Maryland Sen. James N. Mathias Jr. said Wednesday that he would withdraw as a co-sponsor from legislation that would provide up to $1.2 million a year in operating assistance to a horse-racing track where his private employer helped build a casino.
Mathias (D-Worcester) said he was taking the step “to ease anyone’s concern” that he has a conflict of interest. He produced a 2009 letter from a legislative ethics committee saying that his employment situation did not require him to abstain from issues affecting the Ocean Downs track.
“Rather than create an unnecessary perception, I’ll ask to be amended off the bill,” Mathias said. “Discretion is the better part of valor.”
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4 comments:
At least Mathias had the decency to withdraw.
Now if we could only get ole Norman Conway to recuse himself from being involved with illegal lobbying activity on behalf of the Wicomico County Board of Education.
Translation: You guys caught me doing what all my other thieving friends do, so I'll just slip away, let my friends take over and tell the voters that "I don't want any bad or "inaccurate" perceptions about my integrity". Too late. The bill will still get passed (any bets it won't?) but thanks for the prima facie evidence that you are a just another slimy, back door dealing, self enriching, political hack. I left some other adjectives out, but you got the gist of it....
This is just another attempt by the press and opponents of a bill to smear our state senator in an attempt to foil the legislation. It's a shame what some people will resort to. Unfortunately for them Jim anticipated the problem and was ready for them. Please name one politician at any level of government who doesn't have a potential for a conflict of interest if they hold a job.
Prior to co-sponsoring this bill Senator Mathias did not ask the local horsemen or the organization that represents them(Cloverleaf Standardbred Owners Association) their input on this bill? Senator Colburn did! Unfortunately, the horsemen realize in Maryland they must pay to race and are willing to pay their fair share, but not with out a horseman's agreement/ contract with Mr. Rickman. What protection do Maryland horsemen have from our purse money going out of the state? Senator Mathias did meet with CSOA and several horsemen and said he would add amendments to the bill...where are those amendments? Mr. Rickman did not want amendments and so guess what. No amendments. Who needs more protection? Mr. Rickman or the local STB horse owners? It turns out, in Senator Mathias mind...Mr. Rickman. You can see why the horsemen are questioning Senator Mathias's commitment to Mr. Rickman and not to his local constituents.
It seems who pays more gets more in Annapolis. I'd like to leave this post with a bit of entertainment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aad5X6J2XwM
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