By Calvin R. Ledger | Political Party Animals
ANNAPOLIS, MD — In a bold reaffirmation of Maryland’s commitment to evidence-based inaction, Governor Wes Moore announced Monday the launch of a new taxpayer-funded study to examine the feasibility of studying the findings of the previous study, which itself was commissioned to assess whether the state should consider studying the issue at all.
“This is about doing the work,” Moore said at a press conference held in front of a podium labeled Forward Together™. “Before we can responsibly act on the conclusions of the last study, we need to make sure those conclusions were conclusible, actionable, and—most importantly—study-ready.”
The new initiative, officially titled The Preliminary Meta-Assessment of Prior Analytical Framework Readiness, will take approximately 18 months and cost an estimated $6.4 million, though officials cautioned that an additional study may be required to determine whether those estimates are realistic.
A Proven Maryland Tradition
State insiders say the move reflects a long-standing Maryland governance strategy: when confronted with a difficult policy choice, commission a study; when confronted with that study’s recommendations, commission another study explaining why more time is needed.
“This isn’t delay,” said one senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “It’s sequencing.”
The original study—released last year with much fanfare—concluded that “further analysis would be beneficial” and recommended “additional stakeholder engagement,” which the administration has now interpreted as a clear mandate to begin studying the study itself.
Jobs, Equity, and a Strong Study Economy
Administration officials emphasized that the new study will create high-paying consulting jobs, particularly for out-of-state firms with no prior knowledge of Maryland but extensive experience producing executive summaries.
“This is also an equity issue,” Moore said. “We want to make sure every community sees itself reflected in the footnotes.”
The study will include:
- A stakeholder listening tour to discuss whether the last listening tour listened hard enough
- A 300-page report culminating in a one-page summary recommending further research
- A dashboard that tracks progress toward determining what progress might look like
Legislative Leaders Applaud the Caution
Several lawmakers praised the governor’s careful approach.
“In an era of reckless decision-making, it’s refreshing to see leadership that refuses to rush,” said one delegate. “Rushing leads to outcomes. Outcomes can be controversial.”
Others noted that acting without at least three overlapping studies could expose the state to criticism, lawsuits, or—worse—results.
What Comes Next
Once completed, the feasibility study will be reviewed by a newly formed Study Review Task Force, which will issue recommendations on whether to:
- Commission a follow-up study
- Pilot a limited pre-study of potential future options
- Table the issue pending a national best-practices study from another state that is also studying it
For now, the administration says Marylanders can rest assured that progress is happening—just not the kind that moves.
“As I’ve said before,” Moore concluded, “we’re not here to rush solutions. We’re here to get this right.”
The study to determine whether the study was ready to be studied is expected to begin immediately, pending the results of a short preliminary assessment on whether immediate action is premature.
Political Party Animals 