State Senator Johnny Mautz focused on immigration and energy issues during an April 15 speaking session with the Rotary Club of St Michaels.
Although he voted in favor of the recently passed $70.8 billion state budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, he considers it a bad budget. “We didn’t do anything about the big budget shortfalls coming our way next year which will mean massive cuts and possible tax increases.
“But this year’s budget includes money for Eastern Shore agencies helping with legal issues related to immigration enforcement, money for the new hospital being built near Easton, disaster loans for commercial fishermen hit by a poor oyster season, and funds to solidify oyster restoration efforts in the Chesapeake. I felt like I had to support the budget to make sure those funds would be included.”
Calling himself a moderate, Mautz said he has serious concerns about how immigration enforcement is being handled in Maryland and on the Eastern Shore. “I’m a firm believer in the values outlined in the nation’s Constitution and Declaration of Independence.”
He said he disagrees with homes being broken into and people being taken away and detained without due process. “There’s a big difference between detainable and deportable. Immigration has been out of control in this country for too long, but enforcement of illegal immigration has to be done in accordance with those founding principles.”
Mautz said he supported state funding of $800,000 in grant money for Eastern Shore agencies involved in rural immigration legal services. “The state should support the Multi-Cultural Center in Easton and other legitimate nonprofits. It’s a right-thing issue. The Multi-Cultural Center has an 80 percent success rate in getting detained persons released all over Delmarva, from Crisfield to Cecil County.”
He emphasized legitimate agencies as recipients for state funding. “Right now there’s money being lost because there are about 9,000 non-profits in Maryland that are not in good standing receiving grant money.”
He supported a budget provision stating that no groups can receive funding without a letter of good standing from Maryland’s Department of State.
He also said more has to be done to reduce energy costs for Marylanders who have seen their bills skyrocket in the past year. “Green energy can’t fill the gap. We’re not generating enough energy in state, the cost keeps going up and we’re close to experiencing brownouts. The state had to force the reopening of the Vienna power plant because of energy shortages after that plant had been shut down. We need natural gas generation on the shore.”
Mautz is a registered Republican serving Maryland’s 37th senatorial district. He won election to that position in 2022 and is running for re-election to another four-year term in the 2026 election. The 37th senatorial district includes all of Talbot and parts of Caroline, Dorchester and Wicomico counties.
One Response
I am pleased to hear Senator Mautz articulate his views on immigration (out of control for far too long) and concern about the lack of due process and disregard for legality that has characterized ICE actions in recent years. His moderate stance is much too rare these days.