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20162016
Letter from the Chairman
ACU & ACUF Board Members
Selecting the Votes
2016 Winners & Losers
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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3
3
4
MD Senate Vote Descriptions
MD Senate Scores
MD House Vote Descriptions
MD House Scores
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7
9
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RATINGS of MARYLANDRATINGS of MARYLAND
ACUConservative Conservative.org@ACUConservative
#ACURatings
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AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2016 Ratings of Maryland
Dear Fellow Conservatives,
We are pleased to present the American Conservative Union Foundation’s ratings for the 2016 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 highest scores voted most consistently with the ideals articulated in the U.S. Constitution: limited and transparent government, individual rights, personal responsibility, and lasting cultural values.
In 2015, ACU Foundation was proud to make history by being the first organization to rate every single state legislature across the full spectrum of issues, helping each voter understand how his or her state ranks among the rest.
Ultimately, we are trying to help people understand what conservatism is and how it improves the lives of everyday Americans. Conservatism is the political philosophy that sovereignty resides in the person. We think that understanding this idea is essential if Americans are to successfully govern themselves again.
Working with our policy centers and fellows, the ACU Foundation engages in deep policy analysis to help create our annual state scorecards. We have enhanced the vote descriptions this year to show this effort more clearly.
By examining all 50 of our State Ratings, we can see which states have most effectively promoted conservative solutions and which have struggled. Our ratings also help identify legislators who have courageously fought against liberal majorities. We hope that this guide helps you learn how well, or poorly, your legislators work to preserve the values we share.
Sincerely,
Matt SchlappChairmanAmerican Conservative Union
LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN
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AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2016 Ratings of Maryland
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.
1331 H Street NW, Suite 500Washington, DC 20005(202) 347-9388
Matt Schlapp Chairman
Charlie Gerow First Vice Chairman
Carolyn D. Meadows Second Vice Chairman
Bob Beauprez Treasuer
Amy Frederick Secretary
Thomas Winter Executive Committee Member
Larry Beasley
Kimberly Bellissimo
Morton C. Blackwell
John Bolton
Jose Cardenas
Ron Christie
Muriel Coleman
Kellyanne Conway
Tom DeLay
Becky Norton Dunlop
John Eddy
Luis Fortuno
Alan M. Gotleib
Van D. Hipp, Jr.
Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser
James V. Lacy
Michael R. Long
Ed McFadden
Grover G. Norquist
Ron Robinson
Mike Rose
Ned Ryun
Peter Samuelson
Sabrina Schaeffer
Fred L. Smith, Jr.
Matt Smith
Ed Yevoli
ACU BOARD MEMBERS
Matt Schlapp Chairman
Millie Hallow Vice Chairman
Van D. Hipp, Jr. Treasurer
Amy Frederick Secretary
Kimberly Bellissimo
Jose Cardenas
Jonathan Garthwaite
Charlie Gerow
Colin Hanna
Niger Innes
Willes Lee
Carolyn D. Meadows
Randy Neugebauer
Thomas Winter
ACU FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS
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AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2016 Ratings of Maryland
2016 WINNERS & LOSERS
SENATE
n/a
90-100% AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE EXCELLENCE
HOUSE
ADAMSFISHERGRAMMERKITTLEMANMALONE
HOUSE
McDONOUGHMcKAYMETZGARMILLER, W.SHOEMAKER
SENATE
n/a
HOUSE
AFZALIARENTZBEITZELBUCKELCILIBERTIFOLDENHOWARD, S.IMPALLARIAKREBS
HOUSE
LONGMcCONKEYPARROTTREYROSESAABWILSON, B.WIVELL
80-89% AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE ACHIEVEMENT
SENATE
AstleCurrieFeldmanGuzzoneKaganKasemeyerKingKlausmeierLeeMcFaddenMiddletonMillerNathan-PulliamPetersRamirezZirkinZucker
10% COALITION OF THE RADICAL LEFT
HOUSE
AngelAndersonAtterbearyBarkleyBarnes, B.Barnes, D.BarveBeidleBranchBrooksBuschChangClippingerConawayCullisonDavisDumaisEbersoleFennellFraser-HidalgoFrushGainesGilchristGlennGutiérrezHammen
HOUSE
HayesHaynesHealeyHettlemanHillHixsonHolmesHoward, C.JacksonJalisiJamesonJonesKaiserKellyKnottsKormanKramerKrimmLaffertyLamLiermanLuedtkeMcCrayMcIntoshMiller, A.Morhaim
HOUSE
OaksPattersonPendergrassPlattProctorQueenReznikRobinson, B.Robinson, S.RosenbergSmithSophocleusSteinTurnerValderramaValentino-SmithVallarioVaughnWaldstreicherWalkerWashington, A.Washington, M.Wilson, C.Young, K.Young, P.
