Gov. Hogan: Yet To See 'Viable Crime Plan' From Baltimore Leaders

Gov. Larry Hogan was in studio with C4 Wednesday to talk about his proposed $43.7 billion budget for the 2021 fiscal year. The budget document was released after a morning meeting with top lawmakers in Annapolis.

"We've been able to fully fund all of our priorities with absolutely no tax increases, no cutting of services and without raiding the special funds like they've been doing for years," Hogan said. "But it's exactly what people wanted and what they voted for."

The budget includes tens of millions of dollars to assist local police departments, including $12.2 million earmarked for crime prevention, prosecution, witness protection and support staff in Baltimore City alone.

"It's completely out of control and unacceptable and the response particularly here in the city has just not been acceptable. They're just not addressing the issue," Hogan said.

He said he has a clear "difference of opinion" with State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby, and has yet to see a "viable crime plan" from city leaders including Police Commissioner Michael Harrison.

"If you're not willing to take the criminals off the streets, we're not going to be able to stop the shooting in Baltimore City," Hogan said.

He dismissed calls he said he gets from some to dispatch guardsmen and take the city over.

"I don't think the people of Baltimore City really want National Guard soldiers and airmen standing on the street corners with machine guns in fatigues and having tanks rolling down the streets like we had to do during the [2015] riots," Hogan said. "But that's how outrageous and out of control the problem is, that people are actually saying that. I don't think martial law is the answer and I don't think sending in the guard and taking over the city is the way to go."

Hogan went on to talk about his opposition to fully funding the state's $2.8 billion share of the Kirwan Commission's recommended education reforms while proposing record funding for local school systems. He also defended his transportation spending policy, including transit decisions that have affected Baltimoreans.