End fund raising during special sessions

Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007

End fund raising during special sessions

E-mail this article \ Print this article

Although I agree that the budget gap is the most pressing issue facing Maryland, I’m concerned about trying to use the special session as a way to find a ‘‘quick fix” to a problem that needs careful study, analysis, deliberation and debate (‘‘Governor outlines plan to close deficit,” Sept. 19 article).

In particular there is one important issue that I think has been overlooked by the press: Campaign finance reporting rules. It is completely legal for legislators to be actively fund raising during a special session. So in effect, there is nothing illegal about a lobbying group (such as the gaming industry) from setting up a tent outside the State House and offering legislators $4,000 campaign checks each in tacit exchange for their support. They can do this as the decisions are being made and the votes are being cast. And none of this would be publicly disclosed until January, well after all the important votes have been cast.

No matter how one feels about slot machines, I think this would be a terrible way for the legislature to conduct its business. The only reasonable way to avoid such corruption is to ban all fund raising during special sessions (as is already the case with regular sessions).

Furthermore, all legislators should have to disclose their campaign contributions immediately before and after the special session. It’s the only way to have honest and transparent government, which is what the voters deserve.

Saqib Ali, Gaithersburg

The writer, a Democrat, represents District 39 in the House of Delegates.