Readers Respond

Moore unwise to reduce aid to developmentally disabled

Gov. Wes Moore’s budget priorities are becoming clear — and troubling. His proposed Fiscal 2025 budget includes a $200 million cut to the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) and eliminates $5.5 million for Low Intensity Support Services (“Marylanders with developmental disabilities ‘scared, angry, concerned’ about looming $200 million in cuts to services,” Jan. 24).

These cuts strip families of children with autism of access to programs like therapeutic horseback riding and respite care. Adding to the strain, Moore’s proposal to eliminate charitable deductions threatens nonprofits that provide these vital services.

This is not new. In 2023, Moore’s first budget proposed a 20% funding cut to the BOOST program, which provides school vouchers for economically disadvantaged families with children in failing public schools. Although legislators restored some funding, the program still suffered a 10% cut.

Meanwhile, the legislature approved expensive new entitlements such as the Trans Health Equity Act (HB0283), creating a costly Medicaid expansion. Amendments by Del. Mark Fisher and Del. April Miller to safeguard minors and protect parental rights were rejected.

The 2024 session added another Medicaid entitlement, the Access to Care Act (SB0705), expanding the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange to undocumented immigrants. Sen. Johnny Mautz’s amendment to exclude individuals with criminal ICE detainers was also rejected.

Gov. Moore’s slogan, “Leave No One Behind,” rings hollow as his policies abandon vulnerable communities. Contact your state legislators today and demand the restoration of funding for disabled Marylanders.

— Glen Geelhaar, Parkville

Don’t deny police enforcement tools

An ill-conceived bill making its way through the Maryland General Assembly will further restrict law enforcement officials throughout the state from doing their jobs in order to advance progressive objectives aimed at condemning police officers as a societal threat.

Senate Bill 292 sponsored by Sen. Charles Sydnor III, a Baltimore County Democrat, reclassifies multiple primary traffic violations for which police can pull a driver over to secondary violations (“Bill would bar police from making traffic stops for minor infractions in Maryland,” Jan. 28). Included in this category are driving without functioning headlights or taillights, driving without a mirror, window tint, throwing litter from a car and failure to illuminate a license plate among other violations.

Under the bill, citations can be written for these violations but only as secondary offenses. Officers would be required to stop vehicles for other, primary, reasons.

So, who is responsible if a car without functioning headlights, ignored by police, causes a fatal accident? How about a situation where a road officer makes a traffic stop and is unable to see inside the vehicle because the windows are too dark? What if the driver, hidden behind very dark tinted windows, has a weapon aimed at the officer walking alongside the vehicle? And, what if, heaven forbid, the officer is shot as a result? Will the supporters of this bill, should it become law, be held accountable?

This is yet another attempt by Annapolis lawmakers to take away law enforcement tools necessary to protect our communities. The mindset of individuals attempting to water down the effectiveness of sworn officers working to protect and serve our communities is as frustrating to law enforcement as it is dangerous to the citizens they are sworn to serve.

Admittedly law enforcement has a responsibility to labor without malice toward any individual or group. But just as important is the responsibility of citizens to obey the law, a concept that some people fail to appreciate and accept.

This is a bad bill that’s wasting the time of Annapolis legislators who have much more important issues to resolve for the people of this state.

— Anthony W. “Chip” Bertino, Jr., Snow Hill

The writer, a Republican, is a Worcester County commissioner.

Editor’s note

The Baltimore Sun is seeking nominations for its 10th annual Business and Civic Hall of Fame, recognizing individuals who’ve fostered transformational change in the Baltimore region. Email nominations by Feb.10 to [e-mail] with a brief description of the nominee’s accomplishments and background. We will announce the 2025 inductees in March, and honor them with an event and special newspaper section in June.