{"id":2329,"date":"2026-02-27T14:47:50","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T19:47:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/maryland\/?post_type=press&p=2329"},"modified":"2026-02-27T14:47:50","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T19:47:50","slug":"common-cause-leads-fight-to-restore-inspector-generals-access-to-public-records","status":"publish","type":"press","link":"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/maryland\/press\/common-cause-leads-fight-to-restore-inspector-generals-access-to-public-records\/","title":{"rendered":"Common Cause Leads Fight to Restore Inspector Generals\u2019 Access to Public Records"},"template":"","class_list":["post-2329","press","type-press","status-publish","hentry","press_type-press-release"],"acf":{"details":{"summary":"New bill protects transparency after Attorney General guidance hamstrings anti-corruption watchdogs ","featured_image":"","press_type":145,"authors":"","related_issues":[444],"related_work":false,"location":23},"sidebar":{"helper_enable_sidebar":false,"helper_media_contact":{"heading":"Media Contact","manually_enter_person":false,"person":"","name":"","role":"","phone":"","email":""},"helper_links_downloads":{"heading":"Links & Downloads","links":null}},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"content":"
\r\n\r\nAnnapolis, MD<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Common Cause Maryland\u00a0is spearheading new legislation to restore Inspector Generals' access to unredacted government records \u2014 a critical tool for investigating fraud, waste, and abuse in local government. SB991\/ HB1620 was introduced last week in direct response to a recent\u00a0Attorney General advisory opinion<\/a> that restricted all local Inspector Generals' records access, prompting concerns from watchdog offices across the state.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\r\n\u201cDenying Inspector Generals'\u00a0access to government records for their investigations is like telling a detective they can't examine evidence at a crime scene \u2013 absolutely ridiculous,\"\u00a0said\u00a0Joanne Antoine, Executive Director of Common Cause Maryland.<\/strong> \"This is just the latest of ongoing local attempts to limit IGs\u2019 authority and independence, gutting their ability to root out corruption and leaving taxpayers in the dark. We\u2019re calling on the legislature to act swiftly to close this loophole and ensure government watchdogs have the tools they need to protect taxpayer dollars.\u201d\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\r\nFollowing the\u00a0Attorney\u00a0General's guidance,\u00a0Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott announced\u00a0the city\u00a0would limit the Baltimore Office of Inspector General\u2019s access<\/a>\u00a0to protected records.\u00a0Inspector Generals\u00a0from Montgomery County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Howard County\u00a0wrote a letter<\/a>\u00a0expressing their concerns on how this new guidance would prevent them from fulfilling their duties.\u00a0The\u00a0MDDC Press Association<\/a> also supports Inspector Generals\u2019\u00a0access to records.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\r\nFor years, Common Cause Maryland has played an integral role in creating and protecting Inspector General offices in local governments throughout Maryland.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
\r\n

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