2015 RATINGS of MARYLAND

Transcription

1 2015 RATINGS of MARYLAND Conservative.org TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the Chairman 2 MD Senate Vote Descriptions 5 ACU & ACUF Board Members 3 MD Senate Scores 6 Selecting the 3 MD House Vote Descriptions Winners & Losers 4 MD House Scores 10

2 LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN Dear Fellow Conservatives, I am pleased to present the American Conservative Union Foundation s ratings for the 2015 meeting of the Maryland General Assembly. Like our Congressional Ratings, our State Ratings reflect how elected officials view the role of government in an individual's life. The Maryland legislators with the strongest scores voted most consistently with the ideals articulated in the US Constitution: limited and transparent government, individual rights, personal responsibility, and a healthy culture. The 2014 election completed a political transformation that began in 2010 and resulted in voters of almost half the states, 23 in all, entrusting Republicans with the governorships as well as control of both chambers in the respective state, the biggest sweep since the first half of the 20th Century. By examining all our State Ratings (which cover a wide variety of issues) we can see which states have best used their Republican majorities to apply conservative principles, how others have struggled, and in yet other states, how conservatives have stood up against liberal majorities. I know that this guide will provide you with the most comprehensive evaluative tool to learn how your legislators measure up. Sincerely, Matt Schlapp Chairman American Conservative Union 2

3 ACU BOARD MEMBERS Matt Schlapp Chairman Thomas Winter First Vice Chairman Carolyn Meadows Second Vice Chairman Jameson Campaigne, Jr. Secretary Matt Schlapp Chairman Millie Hallow Vice Chairman Van Hipp, Jr. Treasurer Tim Goeglein Secretary Larry Beasley Bob Beauprez Kimberly Bellissimo Morton Blackwell Ambassador John Bolton Al Cardenas Jose Cardenas Ron Christie Muriel Coleman ACU FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS Kimberly Bellissimo Jose Cardenas Amy Frederick Jonathan Garthwaite Charlie Gerow Colin Hanna Willes Lee Kellyanne Conway Tom DeLay John Eddy Luis Fortuno Amy Frederick Charlie Gerow Alan Gottlieb Van Hipp, Jr. James Lacy Carolyn Meadows Thomas Winter Michael Long Grover Norquist Becky Norton Dunlop Ron Robinson Ned Ryun Fred Smith, Jr. Matt Smith Lewis Uhler Ed Yevoli SELECTING THE VOTES ACU researched and selected a range of bills before the Maryland General Assembly that determine a member s adherence to conservative principles. We selected bills that focus on Ronald Reagan s philosophy of the three-legged stool : 1) fiscal and economic: taxes, budgets, regulation, spending, healthcare, and property; 2) social and cultural: 2nd amendment, religion, life, welfare, and education; and 3) government integrity: voting, individual liberty, privacy, and transparency. This wide range of issues are designed to give citizens an accurate assessment that conveys which of Maryland s elected leaders best defend the principles of a free society: Life, Liberty and Property. To contact ACU, please call H Street NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC (202)

4 2015 WINNERS & LOSERS AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE EXCELLENCE <10 COALITION OF THE RADICAL LEFT SENATE HOUSE SENATE HOUSE HOUGH FISHER n/a n/a KITTLEMAN KREBS McKAY AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE ACHIEVEMENT SENATE HOUSE HOUSE HOUSE READY BEITZEL McDONOUGH REY BUCKEL METZGAR ROSE CILIBERTI MILLER, W. SAAB GHRIST MORGAN SZELIGA GRAMMER O'DONNELL WILSON, B. IMPALLARIA PARROTT WIVELL McCOMAS REILLY 4

