马里兰州三位领袖宣布制定四年预算计划：不再逐年应对持续短缺
位于马里兰州 Annapolis 的州长办公室11月13日发布联合声明：马里兰州州长 Wes Moore、州参议院议长 Bill Ferguson 与州众议院议长 Joseline Peña-Melnyk 在当天会面后宣布，三方将共同制定一项四年计划，应对该州持续的预算短缺。
三人在声明中表示，马里兰州的预算难题并非新现象，不能再继续一年一年地应对；今年采取新做法，共同制定四年计划，让州预算更可预测，为多元化发展经济、支持社区中最脆弱的群体打下更稳固的基础。
声明说，特朗普政府的削减与经济不确定性加重了马里兰州面临的财政压力，但该州不能坐等华盛顿改变方向，有责任处理自己能掌控的挑战。
按声明，制定这项联合四年计划需要仔细审视州政府支出、致力于让政府更有效率，并诚实评估哪些投资正在产生效果、哪些地方需要改变。
三人同时表示，接下来会有艰难的决定，这些决定关系到民众的生活；三方承诺共同作出决定、坦率地向马里兰州民众说明面临的选择，并保护对该州未来最重要的服务与投资。
（来源：马里兰州州长办公室）
Maryland Leaders Announce Four-Year Plan to Address Ongoing Budget Shortfalls
The governor's office in Annapolis, Maryland, released a joint statement on Nov. 13: Governor Wes Moore, Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk announced after their meeting that day that they had agreed to work together to develop a four-year plan addressing the state's ongoing budget shortfalls.
In the statement, the three leaders said Maryland's budget challenges are not a new phenomenon and cannot continue to be addressed one year at a time, and that this year they are taking a new approach. A more predictable state budget, they said, will be a stronger foundation for diversifying the economy and supporting the most vulnerable in the state's communities.
The statement said Trump administration cuts and economic uncertainty have added to the financial pressures facing Maryland, but that the state cannot wait for Washington to change course and has a responsibility to address the challenges within its control.
Developing the joint four-year plan will require a careful review of state spending, a commitment to making government more efficient, and an honest assessment of which investments are delivering results and where changes are needed, according to the statement.
The three leaders said there will be difficult decisions ahead that affect people's lives, and committed to making them together, being straightforward with Marylanders about the choices faced, and protecting the services and investments that matter most to the state's future.
(Source: Office of the Governor of Maryland)
来源：马里兰州州长办公室
发布：GSM·美国（发布链接）
图片来源：图：马里兰州州长 Wes Moore 官方肖像（马里兰州州长办公室官方照片，GSM 州长图库）。 / Photo: Official portrait of Maryland Governor Wes Moore (Office of the Governor of Maryland, via GSM governors library).
GSM Global · 本篇英文版 English edition of this story
