Baltimore's City Council shot down portions of a proposed charter amendment yesterday that would have made it easier for City Hall to spend taxpayer money - but that would have reduced public advertising requirements and independent oversight of that spending.
On a unanimous vote, the council advanced a significantly watered-down version of the legislation, which was introduced by Mayor Sheila Dixon's administration. Though supporters vowed to resurrect the most controversial portions of the bill at a later date, the recent debate gave Dixon's leading mayoral challenger a ready-made opportunity to raise ethical questions from her time as City Council president.
