Kirwan Commission Sandbagging Public on Massive Tax Increases

on September 19, 2019 at 4:32 pm

We have been covering the work on of the Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education (known as the “Kirwan Commission”) for years here at Red Maryland. Ostensibly, this blue ribbon panel was created to develop recommendations to make Maryland’s public schools the finest in the world. In reality, the group is a political sham intended to provide cover for Maryland Democrats as they massively increase spending on K-12 education and raise taxes to pay for it. Much of this money, as we detailed last week, will go directly to the members of the state’s teacher’s union and will actually fund more time for teachers outside of the classroom.

While many of the questions about what to spend the money on have been answered, the tricky questions about how the plan will be funded, ie what taxes are going to be raised, has been repeatedly put off. This led Governor Hogan last month to point out that the Kirwan Commission’s plan was “half-baked” and ill considered as Hogan stated unequivocally that he would oppose any and all tax increases proposed by the legislature.

With the time for the Commission to complete its work in advance of the 2020 Maryland General Assembly session winding down, the expectation has been that the workgroup tasked with determining the “funding formulas” (read confiscatory tax increases) would meet and finally give some details. Instead, the group has delayed and, in an outrageous and unprecedented move, decided today to go in to closed session.

This skulduggery was first noted by Kevin Kinnally of the Maryland Association of Counties and co-host of the Conduit Street Podcast (who have done amazing work bringing to light the work of the Kirwan Commission) though, inexplicably he deleted the tweet after it was shared by Red Maryland.

Remember this when @mddems insist that we have to adopt the recommendations of the Kirwan Commission, including all of the taxes and unfunded mandates on localities to pay for it.

They are sandbagging Marylanders on one of most important and expensive proposals in a generation. https://t.co/NZuOBhGy42

— GregoryKline (@GregoryKline) September 19, 2019

This announcement started a firestorm of criticism from Republican elected officials, including Senator Mary Beth Carozza who is a member of the Kirwan Commission though not a member of the tax hike workgroup.

CAROZZA SPEAKS OUT AGAINST DECISION TO HOLD CLOSED KIRWAN FUNDING FORMULA MEETING#MDPolitics pic.twitter.com/xLzgGnKbyb

— Mary Beth Carozza (@MBCarozzaSenate) September 19, 2019

To every Marylander following my tweets: I urge you to pick up the phone, call your legislator and demand the Kirwan Tax Hike Commission meet in public. At least give us the courtesy in public to tell Marylanders how much we will be paying in tax hikes. #mdpolitics

— Steve Hershey (@SenatorHershey) September 19, 2019

It appears the Kirwan Machine is getting quite defensive over its $3 billion annual education boondoggle. Kirwan went so far to get an AG decision to only let selected members participate in a closed door “executive” meeting to decide who gets the biggest slices of the money pie

— Steve Hershey (@SenatorHershey) September 19, 2019

It also drew criticism from Democrat-leaning political expert Professor Todd Eberly

This is unacceptable. Kirwan is making recommendations that will shape public education policies and require public tax dollars to fund them. The public deserves to hear what they’re considering (or not considering) – regardless of what is ultimately decided. Open the doors. https://t.co/5IoA0c0Yxo

— Todd Eberly (@ToddEberly) September 19, 2019

Sure. The stage is now set for the work-group to make a recommendation and say that there was really no other alternative and then for the Assembly to say “we’re just following the Kirwan recommendations.” Public Education + Public Policy + Public Funding = Public Meetings

— Todd Eberly (@ToddEberly) September 19, 2019

The Professor is absolutely right. The Maryland Democrats are sandbagging all of us by hiding the ball on the true costs of their education proposals and stifling any real debate about the tax increases required for the funding they insist is absolutely necessary.

Maryland Democrats know that what they are proposing could not survive public scrutiny as the public would see it for what it is, an unnecessary boondoggle and multi-billion dollar payoff to the teacher’s unions which will have to be funded by hard-working Marylanders.

Author

Greg Kline

A long-time conservative activist and former General Assembly candidate, Greg Kline exploded onto the conservative media scene with his blog The Conservative Refuge in 2007. His unmatched Conservative Refuge Radio on the Red Maryland Network covers local and national politics with Greg’s own unique brand of news and comment. In addition to his work as a founder of the Red Maryland Network, Greg expanded these internet efforts into regular appearances on WGMD's Mike in the Morning show, WMAL, WEAA's Marc Steiner show, WBAL's C4 show, WAMD 970AM’s Word on the Street program with host Warren Monks, guest appearances on WCBM 680AM's Pat McDonough Show and regular guest appearances on The Right Issue produced for Comcast cable viewers in Anne Arundel county. When he is not spreading his unique blend of pop culture inspired wit and bedrock conservatism, Greg is an attorney and managing member of the Law Office of Gregory M. Kline, LLC Greg’s legal career has led him to represent a number of high profile clients often putting him in the middle of some of the hottest political controversies in recent Maryland history.