Edwards says he will not be influenced by campaign contributions

Annapolis- State Sen. George Edwards (R-Grantsville) told PolitickerMD.com today that he is not influenced by campaign contributions that he has received from the utility industry.

Edwards, responding to a report by Progressive Maryland and Common Cause Maryland alleging that he has received the tenth highest total of campaign contributions from the utility industry among members of the current General Assembly since voting for a bill to deregulate the electricity industry in 1999, said he would not “do anything different” in terms of his duties as a lawmaker.

“I tell (contributors) upfront—I won’t treat you any different,” Edwards said.

Edwards was elected to the state Senate in 2006. He previously served 24 years in the House of Delegates, representing District 1A. The Republican served as the minority leader in the House from 2003-2007.

The senator said he was unaware of who contributes to his campaigns, saying he leaves those duties to his treasurer.

The Progressive/Common Cause study also said that utility rates for Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE) customers have risen by an average of $743 per household since deregulation.

Despite this, Edwards said he did not think the rise should necessarily be attributed to the bill, saying rates “would have gone up anyway.”

“All the fuel costs that produce electricity are going up,” Edwards said.

The senator said he would stand-by his 1999 vote, “Until someone can convince me that it was the wrong thing to do.”

In 1999, Edwards said he voted for the measure because he was convinced it would provide “better service, electricity, and better rates.”

According to information provided by Ryan O’Donnell, the executive director of Common Cause Maryland, Edwards has received $6,960 in campaign contributions from the utility industry since voting for the 1999 measure, yet the senator remained firm in his stance that he would not be influenced.

“I’m not going to do anything different for (contributors) or anyone else,” Edwards said. “There are laws on the books.”