<=
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AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2016 Ratings of Maryland
1. SB 275 Railroad Mandates. This bill prohibits freight trains being operated in the state by a crew of less than 2 persons. It also prohibits localities from more stringent requirements than the state standard. ACU opposes these state labor mandates for interstate transportation that create different requirements for one multistate trip and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 14, 2016 by a vote of 32-14.
2. SB 909 Maryland Corps Program. This bill creates a new bureaucracy to administer the “Maryland Corps Program” that hands out $21,000 taxpayer-funded checks to those who spend nine months with a non-profit organization approved by the government. ACU opposes this wasteful spending vetoed by the Governor as duplicative of other programs and requires government approval for organizations that “meet the social needs of the community”, resulting in the worst forms of cronyism and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 18, 2016 by a vote of 41-4.
3. HB 1400 “Blighted Area” Subsidies. This bill is one of numerous bills that creates new mandatory spending programs. It creates a new bureaucracy, the Seed Community Development Anchor Fund, to award a minimum of $5 million a year over four years. Such mandates thwart the will of the people and “crowd out” private investments. Research based on the ACU Foundation’s Family Prosperity Index shows that a more robust private sector leads to greater per household personal income, increasing the prosperity of the family. ACU opposes these mandatory spending programs that are duplicative of other programs and lead to future tax increases and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 26, 2016 by a vote of 31-13.
4. HB 686 Mandatory Funding for “Sustainable Community” Projects. This bill is one of numerous bills that creates new mandatory spending programs. It requires the Governor to include funding in Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019 for the “Strategic Demolition and Smart Growth Impact Fund.” It will provide grants and loans to every area the government deems to be a “sustainable community.” ACU opposes these funding mandates because they thwart the will of the people and are fiscally irresponsible and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 27, 2016 by a vote of 41-5.
5. HB 684 Mandatory Funding for Baltimore Subsidy Programs. This bill is one of a number of bills that creates new mandatory spending programs. It requires the Governor to include funding for the “Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative” every year from Fiscal year 2018 through 2022. The funds are to be given to “community development organizations”. ACU opposes these funding mandates because they result in the worst forms of cronyism and are fiscally irresponsible and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 27, 2016 by a vote of 31-14.
6. HB 501 Insurance Mandates. This bill prohibits insurance companies from raising rates or canceling coverage when a vehicle is operated by a “volunteer driver,” a driver who provides driving services to bring people to a charitable or non-profit organization. ACU opposes insurance mandates that drive up the cost of insurance for everyone and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 28, 2016 by a vote of 45-0.
7. HB 668 Mandatory Pre-Kindergarten Funding. This bill is one of numerous bills that creates new mandatory spending programs. It requires the Governor to include funding for pre-Kindergarten programs in the budgets for Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019 in order to receive federal matching funds. ACU opposes these funding mandates because they thwart the will of the people and are fiscally irresponsible and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 28, 2016 by a vote of 31-14.
