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Sunday, July 10, 2011

Md. Highway Officials Abused, Benefited From State Contracts, Audit Says

Former high-level officials in a Maryland department responsible for doling out tens of millions of dollars in transportation projects accepted money from, or later worked for, companies awarded lucrative taxpayer-funded projects, according to a state audit.

A senior manager in the State Highway Administration, who ran an out-of-state company promoting sporting events, sought money from contractors for a golf tournament before handing out public dollars to the same companies, the Maryland Office of Legislative Audits concluded.

Legislative Auditor Bruce Myers also wrote in the report that highway administration officials "did not ensure firms complied with state ethics laws regarding the hiring and subsequent involvement of former SHA employees."

According to the auditor, another SHA manager helped arrange a $16 million contract for an engineering firm, which then gave him a job just 12 days after he retired from the government post. State policy prohibits a former employee from having "direct or indirect interest" in a contract for at least one year after employment.

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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a surprize. Corruption and waste in Government.
Say it ain't so.

Anonymous said...

In their positins or ones they held means they will not be prosecuted. The should be prosecuted to the max but since its Political O'Malley cannot hurt his base and prosecute period. Also strip them of their retirements and benifits.

Anonymous said...

The avarge guy goes to jail while the real crooks go free. The sad thing is now when I here some one robs a bank. I almost think GOOD.