Unlikely Alliance: Liberal City Government and Conservative Supreme Court Team Up to Kill Transparency Bill in Maryland

Strange Bedfellows

An unexpected partnership between a supposedly liberal city government and a conservative Supreme Court has successfully worked together to block a bill aimed at loosening Maryland's transparency laws. The battle revolves around a crucial line in the Maryland Public Information Act.

Bill Withdrawn

Last week, Delegate Sandy Rosenberg withdrew the controversial HB 712 after Baltimore city opposed the legislation. The city argued that changing the statute would jeopardize the confidentiality of business records.

Future Plans

Rosenberg is not giving up on the bill and plans to reintroduce it next year. He believes transparency is crucial for the democratic process and public evaluation of government actions.

Supreme Court Decision

In 2019, the conservative Supreme Court ruling in Food Marketing Institute v. Argus Leader Media set a new precedent allowing the government to withhold private information. This decision raised concerns among transparency advocates.

Impact in Maryland

The Supreme Court decision was used in Maryland to deny access to details of a tax and profit-sharing agreement between the city and a developer. A local nonprofit seeking information on the deal was denied access due to the court ruling.

Ongoing Investigation

This report is part of an investigative series uncovering the use of tax breaks to support development in Baltimore. The documentary "Tax Broke" sheds light on the lack of transparency in Baltimore's tax break policies.

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By: Stephen Janis and Taya Graham
Title: Unlikely Alliance: Liberal City Government and Conservative Supreme Court Team Up to Kill Transparency Bill in Maryland
Sourced From: therealnews.com/baltimore-embraces-conservative-supreme-court-precedent-to-block-transparency-bill
Published Date: Wed, 20 Mar 2024 15:29:15 +0000