Hogan Disagrees With Trump Over Delivery Of Medical Supplies

MARYLAND — An early proponent of school and business closures to stem the spread of the new coronavirus, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has also pushed federal officials to deliver medical supplies and gear to states, along with aid packages for businesses and workers in trouble.

That has at times put the moderate Republican at odds with President Donald Trump. Hogan in an interview Sunday contradicted the president's assertion that states have access to face masks, gloves, gowns, and ventilators needed to care for medical workers and patients. The president made his claim at a Friday press conference.

"We've certainly seen an improvement over the past week from the week before," Hogan said on ABC's "This Week." "I know that a lot of people in Washington are working very hard. Everybody has gotten more supplies than we had the week before and the day before, and I know there's people in Washington that are working very hard on this to help the states, but I think to say that everybody's completely happy and we have everything we need is not quite accurate."

Hogan, who also serves as chairman of the National Governors Association, told ABC that governors still have “tremendous needs,” and that it was wrong to suggest otherwise.

On Friday Hogan and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the vice chairman of the governors group, requested a $500 billion appropriation to account for the money that has come out of state coffers to cover costs during the new coronavirus pandemic. In a statement on behalf of the National Governors Association, they said the CARES Act stimulus bill "contained zero funding" to help state governments.

"Governors across the country are leading the on-the-ground response to the national COVID-19 pandemic, implementing a variety of stay at home orders and other aggressive measures that are successfully flattening the curve of the spread of the virus," the governors wrote. "While these public health strategies are working to protect the American people, they result in catastrophic damage to state economies."

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Maryland's comptroller on Friday projected a $2.8 billion shortfall for the state due to the coronavirus pandemic. New York is facing a $10 to $15 billion shortfall for the fiscal year.

Trump’s said at a Friday White House briefing that “we’re in great shape with” ventilators and he claimed not to have received any calls from governors in need of critical medical supplies, reports the Huffington Post. Shortly after that the president said his administration was receiving “very few” calls from governors or “anybody else needing anything.”

Hogan disagreed.

“Well, I get calls every day” on the need for supplies, Hogan said, adding neither Trump nor Vice President Mike Pence had been on some of those conference calls with governors.

Hogan said he had held 12 calls with governors, eight of which Trump or Pence sat in on, WTOP reports. While more supplies are flowing, Hogan said, "Everyone still has tremendous needs on personal protective equipment.”

Hogan was asked about Trump’s goal to reopen the economy by May 1, and said a return to normal life was important, but “You can’t just pick a date and flip a switch. I don’t think it’s going to be that simple.”

Hogan consistently has the support of two-thirds of Maryland voters — Democrats, independents and GOP members — and was urged by some politicos to mount a primary challenge against Trump in 2020, which he ultimately decided not to do.

Never a supporter of President Trump's candidacy or policies, Hogan wrote in his late father's name on the 2016 presidential ballot rather than voting for the controversial Trump or Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Maryland's cases of the new coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 illness, increased by more than 500 in the last day, according to the Maryland Department of Health's latest data. Statewide, there are 8,225 cases as of 10 a.m. Sunday, April 12. Hogan said Sunday the state is now sharing cases by zip code.

According to Hogan, the 21215 zip code in Baltimore City and County lead the state with 137 cases, followed by Silver Spring's 20904 with 132 cases, Silver Spring's 20906 with 126 cases and 20744 in Fort Washington with 122 cases.

In all, 235 people have died from the virus, an increase of 29 in the last day. Maryland's 1,860 hospitalized patients include 151 reported in the last day. So far, 456 people have been released from isolation, including 25 in the last day. A total of 41,539 people had negative test results.

The highest number of cases in Maryland continue to be found in the DC suburbs and Baltimore area. Prince George's County leads the state with 2,035 COVID-19 cases and 55 deaths. The second highest is 1,631 cases and 42 deaths in Montgomery County. Baltimore County is reporting 1,257 cases and 30 deaths, while Baltimore City 812 cases and 24 deaths.

Hogan said Friday the state has invested $2.5 million in a large-scale testing initiative that could process up to 20,000 tests a day, in a partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

SEE ALSO:

• Maryland Coronavirus: Cases Top 8,000, Breakdown By Zip Code
• Coronavirus: Amazon Employee At Hanover Site Tests Positive
• Governors Ask For $500 Billion In Federal Relief For Coronavirus