A bill that would bar elected officials from accepting campaign donations during special legislative sessions got a rough reception yesterday from lawmakers, who complained it was unnecessary and could be costly for them and their supporters.

Del. Saqib S. Ali, a freshman Montgomery County Democrat, urged his colleagues to outlaw acceptance of any gifts during special sessions, "not only to give confidence to the citizens of Maryland, but to protect ourselves from allegations of impropriety."

Fundraising is banned during the regular 90-day legislative sessions held from January to April every year, but the law does not address occasions when lawmakers convene at other times to tackle particular issues, such as last fall's three-week session to tackle the state's budget problems.

Last month, after The Sun reported that Gov. Martin O'Malley and key legislators had logged $500,000 in donations during that special session, legislative leaders said they thought the practice was wrong and ought to be banned. The comments by Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael E. Busch encouraged Ali to introduce a bill to do just that, he said.

But members of the House Ways and Means Committee suggested an outright ban would be unfair to them and their supporters, who sometimes spend thousands of dollars planning fundraisers that might have to be canceled.

Del. Melvin L. Stukes, a Baltimore City Democrat, said he holds one fundraiser a year, and begins planning it eight months ahead. He invests $10,000 or more in publicity and arrangements, he added. If it had to be canceled because of a special session, "who's going to pay for that?"

Ali said his bill was not meant to impugn the integrity of any legislators, and he volunteered that he had accepted checks himself totaling $1,500 during the session, but only after being cleared to do so by the legislature's ethics counsel, William G. Somerville.

Last fall, Somerville advised lawmakers to avoid fundraising during the special session, and not to take any gifts from anyone whose interests may be affected by actions under consideration then.

Del. Jon S. Cardin, a Baltimore County Democrat, questioned the need for a formal ban, pointing out that there haven't been that many special sessions over the past few decades and that most last only a few days.

Del. Kumar P. Barve, the House majority leader and a Montgomery County Democrat, noted that some Indian-American supporters had organized a fundraiser on his behalf last year that narrowly missed occurring during the special session.

He said banning fundraising during a session of unpredictable date and duration would be "extremely unfair to people who are making no effort to skirt the intent of the law."

Ali acknowledged that lawmakers often plan fundraisers months in advance and that special sessions called on short notice might disrupt those events. Ali suggested legislators should be willing to subordinate their campaign needs to the need to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

And if lawmakers are aware a special session is likely, Ali said, they might want to plan smaller fundraisers that can be organized on shorter notice.

The committee gave a more favorable hearing to another bill to establish public financing for legislative races.

Cardin, chief sponsor of the measure, said the bill would give those running for the legislature the option of raising their own money or taking public funds. He said public financing would help combat the public's perception that legislators are unduly influenced by those who donate to their campaigns.

"The perception is somebody else's problem," countered Del. Carolyn J.B. Howard, a Prince George's County Democrat. "It's not my problem, because I know my integrity. ... This is almost insulting, to me."

Other than her objection, the bill drew little opposition. The measure has passed the House before, but it's likely to face more scrutiny in a Senate hearing today.

tim.wheeler@baltsun.com