Federal budget process remains badly broken

The recent article, “How Biden and McCarthy struck a debt limit deal and staved off a catastrophe” (June 2), described the bipartisan process that led to an effective solution to the recent debt limit problem.

The short-term issue has been addressed but the public needs to understand that the overall process for managing federal revenues, spending, deficits and the national debt is not working and needs to be changed. Federal spending has exceeded revenues every year since 2001. The $31 trillion national debt has doubled in the last 10 years and the Congressional Budget Office projects it will double again in the coming decade.

Social Security and Medicare provide benefits for over 70 million people and represent 65% of all federal spending and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services trustees have said they will be forced to reduce program benefits within 10 years unless current funding and benefits policies are changed.

Families know the importance of maintaining tight control over every dollar of spending and that doubling their debt load might well lead to bankruptcy. Unfortunately, too many of our elected officials demonstrate none of that spending discipline when it comes to managing public finances.

The 2024 primaries and general election will provide voters with an excellent opportunity to examine the record of every incumbent and challenger for both houses of Congress as well as the White House, and support the candidates who are willing to manage public spending and revenues as carefully as they do their own.

— Sandy Harlow, Timonium

Acting police commissioner needs to get his history straight

Acting Commissioner Richard Worley should bone up on Baltimore Police Department history. According to the recent article regarding the press conference announcing his appointment (“Baltimore Police Commissioner Harrison to leave contract early; veteran Richard Worley nominated to replace him,” June 8), he stated that “in policing, leaders don’t often become a commissioner at the city or agency where they first began.”

In fact, of the 11 police commissioners he has served under during his 25 years on the force, four of the appointed and one acting began their careers in the Baltimore Police Department — Ronald L. Daniel, Leonard D. Hamm, Frederick H. Bealefeld III, Darryl D. DeSousa and Gary Tuggle (acting). Point of fact, since 1981, nine of the 15 officers serving as police commissioner began their law enforcement careers with this department.

As for outgoing Commissioner Michael Harrison, all I can say — and with the utmost respect — is that I assume he has completed the mission he said he was on when in a Baltimore Sun article published on Feb. 21, 2019, as he addressed a room full of faith leaders, he stated that his arrival in the city was a “calling from God” and that “ministry has prepared me for this.”

“Had it not been for ministry,” Harrison was quoted as saying, “I do not think I would understand the calling that I have and the seriousness and the importance of what needs to be done here — and why, perhaps, God chose me, as opposed to anybody else.”

At last week’s news conference, Harrison simply stated that he has no job offers and has not interviewed for any other positions, instead saying he planned to take it easy, to make himself available to help the new police commissioner or to spend time with his family. The “calling” was done or unfulfilled. Political reality, crime and the pressures of the position obviously took their toll.

I wish him well.

— Jim Giza, Baltimore

If Biden wants to win in ’24, he needs a new VP

David Brooks argues in a recent commentary regarding a possible third party or independent candidate that with Donald Trump on the scene, the potential rewards of seeking a third presidential candidate are not worth the risk (“This is not the time for a third presidential candidate,” June 8).

I would like to mention another risk to avoid. Considering President Joe Biden’s age, I believe the choice of vice president will be of unusual importance to the voters. Vice President Kamala Harris seems like a nice, intelligent person, but I, for one, know little about her wisdom and capacity for leadership. I hope the Democrats work hard to find the most appropriate candidate to take on that role.

— Eritha Yardley, Baltimore