Peter Franchot in 2022 MD Governor's race
On Principles & Values:
Measure commitment not by money spent, but results we demand
[On policy methods]: "The lighted path forward is embodied by a new approach to public policy--one that measures
one's commitment to an issue not by the amount of taxpayer money that we are willing to spend, but by the results that we demand in return."
Source: 2022 Maryland gubernatorial campaign website franchot.com
Feb 18, 2021
On Principles & Values:
Would melt down Confederate statue, make door knobs
When asked about the Talbot Boys Confederate statue--a controversial topic on the Shore--Franchot expressed his support for not just removing the statue from the county courthouse grounds in
Easton or placing it in a museum but eradicating it completely. "I, as governor, promise that we will melt that down," Franchot said. "We'll make door knobs out of it."
Source: Kent County News on 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial race
Oct 2, 2021
On Abortion:
A very important right that we need to defend for women
Advocates rallied in Annapolis on Saturday to join a nationwide effort to stand up and defend abortion rights. "We need to make sure that Maryland is aware that this is a very,
very important economic social and health-oriented right that we need to defend for women," Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot said.
Source: WJZ (CBS Local) on 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial race
Oct 2, 2021
On Budget & Economy:
$5.5B in delinquent taxes; $1B in unclaimed property
One of the best parts of Peter's job is reuniting Marylanders with their unclaimed property. Since he became Comptroller, his agency has returned more than $1 billion to Marylanders through this program.
Peter's office frequently engages in community outreach to encourage Marylanders to visit his unclaimed property database and learn if the State of Maryland owes them money.
By introducing new initiatives and investing in advanced technology, Peter's agency has been able to capture more than $5.5 billion in delinquent taxes over the past 10 years--ensuring that everyone is paying their fair share to allow us to
make meaningful investments in schools, the Chesapeake Bay and community priorities. His state-of-the-art data warehouse has identified and collected more than $427 million in delinquent tax payments.
Source: 2022 Maryland gubernatorial campaign website franchot.com
Feb 18, 2021
On Budget & Economy:
Led record state investments to transportation projects
As chairman of the House Transportation Subcommittee, Peter directed record state investments to transportation projects across our state.
He was among the earliest and staunchest supporters of the Purple Line rail transit project and was vital to the early progress of the critical public transit project.
Source: 2022 Maryland gubernatorial campaign website franchot.com
Feb 18, 2021
On Budget & Economy:
Reformed procurement system increasing accountability
Peter has used his seat on the state's Board of Public Works to bring about much-needed reforms in our state's procurement system, while ensuring that your hard-earned tax dollars are being spent wisely. Thanks to his leadership, our procurement system
has drastically changed: a significant reduction in single-bid contracts, higher participation from minority-owned and women-owned enterprises, and increased accountability and transparency in the manner in which state contractors spend your money.
Source: 2022 Maryland gubernatorial campaign website franchot.com
Feb 18, 2021
On Budget & Economy:
Bring high quality public transportation throughout state
The strength of any economy is in the number and quality of its connections. World-class transportation would give all Marylanders the freedom to experience everything the state has to offer. That's why Peter Franchot will build a world-class,
integrated, and statewide transit system while he's governor. The Franchot administration will seek to invest in areas of the state that do not currently have high quality public transportation, especially high quality rail.
Source: 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial campaign website TK.com
Jul 19, 2021
On Civil Rights:
Appoint Secretary of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Franchot administration will create a new cabinet-level position focused on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). This Secretary of DEI will be charged with three major initiatives: - promote diversity in government, especially in leadership,
- assess existing and proposed policies to identify any biases, disparate impacts, or inadequate attention to existing inequity, and
- develop policies to promote economic relief for communities that have been structurally denied opportunity.
Source: 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial campaign website TK.com
Jul 19, 2021
On Corporations:
Less for corporate tax breaks, more help for small business
[On corporate policy]: "We need an economic approach that devotes less time and energy to competing for global corporations that demand billions of dollars of taxpayer money and devotes more time
and energy to tearing down barriers for those small, local businesses that ask for nothing more than an honest chance to succeed in the marketplace."
Source: 2022 Maryland gubernatorial campaign website franchot.com
Feb 18, 2021
On Crime:
End all use of no-knock warrants
Franchot will support:- Ending all use of no-knock warrants
- Decertify any officer who was fired or resigned while under investigation for misconduct or excessive force
- Applying normal Public Information Act standards to all records on police
misconduct, use of force, and civilian complaints against police
- Expanding pending legislation that will create independent review of civilian deaths involving police, to include use-of-force incidents that result in hospitalization of civilians.
