Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley has been sworn into his second term.
O'Malley and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown were sworn in at noon Wednesday by Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge Robert Bell in a brief ceremony in the Maryland Senate, the Associated Press reported.
"Today, we affirm that we are one Maryland united by our belief in the dignity of every individual and by our belief in our own responsibility to advance the greater good," O'Malley said. "In our state, there is no such thing as a spare American. We are all in this together."
All seven Court of Appeals judges attended, as well as state senators and delegates. Former Maryland Govs. Parris Glendening, Harry Hughes and Marvin Mandel also attended. D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray and Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell also attended, NBC Washington's Chris Gordon reported.
Security was tight at the event following an incident earlier this month in which two letters sent to state government buildings flared up upon opening, Gordon reported. One of the letters was addressed to O'Malley.
O'Malley focused on economic issues during his second inaugural speech. Maryland must focus on the job-creating potential of the state's innovation economy in life sciences, biotechnology, aerospace and cyber security to boost the economy, O'Malley said.
AFSCME, the union representing state employees demonstrated against proposed pension cuts, and local leaders are against the state shifting responsibility for teacher pensions to the counties. That "would be devastating," Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker said.
The state finds itself facing a $1.6 billion budget deficit. Lawmakers will have to find ways to make deep spending cuts and possibly impose higher taxes on gasoline and alcoholic beverages.
The inaugural festivities have been scaled back this year because of the state's fiscal condition. There was no inaugural parade, and the usual black tie dinner is a business attire dinner this year. The inauguration did include a flyover, a 19-gun salute and tight security.
