30 Maryland Organizations Criticize Gov. Hogan’s Approach to the Budget

30 organizations, and some individual community leaders, endorsed this statement about the budget cuts proposed by Governor Larry Hogan June 26, 2020: 

“Governor Hogan is taking the wrong approach to managing the state budget during this economic downturn. His proposed cuts would hurt public schools, colleges, programs serving people with disabilities, efforts to mitigate the climate crisis, and behavioral health programs. We can’t afford to further hurt people during a public health crisis and inhibit our economic recovery.  

“At a minimum, the Board of Public Works should delay its action and give the public a chance to consider these proposed cuts and weigh in on how public funds should be spent. The Board should reject cuts that harm Marylanders and make it harder to deliver vital public services. 

“In these extraordinary times, the governor should be looking carefully for resources to keep delivering for Maryland’s working families. Governor Hogan should continue to work with our congressional delegation to get federal aid to help state and local governments balance their budgets, and ensure that the state is using other fiscal resources at its disposal. Permits for solar and wind power projects could also be accelerated by state agencies, speeding up job creation and additional tax revenue to counties and the state.

“The state should also consider additional revenue options to balance the budget. The House of Delegates passed legislation during the truncated 2020 session to ensure big corporations pay their fair share of profits earned in Maryland. The legislature should revisit those bills and other revenue measures as soon as possible.”

Signers:

1199SEIU

Advocates for Children and Youth

AFSCME Council 3

Arts Education in Maryland Schools (AEMS)

Baltimore Child Abuse Center 

CASH Campaign of Maryland

Catholic Community of St Anthony of Padua, St Dominic & Most Precious Blood

Chesapeake Climate Action Network

Community Development Network of Maryland

Communities United

Decoding Dyslexia Maryland

Disability Rights Maryland

Kalman R. Hettleman

League of Women Voters-Maryland 

Marylanders Against Poverty

Maryland Center on Economic Policy

Maryland Coalition for Community Schools

Maryland Education Coalition (MEC)

Maryland Fair Funding Coalition 

Maryland Legislative Coalition

Maryland Parent Teachers Association (MDPTA)

Maryland Pesticide Education Network

Maryland Out of School Time Network

NAACP Maryland State Conference 

National Association of Social Workers – MD Chapter

Progressive Maryland 

Public Justice Center

Sierra Club Maryland Chapter

SEIU Local 500

Sharon Rubinstein

Strong Schools Maryland

Teachers’ Democracy Project