Baltimore ‘baby bonus’ won’t appear on ballots after court rules it unconstitutional

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — A proposal in Baltimore that would allow city voters to decide whether to pay new parents $1,000 will not appear on the ballot in November after Maryland’s highest court ruled it unconstitutional.

The court issued a ruling Thursday after hearing oral arguments Wednesday. It affirmed a lower court decision that deemed the proposal unconstitutional because it would essentially remove “all meaningful discretion” from the city and its elected leaders.

Baltimore’s mayor and city council filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the proposal after organizers secured the necessary 10,000 signatures to bring the question to voters as a ballot initiative in November. The lawsuit argued that the charter amendment process is meant to address changes to the form and structure of government, not specific legislative or budgetary questions.

A group of public school teachers launched the so-called “baby bonus” campaign in hopes of pushing city and state leaders to do more to alleviate childhood poverty. Supporters said more systemic change is needed on a national level to help lift families out of poverty, but giving new parents a modest financial boost could prove an important first step.

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