We want to help - but this goes too far!
Have you ever wanted to start your own business? Working for yourself is part of the American Dream. But maybe you're worried that you don't have the resources to make a go of it. Maybe you don't have the money. You could go on the TV show, Shark Tank, and try to get some investors to help you live your dream. If you can't get on Shark Tank, maybe you should go to jail in Maryland.
If you're an ex-felon, Maryland taxpayers are going to help you start your own business with a paid mentor and cash.
The Maryland General Assembly passed a bill to help Ex-Offenders start a business, HB 909. I'm all for helping ex-offenders re-enter society and become law-abiding taxpayers like you and me. However, I think this one goes too far.
The Department of Public Safety and Department of Labor Licensing and Regulations (DLLR) will select 3-5 individuals who have "RECENTLY" exited the correctional system to start their own small business. DLLR will help them:
1. Develop a business plan
2. Get training to start and run the small business
3. Be assigned a personal mentor to help them- 2 new state employees
4. Partner with DLLR
5. Help them get financing through the State of Maryland (get money to set up and get their business running).
According to the fiscal note, the program will require hiring two new state employees or contractors to help these 3-5 ex-felons start a business. There are too many law abiding, tax paying Maryland citizens who would like this kind of financial help and personal attention.
We all agree that ex-offenders SHOULD GET employment assistance, substance abuse treatment, housing, family programming, mentoring, victim support, and other services that can help reduce reoffending and violations of probation and parole. But setting up a special program for recently released felons that will cost taxpayers more than $100,000 per year and helping them get money from the State of Maryland to finance these efforts is just too much.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
3 comments:
Delaware needs to do the same thing so that all of those sex offenders who failed to re register would have some direction.
Wow.
Our "representatives" think that being frugal, saving money, sacrificing and denying oneself (AND family), and working toward a goal is just too hard and contrary to the American Dream.
Its would be sooooooooooo much easier if you just do some prison time.
THEN, you can bypass all that extra work and sacrifice and have the stupid hardworking taxpayers set you up.
Your "representatives" will need some kind of revenue stream to accommodate the guy next door who broke into your house and stole $50,000 in cash and jewelry.
Who in the heck are they "representing"???????
Keep cheering.
And keep your wallet open for inspection.
A lot of these felons will never get good jobs for the rest of their life. It's a tragic situation for those who have turned things around. If they're just going to scrub floors, flip burgers, etc, they're going to be a lot more likely to end up back in prison.
I used to work in a restaurant that favored hiring people with criminal records. I asked the owner about it, and his response was "I like to hire people who don't have a good chance at a great job anywhere else. When it works, they stick around longer and work harder than most people without those kinds of problems."
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