Hogan Proposes Ethics Bill Citing Recent Political Corruption
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has proposed a new ethics bill, calling on state lawmakers to hold themselves accountable.
The bill would increase fines for bribery by 1,000 percent, eliminate taxpayer-funded pensions for convicted lawmakers and would add direct intervention by the ethics commission.
The bill comes after two delegates -- Tawanna Gaines and Cheryl Glenn -- resigned last year after being indicted for bribery.
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"We've all been outraged to repeatedly see current and former legislators along with local elected officials, county school superintendents who've been indicted or abusing the public trust and using their offices for criminal activity," Hogan said.
#WJZ Ethics and Accountability in Government Act was the highlight of Governor Hogan's brief pre-session news conference. Increases fines for taking bribes 1000% and forces lawmakers to forfeit taxpayer funded pensions if convicted. Cited Catherine Pugh as an example pic.twitter.com/Ec1LjPg7DO
— Pat Warren (@PatWarrenMedia_) January 7, 2020
Hogan also cited the corruption scandal that enveloped former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh.