Since he can’t get in to measure the drapes in Martin O’Malley’s office, I guess this will have to do for Pat McDonough as an announcement he’s in the race. Perhaps I missed the formal affair where he threw his hat in the ring for Governor?
Anyway, it’s good to know right where he stands on the issues. Try this on for size:
An Executive Order is a legal action a Governor can take without the approval of the General Assembly. This is an example of the first Executive Order that I would issue in my first week in office if I were elected Governor.
EXECUTIVE ORDER
Number One
January 20, 2011
WHEREAS, The State of Maryland has engaged in policies that encourage illegal aliens to assume residence in our state because of benefits our elected officials have provided creating in essence what can be termed a “Sanctuary State.” This situation, which violates federal law has caused unnecessary burdens to be imposed upon our citizens.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, PATRICK L. McDONOUGH, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND, BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF MARYLAND, HEREBY PROCLAIM THE FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE ORDER, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
A. The State of Maryland shall enter into a contract with the Department of Homeland Security under federal law initiating the 287G criminal enforcement compact in order to conduct programs protecting public safety and enforcement against illegal aliens’ criminal activity. All law enforcement agencies under the authority of the Governor shall participate.
B. Any business, organization, individual or other entity contracting to do business with the State of Maryland shall sign an affidavit confirming they prohibit the employment of illegal aliens.
C. The Maryland Department of Education shall initiate a professional survey detailing and documenting the number of students in Pre-K through 12 who are receiving taxpayer funded assistance and are designated as unauthorized or illegal residents of the state. After the completion and validation of the number, the State of Maryland shall engage in a lawsuit against the federal government in order to reclaim all past and future funds used by the state in order to educated these students based on the premise that the federal government failed to enforce the immigration law which resulted in placing this burden upon the citizens and taxpayers of Maryland.
Given Under My Hand and Great Seal of Maryland, in the City of Annapolis, this 20th Day of January, 2011.
I don’t know if I’d make this executive order number one, but then again observers of Maryland politics surely know this sort of legislation is DOA in the General Assembly. Also, though, I think I’d add the caveat that grant recipients fall under the same restriction as well – maybe then Andy Harris wouldn’t have to introduce his annual amendment freezing CASA de Maryland out of state funding.
Certainly it’s red meat for the conservative voters out there, and something to compare and contrast to both his primary opponent(s) and Governor O’Malley’s record. At the very least it should bring about debate and comment from at least one of my readers.
