‘Currie’ing favor for personal profit no problem for Dems
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller wants the public to believe that Senator Ulysses S. Currie “made an absent-minded mistake..lobb[ying] the government on behalf of a private entity for personal profit.”
Right.
Whom does he think he is kidding?
The Baltimore Sun reports that the
FBI’s public corruption squad is investigating whether Lanham-based Shoppers Food and Pharmacy paid Currie to use the prestige of his office to secure favorable legislation and action by state agencies.
Currie, chairman of the Budget and Taxation Committee, did not disclose his employment with Shoppers in ethics filings with the state as required…and engaged in dozens of meetings and conversations with state officials in an effort to help the grocery chain in its dealings with several agencies.
According to the Maryland Daily Record,
Currie began working for Shoppers in early 2003 and was paid more than $207,000 from that time until 2007, court documents indicate. His activities included prodding state transportation officials on installing traffic signals and approving a parking lot entrance.
“On the surface, it appears clearly an ethics law has not been adhered to,” Miller said. “Regardless of what the federal government does, this will be an issue taken up by the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics.”
The General Assembly’s ethics committee can recommend sanctions, including censure or expulsion. However, there are no civil or criminal penalties associated with violating the state ethics law at issue.
Senator Currie could be facing federal charges. And should be facing the censure of his peers for failing to disclose his business relationship with Shoppers. But, as the Sun reports
…Miller again dismissed rumors yesterday that he would ask his political ally to step down as head of the Senate committee that oversees the state budget.
Just look at the difference in party ethical standards.
Just the hint of a personal scandal with Senate Minority Whip David Brinkley is forcing him to relinquish a leadership role in the GOP in order to “focus on his home life and business.”
However,
“Senator Currie is going to remain chairman … through all of these difficult budget negotiations,” Miller said, referring to the problems that could be caused by anticipated state revenue shortfalls. “And if, in fact, he is charged by the federal government, then we will look at it again.”
In any case, the heat is on the Democrats to be more transparent in disclosing business relationships that result in their own personal profits.
But a federal indictment of Senator Currie would certainly spice up the upcoming legislative session. More later…
