For the last few months, a tax-supported immigration group with headquarters in a restored Langley Park mansion has been trying to block taxpaying Maryland citizens from voting on in-state tuition for illegal immigrants.
The latest volley: Legal watchdog group Judicial Watch is asking the Maryland Circuit Court to dismiss a lawsuit (John Doe, et al., v. Maryland State Board of Elections) filed by Casa de Maryland that would cancel the statewide referendum on Maryland’s Dream Act (SB 167), which will cost Maryland taxpayers an estimated $3.5 million by 2016.
After Casa dropped its legal challenge to 132,071 voter signatures collected by MDPetition.com to put Maryland’s Dream Act (SB 167) on the November ballot, The Washington Examiner noted:
According to a legal brief filed by Judicial Watch on behalf of MDPetition.com, the only limitation on Maryland voters’ constitutional right to check the power of the governor and General Assembly through referendum is “where the law in question makes an appropriation of public funds” or when it’s passed for the express purpose of “maintaining the State Government…or any public institution.”
Not only is SB 167 not a budget or appropriations bill, it is “completely devoid” of any explicit expenditure of public funds, Judicial Watch lawyers argued. It is “nothing more than a policy choice that extends eligibility for reduced, in-state and in-county tuition to a new group of persons.”
Casa’s attempt to derail the referendum in court may have an unintended political backlash. “I have said from the beginning that this legal action by Casa de Maryland is bizarre,” said Del. Patrick McDonough, R-Baltimore County, honorary chairman of MDPetition.com. “The idea of illegal aliens suing Maryland citizens to prevent them from voting illustrates how much they disrespect citizenship.”
If Casa hopes to convince Marylanders to vote down the referendum question, this show of disrespect for voters may not be the way to do it.
