Md. Bill Would Change Furniture-buying Rules for Governors

The Maryland Governor Mansion (Photo: Wikipedia/Public Domain)

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)- Maryland lawmakers are scheduled to vote on a bill that would prevent departing governors from buying furniture from the executive mansion at a discount.

    

The bipartisan measure is scheduled for a vote Friday in the House of Delegates.

    

The bill was filed after former Gov. Martin O'Malley and his wife paid nearly $10,000 before he left office last year for 54 pieces of furniture that initially cost taxpayers about $62,000 eight years earlier. The Maryland Department of General Services sold the furniture after the pieces were declared "junk."

    

The measure would prevent the agency from transferring ownership of state-bought furniture in the mansion, unless the governor participates in an auction open to the public.

    

The Anne Arundel County state's attorney's office is investigating the purchase by O'Malley.

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