5 MARYLAND SENATE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS Milk Regulations. This bill makes a number of reforms to the regulation of milk products, including the repeal of the limitation on the number of milk processors and limiting the number of cows or goats allowed in a herd on a dairy farm. ACU supports regulatory reform and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 19, 2015 by a vote of Hotel and Motel Sales Taxes. This bill requires online travel services to pay a sales or use tax based on the full retail rate of the room for a hotel or motel rather than the discounted rate the travel service actually pays. ACU opposes regulations that are primarily designed to reduce competition and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 21, 2015 by a vote of Civil Asset Forfeiture. This bill requires the state prove by a preponderance of evidence that property owners knew their property was used for a crime before any property is forfeited to the police. The bill also requires that law enforcement agencies file an annual report about each individual seizure of property. ACU supports civil asset forfeiture reform and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 29, 2015 by a vote of Hydraulic Fracturing. This bill bans hydraulic fracturing in the state of Maryland for two years. ACU supports all forms of energy, opposes this government intervention and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 30, 2015 by a vote of SJ 2 Free Speech. This resolution calls for a constitutional convention for an amendment overturning U.S. Supreme Court decisions on free political speech so that restrictions on campaign contributions that have been thrown out can be reinstated. ACU supports free political speech and the safeguards currently in the Constitution and opposed this resolution. The Senate passed the resolution on April 1, 2015 by a vote of Maryland Commission on Climate Change. This bill creates a new bureaucracy in the Department of Environment, the Commission on Climate Change, to advise the state on how to deal with climate change. ACU opposes this waste of taxpayers money on a growth of government program that duplicates many other state and federal programs and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 2, 2015 by a vote of Voting Rights Restoration. This bill allows convicted felons to have their voting rights restored while they are still on parole regardless of the crime committed. ACU opposes legislation that does not allow for the completion of a sentence, including parole, before considering the restoration of voting rights and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 2, 2015 by a vote of Film Production Subsidies. This bill makes permanent a $25 million a year film and TV production subsidy. A study by the state Department of Legislative Services showed that, of the $62.5 million in subsidies from , state and local governments received back only a fraction of that amount in revenues from the business created by the subsidy. ACU opposes government subsidies for specific businesses and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 2, 2015 by a vote of Obamacare Implementation. This bill sets up the Maryland Insurance Administration as the enforcer of the myriad health insurance mandates under Obamacare. ACU opposes these regulations that are driving up the cost of health insurance for millions of Americans and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 5, 2015 by a vote of Smoking Regulations. This bill prohibits the smoking of any tobacco product on property governed by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission but then authorizes the Commission to exempt facilities that generate fees for the state. ACU opposes these arbitrary regulations and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 5, 2015 by a vote of Small Business Regulation. This bill creates an Advisory Council to review the impact of regulations on small business. ACU supports efforts to promote regulatory reform and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 7, 2015 by a vote of Taxpayer Funding of Campaigns. This bill establishes an income tax checkoff to fund a Fair Campaign Financing Fund that subsidizes political campaigns. It also bans those who use the fund from other fund raising or spending. ACU opposes taxpayer funding of political campaigns and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 7, 2015 by a vote of Local Government Liability. This bill doubles both the cap on the amount of claims against local governments and the time limit on filing a claim (from six months to one year). ACU opposes increasing taxpayer liability for claims primarily designed to make it easier to initiate lawsuits and make more in legal fees and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 10, 2015 by a vote of Powdered Alcohol. This bill bans the sale of powdered alcohol. ACU opposes regulations primarily designed to reduce competition in the marketplace and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 10, 2015 by a vote of

6 MARYLAND SENATE SCORES MARYLAND SENATE STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 38 REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 69 LOWEST REPUBLICAN ECKARDT 50 DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 24 HIGHEST DEMOCRATS DEGRANGE, MATHIAS 43 MARYLAND SENATE VOTE DETAIL Party District SJ Astle D BATES R Benson D Brochin D CASSILLY R X n/a 69 Conway D Currie D DeGrange D ECKARDT R EDWARDS R E Feldman D Ferguson D Gladden D Guzzone D HERSHEY R HOUGH R X JENNINGS R ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 6

7 MARYLAND SENATE VOTE DETAIL Party District SJ Kagan D n/a 29 Kasemeyer D Kelley D X King D Klausmeier D X Lee D Madaleno D Manno D Mathias D McFadden D Middleton D Miller D Montgomery D Muse D 26 E Nathan-Pulliam D NORMAN R Peters D Pinsky D Pugh D Ramirez D Raskin D READY R REILLY R Rosapepe D SALLING R n/a 71 SERAFINI R SIMONAIRE R WAUGH R n/a 64 Young D Zirkin D ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 7

