If members of Congress can agree transparency is the best policy for government, so can Maryland legislators.
That?s why it?s encouraging news that Del. Warren Miller, a Republican from Howard County, introduced House Bill 1252. The Maryland Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2007, if passed, would require the state to build a searchable Web site of government contracts and spending above $25,000. Think of it as a public service Google.
What?s not to like?
Making government more accessible to the people makes it easier to hold elected officials accountable for their actions. Regardless of which side of the political spectrum you fall, that is good news.
Those who oppose such laws can only do so because they have something to hide and/or do not believe in a government for the people and by the people (and paid for by the people).
That?s why we urge all state legislators to endorse the bill and pass it before they adjourn in April. Sen. Dolores Kelly, a Democrat from Baltimore County, said she opposes the bill because, among other issues, “it appears to serve some unnamed special interest,” which includes “certain media outlets.” Since when does giving the media ? and the people ? access to more information equal serving a special interest? She must reverse her opposition, and those undecided should climb up into the sunshine.
Thisis not a partisan bill, as Congress proved.
Last year Congress passed the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, co-sponsored by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.
The legislation means that by 2009 We the People will be able to research online where the federal government spends our money through an easy-to-use search engine.
Where they stand
The Examiner contacted state legislators in our coverage area to find out their position on HB 1252. Please find below a list of state legislators who support, oppose, do not have an opinion or did not respond to our requests for information. Urge your legislators to champion the bill. Sunshine is wonderfully illuminating and cleansing.
District 4: Carroll County
Sen. David Brinkley (R): Undecided
Del. Donald Elliott (R): Undecided
District 5: Baltimore and Carroll counties
Sen. Larry Haines (R): Did not respond
Del. Wade Kach (R): Yes
Del. Tanya Shewell (R): Yes
Del. Nancy Stocksdale (R): Yes
District 6: Baltimore County
Sen. Norman Stone (D): Did not respond
Del. Joseph Minnick (D): Undecided
Del. John Olszewski Jr. (D): Undecided
Del. Michael Weir Jr. (D): Did not respond
District 7: Baltimore and Harford counties
Sen. Andrew Harris (R): Did not respond
Del. Richard Impallaria (R): Yes
Del. J. B. Jennings (R): Yes
Del. Pat McDonough (R): Did not respond
District 8: Baltimore County
Sen. Katherine Klausmeier (D): Undecided
Del. Joseph Boteler (R): Did not respond
Del. Eric Bromwell (D): Did not respond
Del. Todd Schuler (D): Undecided
District 9: Carroll and Howard counties
Sen. Allan Kittleman (R): Yes
Del. Susan Krebs (R): Undecided
Del. Gail Bates (R): Yes
Del. Warren Miller (R): Yes
District 10: Baltimore County
Sen. Delores Kelley (D): No
Del. Emmett Burns (D): Did not respond
Del. Adrienne Jones (D): Did not respond
Del. Shirley Nathan-Pulliam (D): Did not respond
District 11: Baltimore County
Sen. Robert Zirkin (D): Did not respond
Del. Jon Cardin (D): Undecided
Del. Dan Morhaim (D): Undecided
Del. Dana Stein (D): Yes
District 12: Baltimore and Howard counties
Sen. Edward Kasemeyer (D): Undecided
Del. James Malone Jr (D): Did not respond
Del. Steven DeBoy Sr. (D): Undecided
Del. Elizabeth Bobo (D): Did not respond
District 13: Howard County
Sen. James Robey (D): Undecided
Del. Shane Pendergrass (D): Undecided
Del. Guy Guzzone (D): Yes
Del. Frank Turner (D): Yes
District 21: Anne Arundel County
Sen. James Rosapepe (D) : Did not respond
Del. Ben Barnes (D) : Did not respond
Del. Barbara Frush (D) : Did not respond
Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D) : Undecided
District 30: Anne Arundel County
Sen. John Astle (D) : Did not respond
Del. Michael Busch (D) : Did not respond
Del. Virginia Clagett (D) : Did not respond
Del. Ronald George (R) : Yes
District 31: Anne Arundel County
Sen. Bryan Simonaire (R) : Undecided
Del. Don Dwyer Jr. (R) : Yes
Del. Nicholaus Kipke (R) : Yes
Del. Steven Schuh (R) : Did not respond
District 32: Anne Arundel County
Sen. James DeGrange (D): Did not respond
Del. Pamela Beidle (D): Undecided
Del. Mary Ann Love (D): Did not respond
Del. Theodore Sophocleus (D): Yes
District 33: Anne Arundel County
Sen. Janet Greenip (R): Did not respond
Del. James King (R): Yes
Del. Tony McConkey (R): Yes
Del. Robert Costa (R): Did not respond
District 34: Harford County
Sen. Nancy Jacobs (R): Yes
Del. Mary-Dulany James (D): Undecided
Del. B. Daniel Riley (D) : Undecided
District 35: Harford County
Sen. J. Robert Hooper (R): Did not respond
Del. Barry Glassman (R): Undecided
Del. Donna Stifler (R): Undecided
Del. Susan McComas (R): Yes
District 40: Baltimore City
Sen. Catherine Pugh (D): Did not respond
Del. Frank Conaway (D): Did not respond
Del. Barbara Robinson (D): Did not respond
Del. Shawn Tarrant (D): Did not respond
District 41: Baltimore City
Sen. Lisa Gladden (D): Did not respond
Del. Jill Carter (D): Did not respond
Del. Nathaniel Oaks (D): Did not respond
Del. Samuel Rosenberg (D): Did not respond
District 42: Baltimore County
Sen. James Brochin (D): Did not respond
Del. Susan L. M. Aumann (R): Yes
Del. William Frank (R): Yes
Del. Stephen Lafferty (D): Did not respond
District 43: Baltimore City
Sen. Joan Carter Conway(D): Did not respond
Del. Curt Anderson (D): Did not respond
Del. Ann Marie Doory (D): Did not respond
Del. Maggie McIntosh (D): Did not respond
District 44: Baltimore City
Sen. Verna Jones (D): Did not respond
Del. Keith Haynes (D): Did not respond
Del. Ruth Kirk (D): Did not respond
Del. Melvin Stukes (D): Undecided
District 45: Baltimore City
Sen. Nathaniel McFadden (D): Did not respond
Del. Talmadge Branch (D): Did not respond
Del. Cheryl Glenn (D): Did not respond
Del. Hattie Harrison (D): Did not respond
District 46: Baltimore City
Sen. George Della Jr. (D): Did not respond
Del. Peter Hammen (D): Did not respond
Del. Carolyn Krysiak (D): Did not respond
Del. Brian McHale (D): Did not respond
