Maryland's 188 lawmakers would have to end their unusual and long-criticized practice of personally distributing a total of $11.5 million in scholarship money under a plan approved Friday by a key House committee. The Appropriations Committee would not cut any of the money in the program. Instead, the money would be distributed by the Maryland Higher Education Commission. The current policy has been under fire for years by government watchdog groups, who say lawmakers can curry favor with voters by handing out the money. The House divides $5 million among 141 delegates. The Senate spreads out $6.5 million to 47 members.

- Associated Press