We're Plugging the Budget Holes by What?

Montgomery County and the State of Maryland are broke. Hopefully this isn't news to you but if you only think you heard something, even the "balanced budgets" that were recently produced are filled with unnecessary sacrifices, loopholes, borrowings and raiding of dedicated funds.

So how is it the state recently passed - by a narrow margin - a version of the "dream act" that subsidizes tuition for illegal aliens? I'm not overly interested in the question of illegal immigration. (Full disclosure: I'm all for immigration and while legal vs. illegal is an interesting question, answering the question is not helpful in determining what is good or bad about the current state of immigrants in the U.S.) However, in times of tight budgets, it is worth asking the question: Why subsidize tuition for people who are here illegally? 

It's a tough economy and these are tough times. Tough decisions need to be made. Tolls are rising because the state legislature has raided the highway trust fund to balance the general fund. Taxes are rising because our state legislature actually increased spending for the coming fiscal year. If our government won't grow up and say no, we the people must take action.

A referendum effort is underway to repeal this law. While conservatives often refer to being lonely in Montgomery County, there are more people interested in this issue than you think.  The referendum effort requires approximately 58,000 signatures to put the question on the 2012 ballot. You can (and should) participate in the referendum and help put the number of qualifying signatures over the top by using this link.