He attended Yale Law School, won an appellate court competition and later became a national director of Common Cause, the volunteer political action group.

Andrew Greenblatt, executive director of Common Cause, called the trip a "big gift" from business people who might have dealings with the state.

"The system was very effective at leveling the playing field between incumbent and challenger," said Andrew Greenblatt, the executive director of Common Cause.

Paul Elisha, the executive director of Common Cause, one of the citizens groups pressing for an ethics bill, said the agreement was "overall a good one."

"You can never underestimate the power of incumbency," said Rachel Leon, executive director of Common Cause.

Before being elected to the County Council, Andrews worked as the executive director of Common Cause of Maryland from 1988-1994.

"Broadcast television is one of the most powerful lobbying groups in town," said Don Simon, executive director of Common Cause, a nonprofit advocacy group.

Ed McCool, director of Common Cause, said the amendment was probably unconstitutional and would inspire expensive court cases that would be paid for by taxpayers.

"They don't want to be recognized," said Matt Keller, the legislative director of Common Cause, a group that had pushed for more stringent lobbying law.

"Everyone in the capital is reading about it," said Andy Sauer, the executive director of Common Cause in Connecticut, a government watchdog group.