Baltimore lawmakers weigh in on why they voted against the IG records access bill
Members cite the need for a deliberative process as reason for rejecting a bill that goes against the mayor’s wishes
Above: Councilwoman Odette Ramos speaks against the IG access bill. (Charm TV)
The City Council tonight voted 13-1 to reject Councilman Mark Conway’s efforts to help Baltimore’s inspector general regain access to city records. (Council Vice President Sharon Green Middleton was absent.)
The rejection came as a Council member lavished praise on the work of Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming and others voiced their support for transparency and accountability in city government.
They argued that the Conway bill felt rushed and was quite possibly unlawful. The Council needs to take its time and follow proper procedures to formulate potential charter amendments, they said.
Here are some quotes from lawmakers, beginning and ending with Councilman Conway’s plea to the body to approve the measure.
MARK CONWAY, 4th District Councilman
“We know from the investigation that she [Cumming] did on the SideStep program that that fraud has already been referred for criminal prosecution. We know that this will come out at some point. We know that without the IG’s report, we would not be aware of the issues that were brought up . . . and we would also not know about the fraud. None of this would be apparent to the Council today were not for our Inspector General Isabel Cumming.
“It begs the question for the Council, are we able? Are we strong enough? Or are we too weak to defend the Inspector General’s office? Do we have the ability, the authority, the gumption to stand up for an office that saves us money [and] protects the rights of the people?”
ZEKE COHEN, City Council President
“I will note that the issue of transparency and accountability is of the utmost importance to this entire Council throughout this term. This Council has demonstrated time and time again that oversight and accountability are critical.
“It is extremely important that we operate through the committee process . . . We don’t just go with the first product. We take our time and we do it right. It is of the utmost importance to this entire Council that we get this topic right.”
Council President Zeke Cohen presides over the May 11 meeting. (Charm TV)
ODETTE RAMOS, 14th District Councilwoman
“I personally cannot make laws with a gun to my head. I cannot pass a law that we have not had that deliberative process to really make sure that we get it right.
“I am a humongous fan of our inspector general. This particular bill, as it stands, is not something that we can vote on today.”
“I am a humongous fan of our inspector general. I’m a huge fan of the office. I have advocated strongly for more dollars for her work, for making sure that she has everything that she needs. This particular bill, as it stands, is not something that we can vote on today.”
RYAN DORSEY, 3rd District Councilman
“I would just say I welcome it to be petitioned out for all of the same reasons that Councilwoman Ramos just cited. This is not legal. It will be overturned in court. Everybody here values the deliberative process. If there is to be a vote here to circumvent that deliberative process, I welcome to see how that vote comes out.”
ZAC BLANCHARD, 11th District Councilman
“To the concern that I’ve heard that the committee is slow-walking the bill, I would like to point out that the bill was introduced on April 6. The hearing was on May 6. I think I’ve introduced six bills in my short term on the Council. None of them have been heard that quickly.
“If this had come up earlier, it could have been addressed a little earlier. So, therefore, I’m voting ‘no’ on moving the bill out of committee.”
JOHN BULLOCK, 9th District Councilman
“We [the Charter Review Special Committee] spent over six months doing this work. And it’s important work. And that important work is not driven by the media cycle, by the news cycle, by the hot topic of the day. Our work is driven by the substantive topics we’ve been discussing over this period of time.
“I respect my colleague and my brother. I respect our very strong City Council here, and in these 14 districts the folks that are doing this work on a daily basis, and doing great legislation. But it’s important for us to get it right, to hear it in committee.”
John Bullock: “It’s important for us to get it right.” (Charm TV)
JAMES TORRENCE, 7th District Councilman
“I just want to make sure that we’re clear, for the public’s concern, that as legislators we are not lazy. We want to be deliberative, and we want to be respectful of our colleagues in terms of that deliberative process.”
CONWAY in closing remarks
“What about the fact that the the IG has already been neutered? It’s already done. The IG does not have direct access to information anymore. She now has to subpoena documents and take them to court just to get redacted documents. That is happening right now. So for us to say that this is happening too fast. The reality has already hit the inspector general’s office.
“There’s a thick layer of politics on this, a very thick layer of politics, and we all know it.”
“I said this when I introduced the bill initially, there’s a thick layer of politics on this, a very thick layer of politics, and we all know it. Put that aside. Put the mayor aside. Put the inspector general, as she currently sits, aside. Think about our system. Think about our responsibility to make sure that it works, and that the taxes that we collect are well spent and protected. That is our responsibility here today.
“We do want to be deliberate, but we can’t do nothing. Nothing means that we have to wait two years to do a charter amendment. Our IG is neutered and does not have direct access to information and [has] to rely on a subpoena, of which that’s in court right now, in order to get access to information. That’s unacceptable.”