If you’ve ever wondered where the line is between campaign literature and constituent service, Senator Mike McKay may have just tripped over it, wearing a smile and holding a freshly printed copy of The 90 Day Report.
McKay, the Republican senator from Washington County, is under review by the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics for self-publishing two books that summarize the 2024 and 2025 legislative sessions. They’re available on Amazon, handed out to constituents, and, here’s the kicker, compiled with help from his Senate staff. That last detail has ethics watchdogs raising eyebrows and sharpening pencils.
But let’s be clear: Mike McKay is no villain. He’s about as decent as a Maryland Republican can be, earnest, transparent, and genuinely trying to keep his voters informed. His books are legislative scrapbooks, not Machiavellian manifestos. Still, using taxpayer-funded staff to produce them? That’s a no-no, even if the intent was noble.
🧠 Meanwhile, Brooke Lierman Is Playing Ethical Twister Like a Pro
Now, if McKay is the guy who accidentally wandered into the ethics minefield, Comptroller Brooke Lierman is the one doing cartwheels just shy of the tripwire. Her Earned It campaign, launched to boost tax credit uptake, is a masterclass in state-funded self-promotion. It’s got fliers, fact sheets, social media posts, and enough glossy outreach to make a gubernatorial campaign blush.
But here’s the genius: no campaign logo. No explicit “Vote for Brooke.” Just a whole lot of “Look what Brooke’s doing for you.” She’s driven to events in a state-funded vehicle, flanked by police chauffeurs, and supported by state employees who help craft messaging that, while technically educational, also happens to make her look like Maryland’s next great executive.
And because she stays within the letter of the law, she’s untouchable. It’s like watching someone play Monopoly with a law degree and a GPS tracker.
⚖️ The McKay-Lierman Line Dance
So what’s the difference?
| Feature | Mike McKay | Brooke Lierman |
|----------------------------|-------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
| Staff Involvement | Senate staff helped compile books | State staff produce outreach |
| Branding | Campaign logo on book cover | No campaign branding |
| Distribution | Amazon sales + free copies | Statewide tax credit campaign |
| Ethics Review | Under investigation | Applauded for outreach |
| Intent | Inform constituents | Inform... and inspire voters |
McKay may have crossed the line with a campaign logo and staff involvement. Brooke? She’s dancing right up to it, waving from her state-funded ride, and tossing tax credit fliers like confetti.
📝 Final Thoughts
Ethics in Maryland politics isn’t always about what you do—it’s about how you do it. McKay’s books might be a bit too DIY for Annapolis decorum, but his heart’s in the right place. Lierman, meanwhile, is playing the long game, building a brand with surgical precision and taxpayer-funded polish.
If McKay had just skipped the logo and called his book a “statewide outreach initiative,” he might be getting a commendation instead of a committee review.