8 MARYLAND HOUSE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS Dirt Bikes. This bill bans the sale of dirt bikes in the city of Baltimore because they are considered a nuisance. ACU opposes this interference in the free market and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 16, 2015 by a vote of Driving Restrictions. This bill prohibits a driver from using a wearable computer, a computer device that has a head-mounted display. ACU opposes restrictions that are not related to the safe driving of a vehicle and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 17, 2015 by a vote of Ticket Regulations. This bill prohibits a ticket seller from banning the resale or transfer of a ticket to an event and prohibits the practice of requiring a specific credit card to gain admission to an event unless a notice is provided. ACU supports fan freedom legislation to allow a free market in ticket sales and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 21, 2015 by a vote of Milk Regulations. This bill makes a number of reforms to the regulation of milk products, including the repeal of the limitation on the number of milk processors and limiting the number of cows or goats allowed in a herd on a dairy farm. ACU supports regulatory reform and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 29, 2015 by a vote of Maryland Commission on Climate Change. This bill creates a new bureaucracy in the Department of Environment, the Commission on Climate Change, to advise the state on how to deal with climate change. ACU opposes this waste of taxpayers money on a growth of government program that duplicates many other state and federal programs and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 2, 2015 by a vote of Hotel and Motel Sales Taxes. This bill requires online travel services to pay a sales or use tax based on the full retail rate of the room for a hotel or motel rather than the discounted rate the travel service actually pays. ACU opposes regulations that are primarily designed to reduce competition and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 2, 2015 by a vote of Voting Rights Restoration. This bill allows convicted felons to have their voting rights restored while they are still on parole regardless of the crime committed. ACU opposes legislation that does not allow for the completion of a sentence, including parole, before considering the restoration of voting rights and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 9, 2015 by a vote of Obamacare Implementation. This bill sets up the Maryland Insurance Administration as the enforcer of the myriad health insurance mandates under Obamacare. ACU opposes these regulations that are driving up the cost of health insurance for millions of Americans and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 5, 2015 by a vote of SJ 2 Free Speech. This resolution calls for a constitutional convention for an amendment overturning U.S. Supreme Court decisions on free political speech so that restrictions on campaign contributions that have been thrown out can be reinstated. ACU supports free political speech and the safeguards currently in the Constitution and opposed this resolution. The House passed the resolution on April 7, 2015 by a vote of Hydraulic Fracturing. This bill bans hydraulic fracturing in the state of Maryland for two years. ACU supports all forms of energy, opposes this government intervention and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 7, 2015 by a vote of Powdered Alcohol. This bill bans the sale of powdered alcohol. ACU opposes regulations primarily designed to reduce competition in the marketplace and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 8, 2015 by a vote of Small Business Regulation. This bill creates an Advisory Council to review the impact of regulations on small business. ACU supports efforts to promote regulatory reform and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on April 8, 2015 by a vote of Film Production Subsidies. This bill makes permanent a $25 million a year film and TV production subsidy. A study by the state Department of Legislative Services showed that, of the $62.5 million in subsidies from , state and local governments received back only a fraction of that amount in revenues from the business created by the subsidy. ACU opposes government subsidies for specific businesses and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 8, 2015 by a vote of Taxpayer Funding of Campaigns. This bill establishes an income tax checkoff to fund a Fair Campaign Financing Fund that subsidizes political campaigns. It also bans those who use the fund from other fund raising or spending. ACU opposes taxpayer funding of political campaigns and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 9, 2015 by a vote of

9 Smoking Regulations. This bill prohibits the smoking of any tobacco product on property governed by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission but then authorizes the Commission to exempt facilities that generate fees for the state. ACU opposes these arbitrary regulations and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 9, 2015 by a vote of Local Government Liability. This bill doubles both the cap on the amount of claims against local governments and the time limit on filing a claim (from six months to one year). ACU opposes increasing taxpayer liability for claims primarily designed to make it easier to initiate lawsuits and make more in legal fees and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 11, 2015 by a vote of Civil Asset Forfeiture. This bill requires the state prove by a preponderance of evidence that property owners knew their property was used for a crime before any property is forfeited to the police. The bill also requires that law enforcement agencies file an annual report about each individual seizure of property. ACU supports civil asset forfeiture reform and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on April 11, 2015 by a vote of Amendments 1-2 Education Spending. The underlying bill increases education spending by mandating the use of a formula regardless of the amount appropriated by the legislature for that fiscal year. The O Donnell amendment makes an exception when there is an economic downturn in the state that would impede the state s ability to fully fund the grant. ACU supports a fiscally responsible approach to government spending and supported the O Donnell amendment. The House defeated the amendments on April 11, 2015 by a vote of

