An issue with budgets and economic growth

Two recent Sun articles well explained Maryland’s budget woes and the lack of economic growth. A Spotlight article pointed out that growth has lagged since 2017 but the state’s budget has increased significantly. Gov. Moore and fellow Democrats’ solution is to substantially increase taxes on high earners, a solution that has been tried in other blue jurisdictions such as California with disastrous consequences. High earners act like a banana and split.

We then learn from a separate article sound advice from former Democratic State Sen. Jim Brochin. He correctly points out that teachers unions are jamming the so called Blueprint for Maryland’s Future down taxpayers’ throats, creating a “financial disaster.” Democrats who created this mess have to answer this basic question: Who is running this state, teachers’ unions or taxpayers? If it is the former, expect to have fewer of the latter in the future.

— Robert C Erlandson, Lutherville

Domestic violence registry not needed more than other services

On Saturday I read the article, “Maryland Lawmakers Divided Over Creating a Registry of Repeat Domestic Violence Offenders” and I thought there were some key points left out of the conversation. As the executive director of the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence, I have a unique perspective on this topic from the vantage point of the professionals that provide direct crisis response to victims of domestic violence across the state. Here are three critical points that I think should be considered.

First off, the registry as it is currently proposed would require someone to have been convicted of a domestic violence- (DV) related crime three times before they are placed on the registry. Research tells us that DV offenders are often repeat offenders both of DV-related crimes and other types of crimes, but conviction and categorization of a crime as being DV-related is not an easy task. The sad reality is that it is difficult to obtain one successful conviction of a DV-related crime much less three. This high bar will result in very few people being placed on the registry and it will give a false sense of security to the public.

My second and greatest concern is the $2.5 million price tag. The thought of spending this amount of money on a registry when the currently proposed state budget cuts millions of dollars from victim services hurts my heart. The idea that the state would be hiring staff to monitor and enforce a registry while the agencies who provide shelter, counseling and legal services to DV victims are forced to let staff go doesn’t make sense. Domestic Violence Service Providers need that $2.5 million for basic operations and to keep up with the demand for services.

And finally, even though I thoroughly understand why anyone might want to know if the person they are involved with has a history of violence, the Maryland Judiciary Case Search database already exists, is free to use for the public. Now it’s true that some criminal activity might be shielded on this database, but it would give a more accurate picture of someone’s criminal history than the proposed registry.

For all these reasons I hope the General Assembly will not support the creation of a DV registry and will continue to fund domestic violence victim services at sustainable levels.

— Jennifer Pollitt Hill, Annapolis

The teachers’ union is not the problem

I am a lawyer, the City of Baltimore’s first labor commissioner and later a member of the Baltimore City School Board. In those positions I represented Baltimore City and the School Board negotiating with the labor organizations representing city and state employees. I am responding to a former state senator who argues education spending is bankrupting the State of Maryland and calls on lawmakers in Annapolis to take a stand against the teachers’ union.

While the cost of public education is increasing as it is with all government costs, the claim that the teachers’ union is responsible is contrary to any evidence I witnessed in my direct dealings with the unions. Rather the teachers and other unions representing public employees consistently conducted their business with the city and state in the most principled and ethical manner focusing on the needs and welfare of its constituents and the members it represented. No evidence existed then, nor now to support the state senator’s accusation.

— Edward Joseph Gutman, Baltimore