WASHINGTON — Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced actions aimed at the state’s opioid crisis, including suing opioid manufacturers, converting former jail space into a treatment facility and enhancing ways that first responders share data about overdoses.
But the governor’s news release saying he “directed” Attorney General Brian Frosh to sue opioid manufacturers was greeted with some pushback — from Frosh himself.
In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Frosh wrote “Governor Hogan often issues a press release saying he has ‘directed’ us to do something after we have asked for his approval. As he has done here.”
Frosh said that his Consumer Protection Division was already at work on efforts targeting opioid manufacturers, but he stated “we simply do not have sufficient resources.”
“The Office of the Attorney General,” Frosh said, “requested four additional positions — two in our Consumer Protection Division and two in our Criminal Division. Our request was denied by the governor.”
Frosh also tweeted about the situation. When asked for comment, the governor’s office forwarded a statement from Communications Director Douglass Mayer, who said that Frosh’s office has 36 vacancies and that Frosh has the ability to shift monies to fund his priorities.
“This is about saving lives,” Mayer added, “and snarky press releases and attempts at political point scoring don’t do that.”
Hogan’s office was asked which opioid manufacturers his administration was seeking to target, and how those drug makers “misled” the public. Shareese DeLeaver-Churchill, Hogan’s press secretary, responded by saying those details would be released when the lawsuit is filed.
Hogan’s announcement came on the same day that politicians in other jurisdictions across the country — from New York to Baton Rouge, Louisiana — announced that they, too, would be suing opioid manufacturers.
Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker plans on announcing a lawsuit targeting opioid manufacturers Wednesday morning.
