ANNAPOLIS – Members of the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics Thursday denied allegations stemming from a political fraud trial that Maryland politics is mired in a culture of corruption.
The comments came during the panel’s second regularly scheduled meeting since the July 14 conviction of lobbyist Gerard E. Evans on nine counts of mail fraud. Delegate Tony E. Fulton, D-Baltimore, also faced 11 related charges, but was acquitted on five of those charges. The jury deadlocked on the remainder.
Before entering a private session to discuss confidential ethics advisories, the committee discussed a letter submitted weeks ago by Delegate Nancy R. Stocksdale, R-Carroll.
In her letter, Stocksdale argued the committee should respond to Fulton’s testimony, as paraphrased in news accounts, that cozy relationships among lawmakers and lobbyists in the Maryland Legislature are common.
Stocksdale decried Fulton’s testimony as inappropriate.
“I just took offense to the fact that I’m being accused with the same brush that Delegate Fulton implied that all legislators play the game and that it’s a routine thing,” she said.
Fulton declined to comment Thursday, but he argued in court that his actions were a legitimate way to serve his constituents.
Ethics panelists said unethical practices are the exception, not the rule.
Citing his 26 years of experience in state government, Sen. Donald F. Munson, R-Washington, said, “I’ve seen thousands of legislators go through this place, and all but the tiniest little handful have been really honest people. I guess what it boils down to is folks cheapen it – Fulton’s statement cheapens it even worse.”
Sen. Thomas McLain Middleton, D-Charles, said dealings with lobbyists are complicated, and members often wonder if they are straddling the ethical line.
For example, during hectic budget negotiations a lobbyist may approach him with amendment language. Knowing the lobbyist is more knowledgeable about the language of the bill than his assistant, Middleton will allow the lobbyist to draft legislation for his review.
“Is that wrong?” Middleton asked committee members, many of whom shook their heads in reply.
But Marylanders have seen a string of legislative ethics cases in recent years. In 1994, lobbyist Bruce Bereano was disbarred after being convicted of federal mail fraud connected to political donations. In 1998, then Sen. Larry Young, D-Baltimore, was expelled from the Senate for a series of ethics violations.
Under the Ethics Reform Bill of 1999, ethics counsel William G. Somerville is required to meet with each of the 188 state legislators annually to discuss ethics rules. Somerville said most ethical infractions come from confusion about specifics of the law, and these hour-long meetings are intended to allow members to ask questions and voice concerns.
The Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics is a standing committee composed of 12 members – six senators and six delegates. Its purpose is to publish rules on legislative ethics, issue guidelines for the rules and establish procedures for implementation.