What is Governor Hogan’s “Anti-Worker” Task Force Hiding?

Annapolis, MD — Today, Maryland Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Matthews filed a Public Information Act (PIA) request to uncover the true intentions of Governor Larry Hogan’s anti-worker” paid sick leave task force, after Governor Hogan refused to reveal who his administration is meeting with, if they are meeting at all.

Matthews requested a list of all meetings held by the task force, copies of meeting minutes for each meeting, and all calendar items on Maryland Secretary of Labor Kathy Schultz’s calendar for events and conversations related to the task force, which she leads.

“After vetoing legislation that would have given more than 700,000 Marylanders access to paid sick leave, Governor Hogan is now using his team of lawyers and legal loopholes to shield the true intentions of his anti-worker task force,” said Maryland Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Matthews.  “Marylanders deserve to know who Governor Hogan’s anti-worker task force is meeting with, that’s if its meeting at all.  If this task force is not the sham it appears to be, Governor Hogan should have no problem releasing this information.”

Hogan vetoed legislation to give more than 700,000 Maryland workers access to paid sick leave, then signed an executive order creating a task force headed by Maryland Labor Secretary Kelly Schultz and several members of his administration to study the issue further.

Last month, Matthews filed an open meeting complaint with the Maryland Open Meetings Compliance Board against Hogan’s task force to understand why meetings have not been publicized or whether the panel is meeting at all.  Under Maryland law, public bodies are required to give “reasonable advance notice” of its meetings; make meeting agendas publicly available in advance of such meetings; hold meetings openly; and adopt minutes that are accessible to the general public.  

So far, Governor Hogan’s task force has not met or has been meeting in secret without giving Marylanders adequate account of its actions, depriving Marylanders of their right to play a role in policy making in clear violation of the Open Meetings Act.

The Hogan Administration refused to comply with the request, admitting that Governor used a loophole to keep the task force shrouded in secrecy.  The task force has until December 1, 2017 less than 3 weeks—to submit a report of its “findings.”

Last month, Matthews filed an open meeting complaint with the Maryland Open Meetings Compliance Board against Hogan’s task force to understand why meetings have not been publicized or whether the panel is meeting at all.  Under Maryland law, public bodies are required to give “reasonable advance notice” of its meetings; make meeting agendas publicly available in advance of such meetings; hold meetings openly; and adopt minutes that are accessible to the general public.  

So far, Governor Hogan’s task force has not met or has been meeting in secret without giving Marylanders adequate account of its actions, depriving Marylanders of their right to play a role in policy making in clear violation of the Open Meetings Act.

The Hogan Administration refused to comply with the request, admitting that Governor used a loophole to keep the task force shrouded in secrecy.  The task force has until December 1, 2017 less than 3 weeks—to submit a report of its “findings.”