Contributions

Developers who make campaign contributions to Zoning Board members would have to note those gifts in board records under a bill before the county's Annapolis delegation.The delegation will have a joint hearing on this and 12 other bills next Wednesday night in the countyoffice building.Also being considered are a 5 percent county hotel tax, a building excise tax deemed an essential part of the county's adequate facilities legislation, a family day-care exemption in residential neighborhoods, several state grants, changes in the county's liquor laws, anda prohibition against "obscene live performances."

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY could do itself a big favor by taking the state of Maryland out of the business of regulating campaign contributions.Instead of further complicating the matter and confounding the public, the legislature should repeal all existing campaign contribution laws except reporting and let the marketplace take care of itself.There are really two major money problems in Annapolis -- too much on the one hand, not enough on the other. While the state budget is as taut as a drum and the Schaefer administration is asking for a smorgasbord of tax increases, it's still private war chests that determine public policy.

Bernard Pierce led the rushing attack. Chykie Brown broke up the most passes. And Brendon Ayanbadejo and Omar Brown each registered a sack. The Ravens relied on their usual stable of superstars to throttle the New York Giants, 33-14, Sunday evening, but they also got some opportune contributions from younger and unheralded players. Pierce, a third-round pick in April's NFL draft, outgained starter Ray Rice, 123-107, on the ground although Rice did add 51 receiving yards and a 27-yard touchdown catch.

A second state lawmaker who received political contributions from Maryland churches has agreed to return the money, saying he fears jeopardizing the religious institutions' tax-exempt classifications. Sen. Nathaniel J. McFadden, a Baltimore Democrat and the Senate's majority leader, said yesterday that he will give back more than $2,200 he collected in a dozen campaign contributions from churches since 2000. "I don't want to do anything that would adversely affect the churches," said McFadden, who said campaign staff members are calculating how much to return.

When the testimony turned to campaign contributions, County Councilman C. Vernon Gray couldn't wait to begin the cross-examination.During last Wednesday's Zoning Board hearing on the Waverly Woods II project, Marriottsville resident Tim McVey pointed out that as a federal employee, it would be illegal for him to contribute to President Bush's campaign fund."

STUART ROBINSON gets us to the heart of the American political dilemma. In Washington, the Republican White House owes its soul to big business, and the Democrats owe big labor. Across Maryland, everybody runs for office now with hands reaching into somebody's pockets. But, in Harford County, Robinson runs for a Circuit Court judgeship, and does it on nobody's dime but his own. He will not reach for any campaign contributions, he says, or accept any that are offered. He will spend no one's money but his own. He says this keeps him clean and begins to remove the cynicism that surrounds politics across America.

WASHINGTON -- Contributions to President Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton's legal defense fund have plunged in the past six months, even as the couple's personal legal bills have been driven higher by the Whitewater hearings in Congress, trustees of the fund have reported.Contributions dropped from $602,000 in the second half of 1994 to about $258,000 for the first half of 1995, and the number of contributions fell from 5,965 to 1,158.Mike McCurry, the White House press secretary, acknowledged that Mr. Clinton is as "concerned as anyone would be facing that kind of bill and obviously not having the wherewithal to pay that bill."

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Raymond F. Schoenke Jr., who is paying for his campaign largely with his personal fortune, declared yesterday he would accept no money from "special interest" political action committees in general and the gambling industry specifically.Calling on his opponents to do the same, Schoenke said the move was necessary to assure the public that he would not be beholden to such interest groups."We have to make a statement that we will return the government back to the people," Schoenke said during a news conference in downtown Baltimore.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Parris N. Glendening acknowledged yesterday that his campaign made contributions to two Baltimore political organizations that exceeded legal limits, prompting a flurry of criticism from his rivals.Moving quickly to control any damage, the campaign said it had asked the organizations for refunds totaling $3,500, the amount that exceeded state limits."We're asking for refunds, which will bring us into full compliance," Emily Smith, Glendening campaign manager, said.

Brian H. Davis, a convicted bank swindler who was once a high-roller in Maryland political circles, was charged yesterday with three counts of violating state election laws.The former Baltimore trucking executive was charged in a criminal information with contributing $68,500 under false names. He was also charged with two counts of exceeding the state's $10,000 limit on political campaign contributions during a four-year election cycle. The charges, all misdemeanors, cover the 1994 and 1998 election cycles.