Republicans did not suggest that Gov. Wes Moore (D) had done anything illegal by being the “featured speaker” at a political action committee fundraiser Wednesday during the legislative session, when fundraising is generally prohibited — but they said it didn’t pass the “smell test.”
That’s why GOP lawmakers in both the House and the Senate tried to introduce emergency bills Wednesday to prohibit such an appearance in no uncertain terms.
“We have laws prohibiting all state lawmakers and the governor from fundraising during the legislative session. These laws were established for one simple reason, and that’s to avoid even the appearance of impropriety,” said Sen. Jason C. Gallion (R-Harford and Cecil), who introduced a bill in the Senate. Del. Nicholaus Kipke (R-Allegany) introduced a companion bill in the House.
“Some political consultants and PAC leaders – they’ll say it’s legal,” he said of Moore’s appearance. “But at least, it does not live up to the spirit of our law. And it definitely does not pass the smell test, especially in the last week of our legislative session.”
But with just days left in the session, Democrats said there was not enough time to consider the bills, particularly with more pressing issues like the budget and energy reform still hanging.
“We have a lot of major issues to take on, this would not even apply in the next five days,” said Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) in response to a move to fast-track Gallion’s bill.
The bills were a response to Moore’s appearance Wednesday as the featured speaker at a fundraiser held by Unity First PAC, which was created in April 2024, largely to campaign against former Gov. Larry Hogan’s (R) efforts to win a U.S. Senate seat in 2024. Hogan lost to now-Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D), but the PAC is still doing business.
Maryland laws prohibit legislators, the governor and other state officials from fundraising during the legislative sessions, and while Republican lawmakers feel that would also prohibit Moore’s activities Wednesday evening, the emergency legislation would lay it out explicitly.
Gallion introduced a bill to prohibit legislators or statewide elected officials like the governor from taking part “in a fundraising event as a featured guest or speaker or in another role intended to increase attendance at or the amount of contributions resulting from” the event if it’s held during a legislative session.
Late-filled bills are supposed to go the House or Senate Rules committees, which decide if they are allowed to be assigned to a committee to being the process of jumping through the usual legislative hurdles of committee hearings and floor discussion on the way to becoming law.
With the 2025 General Assembly scheduled to end at midnight Monday, Gallion hoped to convince senators to bypass the Rules Committee so his bill could go straight to committee hearings.
“The overall issue is something that I know everyone in this room take very seriously,” Gallion said, arguing that the “dark money loophole” needs to be closed “immediately.”
Democratic senators agreed the issue needs to be looked at but said Gallion’s bill was too late to get through the process, and too late to do anything about the Wednesday PAC event.
“Even if we went through the trouble of hearing this bill, it’s too late, the fundraiser is already planned,” Finance Chair Pamela Beidle (D-Anne Arundel) said. “I think this can wait until next year when we aren’t so busy. We’re just swamped with still getting bills out for a vote. I just don’t think we need this interruption that we can’t fix immediately.”
Majority Leader Stephen S. Hershey (R-Upper Shore) argued the bill is not necessarily focused on the Unity First PAC event but would put a stop to similar events down the line.
“Legal or not, it certainly appears to be unethical,” Hershey said. “This makes sure that we are holding the governor to the same standard that we are — that you’re not fundraising during session. That is something that just doesn’t look appropriate.”
The move to bypass Rules for Gallion’s bill failed 12-34. The House also sent Kipke’s version of the bill to the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee Wednesday.
Kipke was not hopeful Wednesday.
“I don’t anticipate the legislature taking it up because of how short a time we have left,” Kipke said. “I would like to get a hearing, and I will be seeking a hearing from the leaders of the General Assembly. I’ll be talking to them throughout the course of the day. I do think it’s something that has bipartisan support.”
And if that doesn’t work, he plans to push the issue again next year.
“If it doesn’t pass this session, I’ll be introducing it next year,” Kipke said. “The legislature should embrace the blanket prohibition because it’s just the right thing to do.”
Maryland Matters is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501(c)(3) public charity. Maryland Matters maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Steve Crane for questions: scrane@marylandmatters.org. Follow Maryland Matters on Facebook and Twitter.
