Reform Md. occupational licensing to boost economy

As stated in the recent editorial, “Md.’s high-income, low-unemployment economy shows cracks” (Jan. 4), Maryland’s economy is stagnant, with people leaving the workforce and employers unable to find workers.

While there are lots of theories for this, one neglected reason is bad state licensing laws.

Maryland requires a license to work for dozens of low- and middle-income occupations, including barbers, cosmetologists, athletic trainers, tree trimmers and even carpenters. These licenses come with hefty education requirements, exams and fees. Making matters worse, state licensing boards can deny licenses based on criminal records, even for old or irrelevant convictions.

Our organization, the Institute for Justice, fights unfair licensing laws nationwide.

We successfully sued Pennsylvania after it denied a mom a cosmetology license because of two old DUIs, even though she had been sober for five years and had an employer eager to hire her. We also helped a Florida ocean lifeguard get an emergency medical technician license that he needed to continue working — the state had denied his license solely because of his 15-year-old drug conviction.

Most recently we had to take Virginia to court for barring a man from working as a drug counselor because of his single assault conviction from 2004 — back when he was battling drug addiction. Maryland’s laws allow similarly unfair license denials.

Many states have modernized their licensing laws, but Maryland lags behind. We gave Maryland a D+ for its licensing laws for those with a criminal record.

That’s the lowest grade among neighboring states. It’s time for reform.

— Erica Smith Ewing, Arlington, Virginia

The writer is a senior attorney with the Institute for Justice.

Md. lawmakers must have child hunger on the menu

As we embark on the 2024 legislative session, we look forward to ensuring all Marylanders have an opportunity to have the governor and state legislature learn about their priorities to end hunger (“Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s 2024 legislative priorities expected to include military families, housing, public safety,” Jan. 8).

Maryland Hunger Solutions will continue to advocate for healthy school meals for all so that all children will have the nutrition they need to fuel their health and learning, and so that families and schools no longer need to be burdened by mounting school meal debt.

Addressing child poverty is critically important. We hope to build upon existing federal and state policies to feed the brains and bodies of all of our students. We know that kids who are hungry can’t learn, and we have an obligation to address in a targeted, strategic way the meal debts that families and school systems are facing.

Healthy school meals for all will help the nutrition of low-income children and their families.

We also know that the federal government is not providing enough support to households that participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which serves as the first line of defense against hunger. When our neighbors tell elected officials that they are struggling to get by on $23 a month — as tens of thousands of them are — they are surprised.

Maryland SNAP participants saw a sharp decline in benefits after the end of pandemic-era emergency allotments. No matter who you are, $23 a month doesn’t get you a healthy diet.

Maryland has already certified that participants are eligible for a supplemental benefit and acknowledged that current benefit amounts are insufficient. Investing in a supplemental benefit helps residents’ health and nutrition, and fuels our entire food system from farmers to grocery stores. It’s a win-win for our state.

We look forward to working with Gov. Wes Moore and members of the Maryland General Assembly on shared priorities.

— Michael J. Wilson, Baltimore

The writer is director of Maryland Hunger Solutions.

Possible 18-month jail term too little in death of six

It seems unconscionable that an assistant state’s attorney would suggest a net incarceration period of 18 months for an individual who was driving more than 110 miles per hour in traffic, resulting in the death of six workers (“Driver from fatal work zone crash deserves more than 18 months in jail,” Jan. 7).

Where is the justice in this?

This individual voluntarily drove at an excessive speed, which endangered the lives of the drivers around them, an action that ultimately cost the lives of six people who were working on our roads.

I just hope that the judge in this case takes the lives of the victims into account and the stupidity of the recommendation from the Baltimore County prosecutor.

— Craig Richard Baader, New Bern, North Carolina