Lawmakers “Seek Tighter Ethics Laws for Future Governors” Following Reports that Hogan Funneled Millions to Business Partners [Washington Post]

Six of Larry Hogan’s clients won ~40% of housing awards over eight years, beating out 60+ other companies 

Maryland Speaker of the House Adrienne A. Jones, Chairman Marc Korman, and others are working on new legislation to tighten ethics rules following a bombshell report that as governor, Larry Hogan personally directed millions in taxpayer dollars to his firm’s clients while holding regular meetings with company leadership. TIME reported Thursday that six of Hogan’s clients won ~40% of competitive housing awards over eight years, beating out 60+ other companies. 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT.

Washington Post: Maryland Democrats to Seek Tighter Ethics Laws for Future Governors

By Erin Cox

October 11, 2024

• Maryland Democrats plan to push for new ethics rules during the next state legislative session that would require future governors with business interests to put their assets in a blind trust.
• The proposal, announced Friday and already with critical support from House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County), would set into state law how future leaders must shield their business interests from their public life.
• It follows a news report published Thursday that alleges the trust set up for the Republican’s real estate business did not adequately insulate him from deciding matters that could benefit his firm.
• The revelations that, as governor, [Hogan] approved housing contracts with firms that also did business with his real estate company renewed questions about how Maryland governors’ financial lives should be handled.
• “We know there’s a better way because the current governor is doing it a better way, which is making use of a blind trust to deal with his prior business success and to make sure it doesn’t get intermingled with the state’s business,” House Environment and Transportation Committee Chair Marc Korman (D-Montgomery) said in an interview, referring to Gov. Wes Moore (D).
• Korman’s committee will hear his legislation. Shortly after he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Jones said she’d work on it with him and said “He’s right: Marylanders deserve to know that their Governor is solely serving the interests of the people.”
• [Hogan’s] continued ownership of the company while governor came under scrutiny in 2020 following reports published by Washington Monthly [that] said properties he owns benefited from transportation projects he green-lit.

###