Financial literacy needed now more than ever

For several decades, I have been trying to get a financial literacy course as high school graduation requirement but bills submitted to both chambers of the Maryland General Assembly never get out of committee.

With Maryland’s budget deficit projected to be $3 billion (“Solutions to Maryland’s $3B budget crisis likely to be a waiting game,” Dec. 18), I now think it’s too late for high school and we should start with the elected officials in Annapolis who never had a financial literacy course. That can start with Gov. Wes Moore.

— Richard T. Webb, Parkton

National debt puts Maryland economy at risk

I am deeply concerned about the growing national debt and its potential impact on our state’s economy, particularly our reliance on military contracts. Maryland plays a pivotal role in supporting national defense with installations like Fort Meade, Aberdeen Proving Ground, and Naval Air Station Patuxent River driving both our state’s economy and the country’s security. However, without meaningful action on the federal debt, these critical investments could be at risk (“House rejects Trump-backed plan on government shutdown, leaving next steps uncertain,” Dec. 20).

The rising debt means larger portions of the federal budget are being swallowed by interest payments, leaving less flexibility to fund defense programs. Maryland’s workforce and businesses depend on military contracts for innovation, jobs and economic stability. Any cuts or delays due to fiscal mismanagement would have a cascading effect on our local communities and national readiness.

Congress must act now to balance fiscal responsibility with strategic investment. This means tackling inefficiencies, ensuring defense dollars are spent wisely and taking a bipartisan approach to reduce wasteful spending across all sectors. Preserving Maryland’s role as a hub for defense innovation and readiness requires both prudent economic management and a commitment to reducing the debt burden.

We cannot afford to let fiscal inaction jeopardize the defense infrastructure that keeps Maryland’s economy strong and our nation safe. It’s time for Congress to put aside partisan differences and secure a stable financial future.

— Max Moore, Glen Burnie

Recalling the Chesapeake Bay’s last political tsunami

The Baltimore Sun’s recent editorial, “Chesapeake Bay cleanup faces Trump EPA tsunami” (Dec. 14), was spot on. It evoked nightmare memories of a prior tsunami for the Chesapeake Bay over 40 years ago.

President Ronald Reagan’s U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Anne Gorsuch (mother of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch) tried to deep six the nascent Chesapeake Bay recovery effort along with most clean air and water policies nationwide. U.S. Sen. Charles “Mac” Mathias of Maryland held a Senate hearing to investigate such Bay improprieties at the EPA.

There were two witnesses, Peter Bibko who was an EPA deputy loyal to then-Anne Gorsuch Burford, and me, the 29-year-old CEO of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Upon questioning from Senator Mathias, I repeated my testimony that a strong federal-state partnership was essential to reverse decades of Chesapeake Bay pollution.

The federal presence was certainly at risk under Burford’s leadership. A barrage of withering questions from U.S. Sen. Paul Sarbanes who joined the hearing, flustered Bibko. At one point, he could not remember the day’s date.

From the transcript:

“Senator SARBANES: Where is your answer to our letter to you of November 5? Do you have that with you? Mr. BIBKO: No, Senator. The answer will be coming from the Administrator. Senator SARBANES: Will be coming? Mr. BIBKO: Yes, Senator. You see, we at the time … Senator SARBANES: What is the date of today? Mr. BIBKO: You have to help me, Senator. Senator SARBANES: March 1. Mr. BIBKO: Yes, March 1. Senator SARBANES: This was a letter of November 5 … “

Shortly after the hearing, Bibko resigned as EPA Region III administrator and days later, Burford resigned as well. She was replaced with EPA’s first administrator and subsequent U.S. Attorney General William Ruckelshaus. Ruckelshaus immediately put the Bay back on course in his remarks at the first tri-state Chesapeake Bay conference held at George Mason University later that very year.

While shortcomings in the much-heralded effort to save the Chesapeake Bay are well documented and hugely frustrating, at least some modest progress has made. Without Ruckelshaus, the critical federal partnership may have died under Reagan.

The Senate should reject current Administrator-designate Lee Zeldin, who has been charged with carrying out President-elect Donald Trump’s scorched earth, “drill, baby, drill” agenda. Further, Senate leaders could do much for the Bay and environmental protection nationwide by encouraging the appointment of former EPA Administrator William K. Reilly, 84, a Republican who served with distinction under President George H.W. Bush.

We would all breathe easier.

— Will Baker, Ruxton

The writer served as CEO of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation from 1981 to 2021.