Don Norris, Public Policy, in the Gazette

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 …