Source: 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial campaign website TK.com
Jul 19, 2021
On Drugs:
If legalized wants benefits to go to areas impacted in past
If recreational marijuana is legalized in a ballot initiative, the comptroller said he would focus on ensuring it would help economic growth in areas of the state disproportionately affected
by enforcement for cannabis-related offenses and addresses past criminal justice inequities.
Source: WJZ (CBS Local) on 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial race
Oct 2, 2021
On Education:
Supports financial literacy & college capital projects
As comptroller, Peter has advocated for many years to make financial literacy courses a requirement for high school graduation. Peter believes that before young Marylanders earn a Maryland high school diploma and pursue their endeavors,
high school graduates should be equipped with the knowledge and training in financial education to make meaningful decisions about their financial health. He's worked to expand financial literacy opportunities to young Marylanders.
Peter has been a consistent supporter of advancing our public higher education system. As a member of the Board of Public Works, he has voted to approve more than $1 billion in capital projects that
allows our public universities and community colleges to provide the world-class education that our students deserve and need to compete in a global economy.
Source: 2022 Maryland gubernatorial campaign website franchot.com
Feb 18, 2021
On Education:
Healthy classrooms yes; standardized testing no
Peter has demanded answers and action on the absence of climate-controlled, healthy classrooms in Baltimore City and County. Thanks to his advocacy, Baltimore County and Baltimore City accelerated their installation of air-conditioning units and
heating units in public schools. Peter will continue to hold education officials accountable and ensure that taxpayer dollars are being spent to provide our children with safe and healthy classrooms that are conducive to their learning and success.
Peter has been a vocal opponent of standardized testing and its outsized role in determining academic achievement and teacher performance. Peter will continue to advocate for Maryland's public schools to eliminate standardized testing as a high
school graduation or grade promotion requirement. What's more, ending the stranglehold of standardized testing will give teachers more control in how they educate their students.
Source: 2022 Maryland gubernatorial campaign website franchot.com
Feb 18, 2021
On Education:
Fully debt-free paths to a vocational or college degree
Franchot's agenda includes piloting fully debt-free paths to a vocation or college degree. The Franchot administration will integrate union vocational training and apprenticeship programs into Maryland's public high school system. Franchot will pilot
student loan debt forgiveness for those students completing a degree program in a globally-competitive field at one of the state's public universities as long as they reside and file taxes in Maryland for at least five years after graduation.
Source: 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial campaign website TK.com
Jul 19, 2021
On Energy & Oil:
Our target goal for moving fully to renewable energy is 2030
Peter Franchot is committed to making Maryland 100% energy independent via renewable energy and achieving Net Zero carbon emissions before any other state. In doing so, his administration will seek to make
Maryland the renewable energy capital of America. Our target goal for moving fully to renewable energy is 2030.
Source: 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial campaign website TK.com
Jul 19, 2021
On Environment:
Voted for over $1.4 billion in environmental protection
Peter has voted to invest more than $1.4 billion in environmental protection and land preservation -- including $708 million for Program Open Space, resulting in more than 100,000 acres permanently preserved and protected from development.
Peter has taken a leading role in reforming the way we invest in Program Open Space. He led the effort to create a Program Open Space acquisition scoring system that ensures land acquisitions are carefully vetted for ecological and recreational benefits.
Source: 2022 Maryland gubernatorial campaign website franchot.com
Feb 18, 2021
On Environment:
Work with EPA to help clean up Chesapeake Bay
To reinvigorate the Bay restoration effort, Franchot will work with President Biden's Environmental Protection Agency and the signatory states to the
Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint to reach agreement to ramp up our efforts to achieve clean air, clean water, and lasting health for the Chesapeake Bay by the end of his first term.
Source: 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial campaign website TK.com
Jul 19, 2021
On Government Reform:
Deliver on specific goals to rebuild trust in government
As part of this process and to immediately build trust in government, the Franchot administration will deliver on three specific goals within the first six months of the first term:-
Fill every pothole on state roads;
- Clean all trash on state roads; and
- Answer every Marylander's call to state agencies within 60 seconds with a live, friendly, trained professional.
Source: 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial campaign website TK.com
Jul 19, 2021
On Government Reform:
Create a universal, transparent vote by mail system
The significant expansion of the electorate Maryland witnessed via the vote-by-mail system utilized for its 2020 Primary Election is a perfect opportunity to expand our suffrage. Franchot will introduce and champion legislation that creates a universal,
well-run, transparent vote by mail system in which every Marylander receives a ballot via mail that can be returned by mail or drop box. Moreover, Maryland will continue to offer in-person early and Election Day balloting.
