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In Md., officials are notified when someone checks their financial filings In Md., officials are notified when someone checks their financial filings
(35 minutes later)
Maryland is one of just a few states that notify lawmakers and other government officials when someone looks at the financial disclosure forms those officials are required to file — a practice that transparency advocates say could scare people from holding politicians accountable.Maryland is one of just a few states that notify lawmakers and other government officials when someone looks at the financial disclosure forms those officials are required to file — a practice that transparency advocates say could scare people from holding politicians accountable.
As in most states, public officials in Maryland must file reports spelling out their sources­ of income, property holdings and business relationships. State law makes these reports available to the public as a safeguard against government officials abusing their power in an effort to enrich themselves.As in most states, public officials in Maryland must file reports spelling out their sources­ of income, property holdings and business relationships. State law makes these reports available to the public as a safeguard against government officials abusing their power in an effort to enrich themselves.
But unlike the District, Virginia and dozens of other states, Maryland agencies email officials every time a person looks at their disclosure forms. The notifications include the name and home address of the person conducting the search.But unlike the District, Virginia and dozens of other states, Maryland agencies email officials every time a person looks at their disclosure forms. The notifications include the name and home address of the person conducting the search.
“The whole point of disclosure is to be able to check in and see how things are going,” said Jennifer Bevan-Dangel, executive director of the watchdog group Common Cause Maryland. “It shouldn’t inherently prompt a ‘Why do you want to know?’ ”“The whole point of disclosure is to be able to check in and see how things are going,” said Jennifer Bevan-Dangel, executive director of the watchdog group Common Cause Maryland. “It shouldn’t inherently prompt a ‘Why do you want to know?’ ”
Colin Byrd experienced the state’s notification system firsthand.Colin Byrd experienced the state’s notification system firsthand.
The University of Maryland student is passionate about money’s influence over politics and good government. So he trekked to the State Ethics Commission in Annapolis this past summer to review financial disclosure reports of several lawmakers. He was surprised, he said, when the staff asked for his driver’s license and email address, and told him that the information would be forwarded to the people whose records he was checking.The University of Maryland student is passionate about money’s influence over politics and good government. So he trekked to the State Ethics Commission in Annapolis this past summer to review financial disclosure reports of several lawmakers. He was surprised, he said, when the staff asked for his driver’s license and email address, and told him that the information would be forwarded to the people whose records he was checking.
“They get all of this personal information on you, and I’m a private citizen. They are the public officials,” said Byrd, a senior sociology major who was instrumental in last year’s campaign to change the name of the University of Maryland stadium in College Park.“They get all of this personal information on you, and I’m a private citizen. They are the public officials,” said Byrd, a senior sociology major who was instrumental in last year’s campaign to change the name of the University of Maryland stadium in College Park.
[After years of protests , U-Md. stadium will no longer be named for segregationist][After years of protests , U-Md. stadium will no longer be named for segregationist]
Byrd said he found out quickly that lawmakers pay attention to the email notices­ they receive. After looking at some disclosure forms, he got a call from Del. Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk (D-Prince George’s), asking why he was looking into her finances.Byrd said he found out quickly that lawmakers pay attention to the email notices­ they receive. After looking at some disclosure forms, he got a call from Del. Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk (D-Prince George’s), asking why he was looking into her finances.
Peña-Melnyk said that she does not call most people who pull her records and that she only contacted Byrd because she knows him and has worked with him on campus issues. She says it doesn’t matter to her if she is told who is researching her.Peña-Melnyk said that she does not call most people who pull her records and that she only contacted Byrd because she knows him and has worked with him on campus issues. She says it doesn’t matter to her if she is told who is researching her.
“It’s a person’s right to request these records,” Peña-Melnyk said. “I’m a public official, and I have nothing to hide.”“It’s a person’s right to request these records,” Peña-Melnyk said. “I’m a public official, and I have nothing to hide.”
The annual financial disclosure forms were mandated under the 1979 Maryland Public Ethics Law, which was passed two years after then-Gov. Marvin Mandel was convicted of corruption charges. The forms are filed by more than 14,000 state officials who have influence over taxpayer dollars, including the governor, lawmakers and many state workers.The annual financial disclosure forms were mandated under the 1979 Maryland Public Ethics Law, which was passed two years after then-Gov. Marvin Mandel was convicted of corruption charges. The forms are filed by more than 14,000 state officials who have influence over taxpayer dollars, including the governor, lawmakers and many state workers.
