Md. House OKs Public Campaign Financing Bill

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- The Maryland House of Delegates has voted to bring back a voluntary check off on individual income tax returns for public campaign financing for governor.

The House voted 134-6 on Tuesday for the bill, which was proposed by Republican Gov. Larry Hogan.

The original check off was repealed in 2010.

Hogan, who became the state's first candidate for governor to win the election while using public campaign financing, received $2.6 million from the fund. Democratic Del. Heather Mizeur also used public funds in her unsuccessful primary bid last year. The fund had not been used before them since 1994.

As of October, the fund was drained down to about $1.1 million.

The measure now goes to the Senate, where another bill is pending in a committee.

Maryland