On Ocean City and public disclosure
Eastern Shore newspapers sue the town to force the release of drowning victim's name.
Supreme Court rejects reporter’s bid to protect source
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to get involved in the case of a reporter who has been ordered to testify at the trial of a former CIA officer accused of disclosing classified information.
Policinski: When and why we need to hear 911 calls
The word “restraint” and the First Amendment usually exist in uneasy tension. The 45 words of the First Amendment don’t include it. The Pentagon Papers case in 1971 settled the issue of “prior restraint” by the government on what the press may publish: Nothing doing.
Watchdog group gives top court a C for financial disclosures
Maryland’s high court receives a grade of C — but just barely — when it comes to financial disclosures filed by the states’ top judges, according to a nationwide report.
Editorial Advisory Board: Judicial disclosure forms should be complete, online
This newspaper recently reported that the judges on the Maryland Court of Appeals are not required to disclose their net worth. We feel that there is no public policy to be served by requiring state judges to disclose their net worth.
Judge dismisses employment numbers lawsuit
It’s not looking good for law school students suing their alma maters for misrepresenting post-graduation employment numbers. ...
FCC requires TV stations to post rate info online
WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission voted Friday to require broadcast TV stations to post online the advertising rates they charge political candidates and advocacy groups. The vote came despite strong opposition from many broadcasters, who have argued that making sensitive advertising rate information so publically available will undermine stations’ competitiveness and give[...]
Delaware bill would expand lobbyist disclosures
DOVER, Del. — A state Senate committee has cleared a bill expanding disclosure requirements for lobbyists working to influence legislation and regulations in Delaware. The bill was released by the executive committee Wednesday for a vote in the full Senate, even though some lobbyists said it was vaguely written and could wind up simply generating […]
Ethics law debate extended in Md. Senate
ANNAPOLIS — Maryland senators are considering legislation that would mandate financial disclosure forms for state officials be filed electronically and posted online. Lawmakers attempted to amend the bill Wednesday to include local officials who run on a slate with state-level candidates, but the measure failed. The senators decided to wait until Thursday to consider another […]
Obama supports new category of secret files
WASHINGTON — In the middle of Sunshine Week, when news organizations and advocacy groups promote government transparency, the Obama administration urged Congress on Tuesday to keep secret a whole new category of information even under the Freedom of Information Act. A few miles away, the White House organized a conference call with two senior administration […]
The Eye on Annapolis Podcast
Daily Record columnist and WYPR Senior News Analyst C. Fraser Smith joins me on the podcast to review the week that was in Annapolis. Among the topics we discuss is the long-running rivalry between Gov. Martin O’Malley and Comptroller Peter Franchot that flared up when O’Malley referred to Franchot as “Maryland’s Mitt Romney.” We also […]
Currie appears before Maryland ethics panel
ANNAPOLIS — State Sen. Ulysses Currie appeared for several hours Monday before the Maryland General Assembly’s joint ethics panel, which is considering the Prince George’s County senator’s failure to disclose work for a grocery store chain. Currie, a Democrat, appeared before the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics during a closed-door meeting with retired Maryland Court of [...]