Van Hollen is no friend to businesswomen

As businesswomen here in Maryland, we were very disappointed to see an organization that calls itself the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce recently endorse Rep. Chris Van Hollen in the U.S. Senate race in Maryland.

Mr. Van Hollen has a 38 percent lifetime voting record with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. That means he votes against Maryland businesses more than 60 percent of the time. He also has a 20 percent lifetime voting record with the National Association of Manufacturers and a 0 percent voting record with the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in this Congress.

On the other hand, Mr. Van Hollen’s opponent, Del. Kathy Szeliga, is both a woman and a Maryland small business owner. She has a 98 percent lifetime voting record with Maryland Businesses for Responsive Government and was recently endorsed by the NFIB. You would think that an organization that calls itself the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce would support a female candidate with a strong pro-business voting record who is a small business owner herself.

However, once we looked into it, we realized very quickly this group was not what it claims to be. The so-called U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce is not actually a group that represents the interests of businesswomen, they represent the interests of Democrats. In fact, this year they have only endorsed Democrat candidates, many of whom, like Mr. Van Hollen, have consistently voted against businesses and businesswomen.

If Marylanders want a leader in Washington who understands what businesses in our state need to grow and thrive, they should vote for Delegate Szeliga. As a small business owner, she knows what it means to sign the front of a paycheck and how to balance a budget. She has been a strong advocate for Maryland businesses and their employees and will continue to support us in the Senate. Patricia A. Scott, Bel Air and Sheryl Davis Kohl, Aberdeen The writers are, respectively, owner of A Better Answer, Inc. and owner of Beacon Staffing Alternatives, Inc.

Does MTA tolerate dissent?

As a regular transit user, I was struck by how unprofessional the Maryland Transit Administration’s response was to the Central Maryland Transportation Alliance’s mixed review of the new $135 million BaltimoreLink bus network reorganization plan (“Transportation alliance critical of MTA’s plan to overhaul bus routes,” Sept. 22).

The review, which a state official dismissively labeled as “nonsense,” is an evenhanded 64-page analysis that points out where BaltimoreLink is — and is not — working, backed up with extensive data and maps. However, the state goes so far as to suggest that the Transportation Alliance ought to “join with MTA” on its mission to improve bus service, as if providing independent feedback and constructive criticism is forbidden as a part of that mission.

BaltimoreLink has the potential to dramatically improve or curtail the ability of citizens to get around the region for work and for school, but it is nearly impossible for the average person to evaluate such a large proposal. I, for one, am thankful that we have an independent watchdog group such as the Transportation Alliance providing the closest thing we have to accountability for MTA and the region’s public transit system.

If there are concerns being raised by the independent analysis of BaltimoreLink, then address those concerns. Grant Corley, Baltimore

The everyday miracle of monarch butterflies

Kudos to Pam Spencer for bringing to light the miracle of the monarch butterfly and sharing its fascinating story at schools, parks and other venues (“Lifting the fading monarch,” Sept. 27).

Amid all the reports of gang arrests and educational woes on the front page, hers was a story of how one person can make a beautiful difference in our sad world.

Inspired by her project, two years ago I planted a large patch of milkweed and this year successfully sent 22 monarchs on their way. Debby Hyson, Essex