10 MARYLAND HOUSE SCORES MARYLAND HOUSE STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 43 REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 79 LOWEST REPUBLICANS MIELE, WEST 61 DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 24 HIGHEST DEMOCRAT CAREY 50 MARYLAND HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District SJ Amd.s ADAMS R 37B n/a 78 AFZALI R Anderson D ANDERTON R 38B n/a 67 Angel D 25 E n/a 24 ARENTZ R Atterbeary D n/a 17 AUMANN R 42B E E E E E E E E E E E 5 7 n/a 90 n/a Barkley D Barnes, B. D Barnes, D. D n/a 28 Barron D 24 X n/a 29 Barve D Beidle D BEITZEL R 1A Branch D X Bromwell D ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 10

11 MARYLAND HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District SJ Amd.s Brooks D n/a 22 BUCKEL R 1B X + X n/a 88 Busch D 30A Campos D 47B n/a 22 Carey D 31A n/a 50 CAROZZA R 38C n/a 67 Carr D Carter D CASSILLY R 35B n/a 67 Chang D n/a 33 CILIBERTI R n/a 83 Clippinger D CLUSTER R Conaway D Cullison D Davis D Dumais D X - - X Ebersole D n/a 17 Fennell D 47A X n/a 24 FISHER R 27C FLANAGAN R 9B n/a 72 FOLDEN R 3B n/a 67 Fraser-Hidalgo D Frick D Frush D Gaines D GHRIST R Gilchrist D X GLASS R 34A Glenn D GRAMMER R n/a 89 ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 11

12 MARYLAND HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District SJ Amd.s Gutiérrez D 18 - E Hammen D Hayes D X n/a 24 Haynes D 44A Healey D Hettleman D n/a 22 Hill D n/a 17 Hixson D Holmes D 23B HORNBERGER R 35A n/a 78 Howard, C. D HOWARD, S. R 30B n/a 78 IMPALLARIA R X Jackson D 27B X n/a 18 JACOBS R Jalisi D n/a 28 Jameson D Jones D Kaiser D Kelly D KIPKE R 31B KITTLEMAN R 9A n/a 94 Knotts D n/a 22 Korman D n/a 28 Kramer D KREBS R Krimm D 3A n/a 22 Lafferty D 42A Lam D n/a 17 Lierman D n/a 22 Lisanti D 34A n/a 39 ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 12

13 MARYLAND HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District SJ Amd.s LONG R n/a 78 Luedtke D MALONE R n/a 72 MAUTZ R 37B n/a 72 McCOMAS R 34B McCONKEY R McCray D n/a 22 McDONOUGH R E McIntosh D X McKAY R 1C n/a 94 McMILLAN R 30A METZGAR R n/a 83 MIELE R n/a 61 Miller, A. D MILLER, W. R 9A X Moon D n/a 33 Morales D n/a 22 MORGAN R 29A n/a 89 Morhaim D Oaks D X O'DONNELL R 29C OTTO R 38A PARROTT R 2A Patterson D n/a 22 Peña-Melnyk D Pendergrass D E Platt D n/a 22 REILLY R 35B X n/a 82 REY R 29B n/a 83 Reznik D Robinson, B. D ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 13

14 MARYLAND HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District SJ Amd.s Robinson, S. D ROSE R n/a 89 Rosenberg D SAAB R n/a 83 Sample-Hughes D 37A n/a 33 SHOEMAKER R n/a 72 SIMONAIRE R 31B n/a 67 Smith D n/a 28 Sophocleus D Stein D Sydnor D 44B n/a 22 SZELIGA R Tarlau D 47A n/a 22 Turner D Valderrama D Valentino-Smith D 23A Vallario D 23B Vaughn D VOGT R n/a 72 Waldstreicher D Walker D Washington, A. D Washington, M. D WEST R 42B n/a 61 WILSON, B. R 2B n/a 83 Wilson, C. D X WIVELL R 2A n/a 89 Young, K. D 3A n/a 28 Young, P. D 44B n/a 22 Zucker D Legislator did not vote on enough of the selected bills and as a result the 2015 percentage and lifetime average was not rated. ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 14