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Guest Commentary - page 32

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Maryland Matters welcomes guest commentary submissions at [email protected]. We suggest a 750-word limit and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions. We do not accept columns that are endorsements of candidates or submissions from political candidates. Views of writers are their own.

Recycling

State’s attempt to advance new policy with input from all perspectives has garnered praise from a packaging industry expert.

Climate

Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake urges Maryland’s leaders to make a strong environmental stewardship statement during this legislative session.

Justice

Incarceration has a criminogenic effect on kids. Put simply, it makes them more likely to commit crime in the future. 

The head of the Maryland Defenders Union reflects on the history of public defenders in the U.S. — and expresses hope for the union’s efforts to gain collective bargaining rights.

Employment

Fourteen states allow eligible individuals who are not yet citizens to obtain occupational licenses. Maryland should allow that, too.

To truly help survivors of the sex trade, keeping them out of the criminal legal system is a much better solution.

Health Care

This Kirwan-like commission would develop a state plan to provide health benefits through a single-payer system.

Health Literacy

Consumers need all the help they can to find their way through the confusing maze of the health care system. Establish a health information hub.

Special Elections

Policies such as special elections, public financing and ranked-choice voting are effective in building a representative democracy.

Streetlights

Local governments are able to upgrade their lights as economics allow. Utility foot-dragging on their lights is a slower process. Current legislation would change that.