Delegates Express Opposition to Same-Sex Marriage, Illegal Immigration

Taxes, illegal immigration and gay marriage dominated the conversation Thursday night when state Dels. Wade Kach, R-District 5B, and Pat McDonough, R-District 7, met with their constituents.

Both legislators discussed issues facing the Maryland General Assembly and their respective districts during a joint meeting at Jacksonville Elementary. McDonough's district includes Middle River.

Kach started the meeting with an update on the state’s budget explaining that the assembly opened with a nearly $1.6 billion deficit, and that Gov. Martin O’Malley does not anticipate revenues equaling expenditures “in his [O’Malley’s] lifetime.”

Those gathered discussed how the state is not providing enough funding for the public retirement system and other state services. McDonough also claimed that 390,000 illegal immigrants in Maryland were costing taxpayers about $1 billion in public education costs and $500 million for jail costs.

McDonough has introduced 16 different bills to the General Assembly advocating against illegal immigration. He added that Virginia and Pennsylvania have been “dropping the hammer” on illegal immigration by passing these bills but he’s “fighting an uphill battle” in Maryland.

“They are displacing jobs that American citizens aren’t going to get,” he said of illegal immigrants. “On a moral basis they are showing disrespect for the rule of law and the value of our citizenship. “

McDonough is also suing the president of Montgomery College Dr. DeRionne Pollard and the school’s Board of Trustees for offering illegal immigrants in-state tuition, which he claims is an $8 million cost to taxpayers.

Kach also voiced his opinion on the matter.

 “We are having many fiscal problems in the state of Maryland,” he said. “We can’t afford to be a sanctuary state.”

The bill to authorize same-sex marriage in Maryland was also briefly, but heatedly, touched upon. The majority of people gathered at the school vehemently opposed the legalization. Kach also stated that he is against same-sex marriages.

“I will advocate for rights that are denied to people because they are gay,” he said. “I will not support gay marriage. This is not what the people of my district want.”

McDonough did not express his opinion on the issue.