ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WBFF) — As Maryland’s 2026 legislative session opened in Annapolis on Wednesday, a long-dormant idea began to surface with some interest: Should the state establish an independent, statewide inspector general to investigate waste, fraud, and abuse across government?
The renewed informal debate was sparked in part by Spotlight on Maryland’s recent reporting on comments from Baltimore City Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming, whose office investigates misconduct within city government.
“This state, which I hear is the richest in the United States of America, does not have an inspector general to watch out for the public,” said Cumming last week during a Zoom interview. She warned that without an independent watchdog, Maryland risks leaving taxpayer dollars vulnerable…