Md. governor travels to Ireland, Netherlands

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley is visiting Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Netherlands.

The governor is traveling first to Ireland and Northern Ireland as part of a congressional delegation led by the Faith and Politics Institute examining the historic divides on the island and peace and reconciliation efforts.

He will also attend the two-day Progresssive Governance Conference in Amsterdam meant to foster policy exchange and debate on the theme of "Making Progressive Politics Work." O'Malley will speak on Thursday at the conference organized by Policy Network, Center for American Progress and a Dutch think tank on "An economy with a human purpose."

A spokeswoman for the governor says the Faith and Politics Institute is paying O'Malley's expenses for the trip.