[Maryland lawmaker’s dual role as a defense lawyer draws ethics complaint][Maryland lawmaker’s dual role as a defense lawyer draws ethics complaint]
The law states that public officials may ask to be given the names and addresses of anyone who views their disclosure forms at the State Ethics Commission’s office. The vast majority of lawmakers do so, said the commission’s executive director, Michael W. Lord. There were 39 notifications last year.The law states that public officials may ask to be given the names and addresses of anyone who views their disclosure forms at the State Ethics Commission’s office. The vast majority of lawmakers do so, said the commission’s executive director, Michael W. Lord. There were 39 notifications last year.
“It’s obviously a throwback to a different time period, and it seems at odds with the modern age of transparency,” said Sen. Jamie B. Raskin (D-Montgomery), who co-chairs the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics.“It’s obviously a throwback to a different time period, and it seems at odds with the modern age of transparency,” said Sen. Jamie B. Raskin (D-Montgomery), who co-chairs the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics.
And it apparently puts Maryland in rare company. Of the 41 states that have disclosure requirements, 30 states put those forms online and make them available without notifying public officials when someone checks them out.And it apparently puts Maryland in rare company. Of the 41 states that have disclosure requirements, 30 states put those forms online and make them available without notifying public officials when someone checks them out.
A 2015 state-by-state assessment of government transparency by the Center for Public Integrity said only Massachusetts and Wisconsin have notification rules that are similar to Maryland’s.A 2015 state-by-state assessment of government transparency by the Center for Public Integrity said only Massachusetts and Wisconsin have notification rules that are similar to Maryland’s.
In 2012, Maryland lawmakers voted to put some of their disclosure forms online — but that online system requires a person requesting the records to provide their name and address. While the law only mandates alerting those public officials who have requested notifications, the online system automatically emails notifications to any state lawmaker after someone has downloaded their filings. In 2012, Maryland lawmakers voted to put some of their disclosure forms online — but that online system requires a person requesting the records to provide their name and address. While the law only mandates alerting those public officials who have requested notifications, the online system automatically emails notifications to every state lawmaker after someone has downloaded their filings.
“I’m just letting my members know what’s going on,” said Dea Daly, ethics adviser to the General Assembly. “It’s part of fostering communication — if there are issues we need to discuss that I need to be aware, or if there’s something going on so I can give them advice.”“I’m just letting my members know what’s going on,” said Dea Daly, ethics adviser to the General Assembly. “It’s part of fostering communication — if there are issues we need to discuss that I need to be aware, or if there’s something going on so I can give them advice.”
The notifications also allow lawmakers to know when political opponents — or journalists — are snooping around. After The Washington Post conducted a routine review of ethics filings before the start of the legislative session, multiple lawmakers contacted the reporter to ask why.The notifications also allow lawmakers to know when political opponents — or journalists — are snooping around. After The Washington Post conducted a routine review of ethics filings before the start of the legislative session, multiple lawmakers contacted the reporter to ask why.
“It’s really important for people to be able to access that information in a way that doesn’t open up the public to condemnation,” said Rebecca Snyder, executive director of the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association.“It’s really important for people to be able to access that information in a way that doesn’t open up the public to condemnation,” said Rebecca Snyder, executive director of the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association.
Raskin said he tried to persuade his colleagues to ditch the notification rule when the legislature voted in 2012 to put some forms online. But he was unsuccessful.Raskin said he tried to persuade his colleagues to ditch the notification rule when the legislature voted in 2012 to put some forms online. But he was unsuccessful.
A lot of public officials, he said, “feel as if the legislative changes­ constitute an unwarranted invasion of their personal information and don’t want this information available online in a completely limitless way. A lot of public officials, he said, “feel as if the legislative changes­ constitute an unwarranted invasion of their personal information and don’t want this information available online in a completely limitless way.”
Senate Minority Leader J.B. Jennings (R-Baltimore County) conceded that people may be nervous to look at ethics filings because their names will be reported to public officials. But he defended the system.Senate Minority Leader J.B. Jennings (R-Baltimore County) conceded that people may be nervous to look at ethics filings because their names will be reported to public officials. But he defended the system.
“It’s a courtesy,” Jennings said. “Everyone wants to know every time someone is doing an investigation into them.”“It’s a courtesy,” Jennings said. “Everyone wants to know every time someone is doing an investigation into them.”