Campaigns are often about rhetoric.

A slogan can define an opponent or encapsulate an idea.

Governing is about decisions.

How much should we tax our citizens? How should we spend that revenue?

The Supreme Court’s decision in the Hobby Lobby case is an opportunity for policy decisions about family planning to be discussed during the gubernatorial campaign.

I weighed in with a letter to the editor that I just sent to the Baltimore Sun.

Dear Editors:

Maryland’s next Governor will have great control over our tax rate, as well as how that money is spent.

 Larry Hogan, the Republican candidate, does not want to discuss the latter in the context of family planning. He avoided that subject in his response to the Sun editorial which outlined the policy decisions facing our next chief executive.

Governor O’Malley’s decision to expand Medicaid coverage through the Affordable Care Act has increased contraceptive coverage to low-income adults. Does Mr. Hogan support this cornerstone of Obamacare? If he does, he would be among a very distinct minority of Republican governors.

Would Mr. Hogan integrate family planning and substance abuse treatment for at-risk teens, an effective intervention in St. Louis. Would he increase outreach to teens in foster care?

Thus far, he is silent.

Mr. Hogan’s letter was long on talking points but short on specifics.

I hope that his campaign is otherwise.

 

The Sun editorial is at http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bs-ed-hobby-lobby-hogan-20140708,0,6742252.story

Mr. Hogan’s letter is at http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/readersrespond/bs-ed-hogan-hobby-lobby-letter-20140708,0,4831067.story