FUNDING JUSTICE

Removing federal restrictions from state financial aid payouts
removes punishments beyond those dictated by the legal system.

Del. Ana Sol Gutierrez has introduced a bill to the Maryland state
legislature that would remove certain state funding from being bound
by federal restrictions. On the surface, this may seem
uncontroversial, but the ramifications are huge. Currently, federal
law bars drug violators from receiving financial aid from the state
of Maryland - this bill opens the door.

We are in full support. Editorial pages nationwide, including The
Diamondback's, have been set aflame by debates on the righteousness
of the U.S.'s drug, but truly, this is not the issue at hand.
Federalist arguments aside, we frame our opinion on the bill from the
view that it is nonsensical that a person convicted of a crime is
being punished again - beyond their original sentence - by being
barred from financial aid.

Consider as well that those hurt by federal restrictions are often
the most unfortunate and disenfranchised elements of society. We're
not making excuses for drug violators by blaming poverty, but it does
not make sense to withhold financial support from the state's
poorest, who have already served their time and punishment as
mandated by the justice system.

Not everyone gets off scot-free - the state of Maryland itself can
restrict drug violators from freely recieving financial aid, but this
bill further widens the window for debate on the issue.

Drug violators are fully eligible for admission to the university and
in-state tuition status. If the state is interested in restricting
the freedom of drug violators to pursue a public education, why
restrict only financial aid, and not the education itself?

We hope Del. Gutierrez's bill gains deserved attention and support.
Maryland should simply let the appropriate laws punish the
appropriate crimes. There are already penalties on the book for drug
violations. The additional punishment of withholding financial aid
acts as an unjust and irrelevant shadow amendment and should be terminated.