Hough May "Redo" Ethics Bill
If Frederick County cannot revise its proposed ethics legislation, Sen. Michael Hough (R) is okay with dumping the entire proposal and writing his own.
“I talked to the County Executive and the County Council, and if they are not moving forward with changes to this watered-down reform, I might re-do it myself,” Hough said in an interview this week.
The proposed revisions to the Frederick County section of the Maryland Public Ethics Law was initiated and recommended by the League of Women Voters and concerned residents. Current law precludes council members from voting on cases for applicants who have donated to their campaigns. The League recommends extending that “pay to play” section of the law to members of the county’s Planning Commission.
In a statement to the delegation in November 2016, Linda Norris-Waldt of the League of Women Voters, said the change was suggested because three Planning Commission members ran for office in 2014, along with others in years past. Norris-Waldt also served on the county’s Ethics Task Force.
The proposed reforms don’t go far enough, and don’t come close to the ethics laws that state legislators must abide by, Hough said. The senator’s suggestion that he rewrite the bill entirely comes days after he sent a letter to Council Member Tony Chmelik, delineating reforms he feels would “greatly enhance” the county’s proposal.
In the Jan. 19 letter to Chmelik, Hough wrote “I would argue than any donation to a member of a board or commission has the ability to create a conflict of interest. Therefore, I would propose that all non-elected members of decision-making board and commissions be forced to step down once they open a campaign account.”
Hough also proposes that council members disclose donations of $500 or more within 48 hours of being received. “It is troubling to me that a County-elected official could receive a check literally minutes before voting.”
Instant reporting, he said, “should also be extended to all donations received from companies and individuals who have current county contracts or employment with the county.”
Hough's last suggested change prohibits lobbyists and anyone with pending contracts or business with the county from making donations.
In a meeting with county leaders on Jan. 13, the delegation voted to table further discussion of changes to the ethics law for three weeks. Del. Carol Krimm (D, D-3A) and County Executive Jan Gardner support the revisions as originally submitted.
The delegation is expected to vote on the bill Friday.
