UPDATE: O’Malley rescinds scholarship cuts

Listen to this article

Shortly after we posted an earlier blog about the elimination of the Distinguished Scholars program, Gov. Martin O’Malley issued a statement rescinding the withdrawal of scholarships to this year’s graduating seniors.

His statement in full said:

“Earlier today, I ordered the Maryland Higher Education Commission to restore funding to the 350 Maryland seniors who were counting on the $3,000 Distinguished Scholars award they earned to attend a Maryland college or university.”

“While this year’s budget deficit presented unique challenges, and we worked together to address the revenue shortfall with tough choices and deep cuts to existing programs, it was never our intention to impact prior awards.  Clearly, our commitment to honor existing awards was not fulfilled and I’ve directed MHEC to immediately correct the error and restore the four-year scholarships to all seniors who were expecting their award.”

Life is unfair, but O’Malley recognized that government doesn’t have to make it more so.

The statement also means the governor will have to make up $1.1 million in next year’s fragilely balanced budget.

–Len Lazarick

Len@MarylandReporter.com

About The Author

Len Lazarick

len@marylandreporter.com

Len Lazarick was the founding editor and publisher of MarylandReporter.com and is currently the president of its nonprofit corporation and chairman of its board He was formerly the State House bureau chief of the daily Baltimore Examiner from its start in April 2006 to its demise in February 2009. He was a copy editor on the national desk of the Washington Post for eight years before that, and has spent decades covering Maryland politics and government.

2 Comments

  1. Richard Baldwin Cook

     Dos this mean the seniors who got the scholarships restored will have them for each of the next four years? 

  2. Anonymous

    A PR nightmare for M O’M. Another exposition of political hypocrisy not unlike so many other political decisions by the Democratic majority in the state legislature. The sheeple are waking up!

Support Our Work!

We depend on your support. A generous gift in any amount helps us continue to bring you this service.

Facebook