Donald F. Norris, professor and chairman of UMBC’s Department of Public Policy, commented in today’s Gazette on both the Dream Act and same-sex marriage, topics of two referenda on Maryland ballots this November.

In “Same-sex marriage ad campaign begins,” Norris argued that in general advertisements won’t sway voters already committed to a position. However, he suggested, ads featuring black ministers supportive of same-sex marriage rights could persuade some black voters whose churches oppose the measure to vote for it themselves.

In “Dream Act fiscal impact remains murky,” Norris argued that a recent UMBC report which found the legislation to be economically beneficial for Maryland is “not going to change the minds of the hard-core opposition.” On this issue, he said, “Many have made up their minds regardless of cost.”