After Session Ridden With Democrat Corruption, Maryland Lawmakers Re-Write Ethics Laws
by
Wcbm
The Maryland General Assembly has unanimously passed the first major update to ethics rules in a decade, sending the measure to Gov. Larry Hogan for his promised signature.
The legislation, given final passage by the House of Delegates Saturday, was approved two days before the annual legislative session concludes Monday — a session bookended by corruption charges against four current, former and prospective lawmakers.
After Hogan signs the measure — a rewritten version of legislation he proposed — the new law will require additional conflict-of-interest disclosures by lawmakers and put a few new limits on how they can advocate for businesses.
It will also create a new citizen advisory board to recommend ways to further tighten ethics laws for lawmakers. None of the changes would address the circumstances of the indicted legislators, who are being prosecuted by state and federal authorities in three separate cases.
