The Baltimore Examiner Newspaper
2007-03-20 07:00:00.0
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BALTIMORE -

If members of Congress can agree transparency is the best policy for government, so can Maryland legislators.

That’s why it’s encouraging news that Del. Warren Miller, a Republican from Howard County, introduced House Bill 1252. The Maryland Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2007, if passed, would require the state to build a searchable Web site of government contracts and spending above $25,000. Think of it as a public service Google.

What’s not to like?

Making government more accessible to the people makes it easier to hold elected officials accountable for their actions. Regardless of which side of the political spectrum you fall, that is good news.

Those who oppose such laws can only do so because they have something to hide and/or do not believe in a government for the people and by the people (and paid for by the people).

That’s why we urge all state legislators to endorse the bill and pass it before they adjourn in April. Sen. Dolores Kelly, a Democrat from Baltimore County, said she opposes the bill because, among other issues, “it appears to serve some unnamed special interest,” which includes “certain media outlets.” Since when does giving the media — and the people — access to more information equal serving a special interest? She must reverse her opposition, and those undecided should climb up into the sunshine.

This is not a partisan bill, as Congress proved.

Last year Congress passed the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, co-sponsored by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

The legislation means that by 2009 We the People will be able to research online where the federal government spends our money through an easy-to-use search engine.

Where they stand

The Examiner contacted state legislators in our coverage area to find out their position on HB 1252. Please find below a list of state legislators who support, oppose, do not have an opinion or did not respond to our requests for information. Urge your legislators to champion the bill. Sunshine is wonderfully illuminating and cleansing.

District 4: Carroll County

Sen. David Brinkley (R): Undecided

Del. Donald Elliott (R): Undecided

District 5: Baltimore and Carroll counties

Sen. Larry Haines (R): Did not respond

Del. Wade Kach (R): Yes

Del. Tanya Shewell (R): Yes

Del. Nancy Stocksdale (R): Yes

District 6: Baltimore County

Sen. Norman Stone (D): Did not respond

Del. Joseph Minnick (D): Undecided

Del. John Olszewski Jr. (D): Undecided

Del. Michael Weir Jr. (D): Did not respond

District 7: Baltimore and Harford counties

Sen. Andrew Harris (R): Did not respond

Del. Richard Impallaria (R): Yes

Del. J. B. Jennings (R): Yes

Del. Pat McDonough (R): Did not respond

District 8: Baltimore County

Sen. Katherine Klausmeier (D): Undecided

Del. Joseph Boteler (R): Did not respond

Del. Eric Bromwell (D): Did not respond

Del. Todd Schuler (D): Undecided

District 9: Carroll and Howard counties

Sen. Allan Kittleman (R): Yes

Del. Susan Krebs (R): Undecided

Del. Gail Bates (R): Yes

Del. Warren Miller (R): Yes

District 10: Baltimore County

Sen. Delores Kelley (D): No

Del. Emmett Burns (D): Did not respond

Del. Adrienne Jones (D): Did not respond

Del. Shirley Nathan-Pulliam (D): Did not respond

District 11: Baltimore County

Sen. Robert Zirkin (D): Did not respond

Del. Jon Cardin (D): Undecided

Del. Dan Morhaim (D): Undecided

Del. Dana Stein (D): Yes

District 12: Baltimore and Howard counties

Sen. Edward Kasemeyer (D): Undecided

Del. James Malone Jr (D): Did not respond

Del. Steven DeBoy Sr. (D): Undecided

Del. Elizabeth Bobo (D): Did not respond

District 13: Howard County

Sen. James Robey (D): Undecided

Del. Shane Pendergrass (D): Undecided

Del. Guy Guzzone (D): Yes

Del. Frank Turner (D): Yes

District 21: Anne Arundel County

Sen. James Rosapepe (D) : Did not respond

Del. Ben Barnes (D) : Did not respond

Del. Barbara Frush (D) : Did not respond

Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D) : Undecided

District 30: Anne Arundel County

Sen. John Astle (D) : Did not respond

Del. Michael Busch (D) : Did not respond

Del. Virginia Clagett (D) : Did not respond

Del. Ronald George (R) : Yes

District 31: Anne Arundel County

Sen. Bryan Simonaire (R) : Undecided

Del. Don Dwyer Jr. (R) : Yes

Del. Nicholaus Kipke (R) : Yes

Del. Steven Schuh (R) : Did not respond

District 32: Anne Arundel County

Sen. James DeGrange (D): Did not respond

Del. Pamela Beidle (D): Undecided

Del. Mary Ann Love (D): Did not respond

Del. Theodore Sophocleus (D): Yes

District 33: Anne Arundel County

Sen. Janet Greenip (R): Did not respond

Del. James King (R): Yes

Del. Tony McConkey (R): Yes

Del. Robert Costa (R): Did not respond

District 34: Harford County

Sen. Nancy Jacobs (R): Yes

Del. Mary-Dulany James (D): Undecided

Del. B. Daniel Riley (D) : Undecided

District 35: Harford County

Sen. J. Robert Hooper (R): Did not respond

Del. Barry Glassman (R): Undecided

Del. Donna Stifler (R): Undecided

Del. Susan McComas (R): Yes

District 40: Baltimore City

Sen. Catherine Pugh (D): Did not respond

Del. Frank Conaway (D): Did not respond

Del. Barbara Robinson (D): Did not respond

Del. Shawn Tarrant (D): Did not respond

District 41: Baltimore City

Sen. Lisa Gladden (D): Did not respond

Del. Jill Carter (D): Did not respond

Del. Nathaniel Oaks (D): Did not respond

Del. Samuel Rosenberg (D): Did not respond

District 42: Baltimore County

Sen. James Brochin (D): Did not respond

Del. Susan L. M. Aumann (R): Yes

Del. William Frank (R): Yes

Del. Stephen Lafferty (D): Did not respond

District 43: Baltimore City

Sen. Joan Carter Conway (D): Did not respond

Del. Curt Anderson (D): Did not respond

Del. Ann Marie Doory (D): Did not respond

Del. Maggie McIntosh (D): Did not respond

District 44: Baltimore City

Sen. Verna Jones (D): Did not respond

Del. Keith Haynes (D): Did not respond

Del. Ruth Kirk (D): Did not respond

Del. Melvin Stukes (D): Undecided

District 45: Baltimore City

Sen. Nathaniel McFadden (D): Did not respond

Del. Talmadge Branch (D): Did not respond

Del. Cheryl Glenn (D): Did not respond

Del. Hattie Harrison (D): Did not respond

District 46: Baltimore City

Sen. George Della Jr. (D): Did not respond

Del. Peter Hammen (D): Did not respond

Del. Carolyn Krysiak (D): Did not respond

Del. Brian McHale (D): Did not respond