Maryland Official: Lead Poisoning Is the Royal Road to Riches

Holt apologized for his comments after they came to light.

Holt said a mother could misrepresent a child’s lead exposure by putting a lead fishing weight in a child’s mouth before the child is tested for lead poisoning, forcing a landlord to provide housing until the child is 18.

Gov. Larry Hogan (R) on Saturday tried to distance himself from his appointee’s remark, which caused outrage among advocates and lawmakers who have worked to strengthen the state’s laws on lead-paint poisoning.

Holt told The Sun that he has no evidence of this happening, calling it “an anecdotal story”. (D-Montgomery County) said the remark was “highly insensitive and inflammatory and plays into some of the stereotypes that Republicans have used to frighten people about the progress we’ve made in social programs”. Holt for statements made a day earlier in which the agency head repeated an anecdote told to him about mothers that may use lead fishing weights to intentionally poison their children to get housing benefits.

As if Maryland doesn’t have enough trouble, the governor there is worried that some parents may be abusing a landlord liability rule to ensure free housing. Rutherford stated the administration wouldn’t suggest any lessening of the legal responsibility of landlords. Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford said Saturday that Holt had never spoken to senior officials about trying to limit landlord liability, and there are no administration plans to do that. One of those initiatives would be a combined effort with the Maryland Department of Environment to limit liability for landlords as it relates to lead poisoning.

“For these reasons, we, the undersigned, call on you to tender your resignation as Secretary of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development”, the lawmakers added. Baltimore City Delegates Antonio Hayes, Jill Carter, Sandy Rosenberg, Mary Washington, Charles Sydnor, Cheryl Glenn, Cory McCray, Luke Clippinger and Brooke Lierman, all signed the letter.

Holt’s original remarks on Friday were recorded by Bryan Sears of the Daily Record.