Democratic legislators had a press conference yesterday on our plan to address public safety.

Delegate Maggie McIntosh tweeted:

Crime isn’t just a Baltimore City issue -it’s a statewide issue. Our plan will address several strategies including: tougher penalties for witness intimidation, making sure parole and probation agencies have the resources they need, and audits on gun crimes #Working4MD #MDGA2020pic.twitter.com/2ya8kGkRwX

Governor Hogan gave his State of the State address today.

If you do not consider any other legislation, and if you accomplish nothing else in the next 61 days, pass the “Violent Firearm Offenders Act of 2020,” which increases penalties for those who use guns to commit violent crimes, toughens penalties for those who possess stolen firearms and guns with obliterated serial numbers, and those who use, possess, or supply illegal guns to violent criminals.

I have introduced a bill focusing on parole and probation officers, who supervise people who were incarcerated but are now in the community. My legislation would require that we hire more of these officers to address the current shortage and study how they can be more effective in reducing recidivism. study

The key is not what was tweeted, said, or blogged this week but what we do next.

Will there be genuine negotiations between the Governor and the legislature and a willingness to compromise to reach a sound policy outcome?