Amended Online Disclosure Bill Passes Legislature
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- State Sen. Jamie Raskin says while his bill to put public officials' ethical disclosure forms online was amended in the House of Delegates, the proposal still retains its core elements.
Raskin said Wednesday it is a giant step in making Maryland government more transparent.
After House Environmental Matters Committee chairwoman Maggie McIntosh suggested the measure needed to be altered to protect officials from identity theft, the bill passed as the General Assembly wrapped up its 2012 session Monday.
Raskin's initial proposal would have put the ethical and financial disclosures of lawmakers and executive-level officials on the Internet. Instead the new version would only put legislators' conflict of interest disclosures online. Financial assets would not be disclosed electronically.
Officials in the governor's office say he will likely sign the bill.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
