Conflicts of interest abound in the General Assembly when it comes to legislators sponsoring bond bills for organizations whose boards they sit on. As we noted last week, there is nothing wrong with legislators supporting charities. But using their position of influence to force taxpayers to support $25 million of pet causes in a year when they hiked taxes across the board to pay for “essential” services makes clear they are talking out of both sides of their mouths.
Republican Sen. George Edwards deserves particular shame for helping to direct $225,000 to develop a white-water rafting course. Is that what legislators called “prioritizing” spending? C?mon.
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So far we have identified seven members who used their legislative positions to send taxpayer funds to personal causes. Web sites for the grant recipients are included where available.
Sen. Ulysses Currie, D-Prince George?s: $500,000 to the Capital Area Food Bank (capitalareafood
bank.org)
Sen. Verna Jones, D-Baltimore City: $350,000 to the Newborn Holistic Ministries Inc.
Del. James Malone Jr., D-Baltimore and Howard counties: $325,000 to the Catonsville YMCA (ymaryland.org)
Del. Steven DeBoy Sr., D-Baltimore and Howard: $250,000 to the Maryland Food Bank (mdfoodbank.org)
Sen. George Edwards, R-Allegany and Garrett counties, and parts of Washington County: $225,000 to Adventure Sports Center International (adventuresportscenter.com)
Sen. Catherine Pugh, D-Baltimore City: $50,000 to the Center for Urban Families (cfuf.org) and $100,000 to Parks & People Headquarters at Auchentoroly Terrace (parksandpeople.org)
Del. Carolyn Krysiak, D-Baltimore City: $150,000 to St. Vincent de Paul for its Beans and Bread program (vincentbaltimore.org)
Whether the groups provide valuable services is not at issue. Many of them do. The question is why legislators can donate taxpayer money anonymously ? none of their relationships is identified in bill literature ? to personal causes when clear state priorities like fixing highways and roads go un- or underfunded.
Legislators made transparency a priority this year by passing legislation to create a Web-based searchable database of state spending. They can strengthen their commitment next year by supporting legislation to require full disclosure about affiliations with groups they seek to fund with bonds. Better yet, Gov. Martin O?Malley should promise to veto all earmarks to prevent abuses like those listed above.
