Those Affected By Cuts Speak Out

Propose Constitutional Amendment That Protects Human Rights 

Over 50 people, most of whom receive or had received TDAP, attended a “town hall” style Human Rights Budget Hearing on December 3rd, and warned of the human cost of budget cutting.   “I just want to know what am I supposed to do?”  asked a tearful Heather Smith, who will lose the means to pay rent in housing she just recently secured.  “Tell me, I just want to know.   What am I supposed to do?”  Smith was one of 14 persons who testified at the hearing, hosted by SaveTDAP advocates at the Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore.  Branden MacLeod of the Maryland Budget and Tax Policy Institute began the hearing by presenting Maryland’s current fiscal and budget challenge.   An estimated $2 billion (roughly 15% of the budget) might be slashed from the upcoming FY 2011 budget, simply to make ends meet.  Already over $1 billion has been cut from the current FY2010 budget through emergency actions by the Governor and the Board of Public Works.   MacLeod indicated that a mix of temporary funds infusion from the state’s rainy day fund combined with revenue enhancements was necessary to meet the human needs and rights of Marylanders.   The Governor has indicated privately that he fears any tax increases will cost him his re-election.   The town hall gathering adopted a proposed constitutional amendment that requires the Governor to establish a thorough and efficient system to meet the human rights of health care, housing, food, social services and income security for all Marylanders in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond their control.  The proposed amendment was later delivered to the Attorney General’s office at St. Paul Place by a group who attended the hearing.

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