Source: 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial campaign website TK.com
Jul 19, 2021
On Gun Control:
Sponsored strict gun control legislation
As one of Maryland's most progressive legislators, Peter fought for policies that continue to impact the lives of Marylanders to this day. From expanding access to quality K-12 and higher education or standing up to the NRA by sponsoring strict gun
control legislation, to ensuring that all Maryland families receive quality healthcare, Peter's legislative leadership improved the lives of citizens in communities across the state.
Source: 2022 Maryland gubernatorial campaign website franchot.com
Feb 18, 2021
On Health Care:
Expand Medicaid; control cost of insurance premiums
Franchot will support:- Piloting an expansion of Medicaid coverage to more Maryland residents, and incentives for more providers to serve this population.
-
Piloting an expansion of Maryland's total cost of care model for the commercial insurance market to control the ever rising cost of premiums, make insurance cheaper, and get better outcomes.
Source: 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial campaign website TK.com
Jul 19, 2021
On Immigration:
Praised tax credit that includes undocumented people
Tens of thousands of low-wage workers--including many immigrants--now qualify for a significant tax break. The expansion applies to workers who pay taxes through an Individual Tax Identification Number--a group that includes immigrants, including some
with lawful status and some without. Comptroller Peter Franchot praised lawmakers for their "fair treatment of our neighbors." As the state's chief tax collector, Franchot's office is responsible for administering the state version of the EITC.
Source: Baltimore Sun on 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial race
Feb 26, 2021
On Jobs:
Create 100,000 family supporting jobs in 100 weeks
The Franchot administration will create 100,000 family supporting jobs in 100 weeks through - targeted investment in productive infrastructure projects,
- the creation of a statewide jobs training program in partnership with the private sector
and unions, and
- the dramatic improvement of the operating environment for small businesses via more efficient government services, streamlined and coordinated regulation, and better access to capital.
Source: 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial campaign website TK.com
Jul 19, 2021
On Local Issues:
Helped reform alcohol laws to support local craft breweries
After the Maryland General Assembly enacted burdensome laws that made Maryland one of the worst states for craft breweries to do business, Peter convened a task force to study the state's alcohol laws.
Thanks to Peter's advocacy, in 2019 the General Assembly enacted sweeping reforms to the prohibition-era laws that governed how breweries produced, sold, and distributed their products.
Source: 2022 Maryland gubernatorial campaign website franchot.com
Feb 18, 2021
On Social Security:
Tax incentives for seniors for mentorship program
The Franchot administration will create a groundbreaking, statewide mentorship program. This will be an investment in community building that will improve outcomes for our youth and quality of life for seniors. For example, a Franchot administration
will:- Facilitate at least one million mentoring hours by the end of his first term.
- Propose a tax incentive for seniors to be applied to retiree income, in order to encourage participation.
Source: 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial campaign website TK.com
Jul 19, 2021
On Tax Reform:
Supported online retailers collecting state sales tax
Peter supported the Supreme Court's ruling on South Dakota v. Wayfair that requires online retailers to collect and remit sales tax, just like brick-and-mortar businesses that choose to locate, hire employees, and invest in the State of Maryland.
Before the Court's landmark ruling in 2018, Peter was a strong proponent of legislation at the state and federal level that would have imposed this mandate.
Within his own agency, Peter has taken steps to reduce paper use. Thanks to his leadership and investments in technology, more than 90% of Marylanders file their state tax returns through the agency's secure online portal.
That means the agency not only saves money through printing and labor costs, but the agency is no longer using more than 160 million sheets of paper to print paper return booklets annually.
Source: 2022 Maryland gubernatorial campaign website franchot.com
Feb 18, 2021
On Tax Reform:
Ease filing for those with simple tax obligations
Politicians rarely discuss the stress and cost associated with filing taxes. The Franchot administration will alleviate this stress by introducing and championing legislation that requires the state to provide a proposed tax bill to taxpayers who have
simple tax obligations, so as to eliminate the cost, time, and anxiety associated with filing personal income taxes. Further, this will reduce the instances of predatory tax preparers who commit fraud using the personal information of others.
Source: 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial campaign website TK.com
Jul 19, 2021
On Technology:
Access to the internet will become a right for each citizen
By the end of Peter Franchot's first term, every citizen in Maryland will have access to high-speed broadband and 5G wireless technology. Under a Franchot administration, access to the internet will become a right for
each citizen in step with access to clean water and clean electricity. This will be a Herculean effort, requiring the full weight of Maryland's financial, regulatory, and statutory authority.
Source: 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial campaign website TK.com
Jul 19, 2021
Page last updated: Aug 01, 2023