The League of Conservation Voters is “outraged” by changes in language the secretary of state made in a ballot question on a constitutional amendment that restricts the sale of state parkland, said League Executive Director Cindy Schwartz.
“The new language is obtuse, difficult to understand, and we believe it is misleading,” Schwartz said.
Secretary of State Mary Kane said that the amendment is supported by Gov. Robert Ehrlich, who appointed her.
In 2005, the General Assembly passed the proposed constitutional amendment after members of the Ehrlich administration considered selling 800 acres of permanent open space in St. Mary?s County to a private developer who planned to put houses on the property.
The amendment says: “The Board of Public Works may not approve the sale, transfer, exchange, grant or other permanent disposition of any state-owned outdoor recreation, open space, conservation, preservation, forest or parkland without the express approval of the General Assembly or of a committee that the General Assembly designates by statute, resolution or rule.”
As rewritten by Kane?s office, the ballot question says:
Question 1: “Requires the General Assembly or a committee the General Assembly designates to approve any permanent disposition of state-owned outdoor park land before the Board of Public Works approves the disposition.”
