Md. Pols Ponder Ethics After Wild St. Patty's Day Bash

Would prevent lobbyists from throwing swanky parties in actual offices that oversee them

So this happened in the Maryland state legislature offices, and it was legal:  "... A St. Patrick's Day party was thrown last week by two horse-racing interests in the office suite of the House committee that writes slot-machine legislation."

Yup, 100 percent legal.  For now!

Maryland House Speaker Michael Busch introduced a law "to ban lobbyist-sponsored receptions on legislative property" ever since that exact thing just happened. It fixes a "loophole" in current regulations that allow lobbyists "to organize dinners and receptions for the entire General Assembly, entire legislative committees and county delegations," just not individual lawmakers.

The current laws do not, however, dictate where these events can and can't be held, hence last week's drunken frat party in the Ways and Means Committee offices.

A flyer billed the "invitation only" event as "Chairman Sheila Hixson's Annual St. Patrick's Day Party," and advertised: "Food! Friends!! Frivolity!!! Leprechauns & Libations!!!!"

See that? They bought actual leprechauns, to perform magic.

The only Fat Cats who can afford that kind of a show are the dreaded lobbyists, and indeed they paid for the entire $4,683 event. One of the two sponsors was the Ocean Downs Racetrack, one of four companies with pending bids placed to the state for a slot-machine license. And it's the Ways and Means Committee that writes legislation pertaining to slots.

This is not to accuse Del. Hixson or others of anything, but the circumstances do show a little naivety. It looks especially fishy coming only a month after the state rejected two of six slots bids from other companies. If you're Ocean Downs and starting to worry, bringing the booze to the decider's house can go a long way!

Jim Newell also writes! for Wonkette!! and IvyGate!!!

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