Suspecting Duncan of handing out grants to political backers, County Council cuts him off

Suspecting that he will abuse taxpayer funds for political campaign purposes, the Montgomery County Council voted to strip County Executive Doug Duncan of the power to hand out millions of dollars to arts groups.

"While Duncan has broadened Montgomery's commitment to the arts, he also has raised thousands in campaign donations from individuals who work for or sit on the boards of organizations receiving county funds," the Washington Post reports.

According to the Post, the County Council said "the process [for giving grants to arts groups] has become too entangled in politics."