Public Campaign Action Fund - Maryland

Good morning, Baltimore

Adam Smith — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:58:43 +0000

A few people in Baltimore did not wake up as excited to be in the city as Tracy Turnblad earlier this week. Councilwoman Helen Holton and developer Ronald Lipscomb were indicted Wednesday on bribery charges related to tax breaks for buildings under construction on the city's harbor waterfront.

More Miller?

Katie Schlieper — Thu, 15 May 2008 15:50:19 +0000

Well this isn't the best news for the campaign to win Clean Elections in Maryland. Senate President Mike Miller (D), a staunch opponent of Clean Elections who has obstructed passage of the legislation in the last two legislative sessions, is considering running for office again despite having said previously that this term would be his last. Miller has been in the state Senate since 1975. Appropriately enough, Miller may announce his run at a fundraising event.

New Ad in Maryland

Adam Smith — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:45:42 +0000

Earlier in the week, our partners in Maryland put a full page ad in the Baltimore Sun highlighting the correlation between electricity deregulation and campaign contributions from the industry.

Power to...the Special Interests?

Adam Smith — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:22:58 +0000

Public Campaign Action Fund has released the following online advertisement regarding the disaster of electric utility deregulation in Maryland and its correlation with campaign contributions to elected officials in the state.

Time is Of The Essence

Katie Schlieper — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 21:32:32 +0000

The Maryland legislature will reconvene in January and the Baltimore Sun reminds them how important it is to pass a bill creating a Clean Elections full public financing system for state legislative campaigns.

Pride or the PAC

Katie Schlieper — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:05:58 +0000

Just as presidential candidates must choose between principle and viability when it comes to opting into the public financing program, opposition from within his own party and from Democrats in next year's election is forcing Rep. Wayne Gilchrest to abandon his opposition to taking PAC money just to stay competitive.

Timing is Everything

Katie Schlieper — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:52:16 +0000

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley has called a special session of the Maryland legislature and in so doing has set off a debate about the propriety of legislators holding fundraisers which involve stakeholders in the legislation they're debating. Holding fundraisers during a special session is legal -- but is it ethical?

It's Voting Time!

Trevi Brown-Thomas — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 20:42:31 +0000

So we are now towards the end of this exciting campaign for Clean Elections in Maryland. Maryland lawmakers are in the process of voting this week on the bill that would call for public financing of state House and Senate elections. While we have strong support in the legislature, our coalition partners are still working hard to lobby legislators, a few of whom are still on the fence.

Let the Change Fit the Crime

Katie Schlieper — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 20:22:48 +0000

The Baltimore Sun tells the Maryland legislature that if the latest revelations of corruption among their ranks are making them nervous they need to get serious about passing Clean Elections: The message of the transcripts is that companies such as Comcast are expected to do favors for a top leader in the General Assembly. This isn't how public policy ought to be conducted. Lawmakers should do more than pay lip service to that fact; they need to take a stand."

Getting Close in Maryland

Katie Schlieper — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 15:49:41 +0000

Jon Goldin-Dubois, Maryland resident and executive vice president of the reform group, Common Cause, writes in Maryland's Business Gazette about how close the state is, after many years of trying, to passing Clean Elections legislation for state legislative races. The General Assembly will be debating the bill over the next couple of weeks, then bringing it to a vote. Maryland is poised to be the eighth state in the country with a Clean Elections law!