Imagine the uproar if Maryland?s previous governor, Republican Bob Ehrlich, signed an executive order creating a commission to develop policy recommendations on business taxation and appointed its key members. Imagine further that Ehrlich?s commission then brought in a secretive corporate lobbying group based in another state to manage the panel?s deliberations and shape its policy recommendations. Finally, imagine that state officials refused to answer media questions about thework of the lobbying group or its relationship with the Ehrlich commission. No doubt Democrats in the legislature would be apoplectic. Everybody would wonder why the governor turned state policy over to a special interest group that possibly stood to benefit from the result.
Now, change the scenario to Ehrlich?s successor, Democratic Gov. Martin O?Malley. Switch the focus of the commission created by the Maryland chief executive to global warming policy, and make the secretive lobbying group the Pennsylvania-based Center for Climate Strategies (CCS). The Ehrlich scenario is imaginary. But, as editorial contributor Paul Chesser reports, the O?Malley scenario is all too real.
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Earlier this year, O?Malley signed an executive order creating the Maryland Commission on Climate Change and appointed its key members. The commission then brought on CCS ? a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit public-private partnership ? to do in Maryland what it is presently or has already done in many other states, which is to provide policy guidance and day-to-day management expertise. Put simply, O?Malley?s commission outsourced development of the Maryland government?s global warming policy to a group with a financial and ideological stake in the outcome ? the environmental firms and consultants behind CCS gaining the inside track for future business in Maryland.
Maryland Department of the Environment officials refuse to provide documents or other important information about CCS? operations or funding. State officials deny having any kind of contract or other services agreement with CCS, but they admit the existence of internal e-mails and other correspondence with and about CCS. The e-mails and correspondence make it clear the group is an active participant in state government decision-making.
There is a stench about this deal for several reasons. First, in other states where it operates, CCS advocates climate change policies that critics charge will requiretax increases, make energy more expensive and restrict private property rights. Maryland residents thus should not be surprised if O?Malley?s commission recommends similar policies. Second, it is impossible for outsiders to determine whether any of the companies or individuals connected with CCS stand to gain financially by the relationship. Finally, are any of CCS? financial backers also O?Malley campaign contributors? If there is nothing to hide here, why all the secrecy?
