Delegate looks to reform finance law

Del. Saqib Ali (D-Montgomery County) is the lead sponsor of House Bill 347, The Special Legislative Session Campaign Finance Reform Act, which would prohibit elected officials from accepting campaign contributions during special legislative sessions.

Fundraising is banned during the regular 90-day session of the General Assembly, which meets every year beginning in January. This year, session runs through April 7.

During a special session, as the state saw last fall, elected officials are allowed to fundraise, and many did so in late 2007.

On his blog, http://www.alifordelegate.com/blog/, Ali said he introduced the measure last month because “one of the issues that motivates me the most as a public official is preventing the undue influence of money in politics.”

Accordingly, Ali said the restriction on fundraising during the regular session “allows us to focus on policy and prevents even the appearance of impropriety or conflict of interest,” which he said it does not provide during a special session.

Thus, the delegate said he introduced the bill to assure the public that a conflict of interest or improprieties were not present during a special session in regards to fundraising.

Yesterday, Ali met stiff opposition to his bill from some members of the House Ways and Means Committee, including Del. Melvin Stukes (D-Baltimore City) who suggested that such a restriction would force legislators to cancel expensive fundraisers that were scheduled several months in advance. Others, like Del. Jon Cardin (D-Baltimore County) have said that the ban is not necessary given the rarity of a special session actually being called. Both delegates expressed their dissatisfaction during interviews with The Baltimore Sun.

Still, Ali continues to press for the measure, saying on his blog, “I believe that our laws should treat the fundraising during regular and special sessions consistently.”

Ali has made it clear that his bill is not meant to question the integrity of public officials, acknowledging that he accepted donations during last fall’s special session after confirming the legality with William G. Somerville, the legislature’s ethics counsel.

“I think the law should change to give our citizens that extra level of confidence in the integrity of their elected officials,” Ali said on his blog. “The citizens of Maryland certainly deserve that.”

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael E. Busch have expressed support for a restriction on campaign donations during a special session.

The current bill is being co-sponsored by Del. Elizabeth Bobo (D-Howard County) and Del. Ana Sol Gutierrez (D-Montgomery County).

Ali was in committee when contacted for comment, but we are expecting to hear from the delegate this afternoon. Stay with PolitickerMD.com for more information.