billion budget shortage. T hat's going to mean cuts, but those cuts won't come easy.

Republican lawmakers believe the governor will have to make more significant cuts to balance the state's budget.

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