Republicans across Maryland face an urgent but straightforward challenge: speak with one voice, every month, on the issues that matter most to our taxpayers and our communities. If we fail to do this, the Democrats’ monopoly on messaging will continue unchallenged—and so will their reckless policies.
This August, the target is clear: the Maryland Blueprint for Education—or, as I call it, the Bankrupt Blueprint.
Why that name? Because this so-called “education plan” already raised taxes by $1.6 billion, with even bigger hikes looming on the horizon. Democrats and their allies in the teachers’ unions celebrate this as progress. I call it what it is: a cash grab that robs hardworking Maryland families while funneling the money into a system that prioritizes bureaucracy and political agendas over actual education.
But here’s the part that should outrage every Marylander: not only do the unions champion the Bankrupt Blueprint, they also use their members’ dues to bankroll controversial political causes. Many teachers don’t agree with the positions their unions take, yet they feel trapped. That’s why so many are finally saying, enough—and quitting the union.
And here’s a fact most teachers don’t know: many join the union just to get professional liability insurance. But they’re being overcharged. The Association of American Educators (AAE) offers twice the coverage at one-third of the cost—saving teachers more than $14,000 over the course of a career. And here’s the kicker: teachers can quit the union anytime with zero impact on their benefits or job protections.
This is where Republicans—and all concerned citizens—must step in. Our job is to spread the word. Write letters to the editor. Post on social media. Talk to the teachers in your community. Let them know they are not powerless, and they don’t have to fund a union that works against their interests—or against Maryland taxpayers.
When teachers learn the truth, they leave the union in large numbers. And every teacher who takes that step chips away at the political machine driving Maryland’s runaway spending.
So, for August, let’s keep our message clear and consistent:
- The Bankrupt Blueprint is draining Maryland taxpayers.
- Teachers’ unions are political, not educational.
- Teachers can save thousands by quitting the union and choosing independent insurance.
If we speak loudly, clearly, and in unison, we can finally start to turn the tide against the entrenched interests running our schools—and our state—into the ground.
ENDNOTES
Maryland Blueprint for Education (a.k.a. “Kirwan Plan”):
Passed in 2021, the Blueprint is a multi-year education funding plan projected to cost $32 billion over 10 years, with over $1.6 billion in new taxes already approved to fund its first phases. Future funding gaps are expected to trigger additional tax increases.
Source: Maryland General Assembly Fiscal and Policy Notes, 2021.
Union Political Activity and Teacher Dues:
Maryland teachers’ unions, including the Maryland State Education Association (MSEA), spend significant portions of member dues on political lobbying, campaign donations, and policy advocacy, not solely on workplace representation.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, LM-2 Union Financial Disclosures.
Teacher Rights to Leave the Union:
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 Janus v. AFSCME decision, public employees—including Maryland teachers—cannot be forced to join or financially support a union. Teachers can opt out anytime without losing benefits or job protections.
Source: National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation.
Lower-Cost Professional Liability Insurance for Teachers:
The Association of American Educators (AAE) offers professional liability insurance at about one-third the cost of union-provided coverage, often providing double the protection. Over a 30-year career, teachers can save $14,000 or more by choosing independent coverage.
Source: Association of American Educators, 2025 Rate Comparisons.
Carol Hughes is a contributor for Direct Line News. Contact Carol at Carol.Hughes@gary-baise
Direct Line News is a Maryland-based free-access publication committed to the Republican reform tradition.
About The Author
