Maryland nearly flunks disclosure of state lawmaker finances
Maryland still rates a “D” and when it comes to financial disclosure requirements for members of the General Assembly, according to the Center for Public Integrity, a national watchdog group. The Old Line State hasn’t improved its grade in the last several years.
The center has been reporting on disclosure in state legislatures since 1999, using a 43-question survey that measures public access to information on lawmakers’ employment, investments, personal finances, property holdings or other activities outside the legislature. Maryland has a citizen legislature, so most members return to their regular jobs when the 90-day regular session ends in April.
Maryland scored a 68.5 on a 100-point scale and ranked 23rd out of 50 states. That represents a slipping in the rankings from 2006 when Maryland was 21st. One aspect of Maryland’s disclosure laws that has irked watchdog groups is the requirement that citizens appear in person at the State Ethics Commission to obtain copies of financial reports. Some states offer the forms online.
Responses from Maryland to the center’s survey questions can be found here.