8. HB 1014 Student Loan Bailout. This bill is a mandatory spending bill that requires up to $10 million per year is spent on a $5,000 bailout for students who have accumulated $20,000 or more in student loan debt and allows students who do not pay their loans to continue to attend college. ACU opposes bailouts that encourage fiscal irresponsibility and help drive up the cost of higher education and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 28, 2016 by a vote of 32-13.
9. HB 689 Wage Mandates. This bill creates a penalty of $250 per day per employee for businesses on government contracts that are found not to be following the “prevailing wage” law. ACU opposes these artificial wage laws that force contractors to pay a predetermined wage, usually the union rate, in order to participate in government projects. Participation in projects requiring the union rate drives up the cost of these projects for taxpayers. ACU opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 31, 2016 by a vote of 32-14.
10. HB 1005 Health Insurance Mandates. This bill prohibits insurance companies from requiring copays or coinsurance for prescription contraceptive drugs or devices, and requires coverage for a six month supply of prescription contraceptives. ACU opposes these insurance mandates that drive up the cost of health insurance for most consumers and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 31, 2016 by a vote 37-8.
11. HB 1003 Equal Pay Law. This bill expands the state’s equal pay for equal work law to define “same establishment” for pay comparisons to include any location in the same county with the same employer and increases the burden on the employer to prove there is no discrimination. ACU supports the constitutional principle that one is assumed innocent until proven guilty opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 1, 2016 by a vote of 32-13.
MARYLAND SENATE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS
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AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2016 Ratings of Maryland
12. HB 1013 Transportation Funding Decisions. This bill strips the Governor’s power to make decisions with regard to highway and transportation funding and skews the scoring mechanism to fund pet projects. ACU opposes cronyism and combining highway and mass transit funding in one bill that shortchanges needed road projects – causing favoritism of urban areas over rural areas – and opposed this bill. The Senate voted to override the Governor’s veto of the bill on April 2, 2016 by a vote of 29-17 (a three-fifths vote was required).
13. SB 1112 Special Tax Break. This bill gives a special tax break worth $37.5 million over five years to companies with criteria that fits only one company in Maryland (Northrup-Grumman). ACU opposes tax breaks that benefit only one company in an industry and increases the tax burden on everyone else and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 2, 2016 by a vote of 31-13.
14. HB 610 Energy Mandate. This bill creates a new onerous greenhouse gas emissions mandate. ACU opposes these mandates that drive up the cost of energy for everyone while doing little to affect the climate and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 3, 2016 by a vote of 44-2.
15. HB 1299 Special Tax Exemption. This bill forces Baltimore County to exempt cranes located on government property from personal property taxes, criteria that affects only one company (Ports America Chesapeake). ACU opposes this special exemption from taxes which will increase the general tax burden on everyone else and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 4, 2016 by a vote of 45-0.
16. HB 336 Civil Asset Forfeiture. This bill makes some reforms to Maryland’s forfeiture law including a requirement that there be “clear and convincing evidence” of a crime before property is seized and that a receipt be given for seized property. ACU Foundation’s Center for 21st Century Property Rights engages heavily on this issue and supports stronger reforms in civil asset forfeiture laws; but ACU supported this bill as a step in the right direction. The Senate passed the bill on April 7, 2016 by a vote of 46-0.
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AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2016 Ratings of Maryland
MARYLAND SENATE VOTE DETAIL
Party District SB 275 SB 909HB
1400 HB 686 HB 684 HB 501 HB 668HB
1014 HB 689HB
1005HB
1003HB
1013SB
1112 HB 610HB
1299 HB 336 ACU VotesVotes Cast
2016 %
2015 %
LIFETIME AVG
Astle D 30 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 16 6% 29% 23%
BATES R 9 + - E - + - + + + - + + - - - + 8 15 53% 64% 73%
Benson D 24 - - - - - - - - - - - - + - - + 2 16 13% 21% 15%
Brochin D 42 - - - - - - - - - - - + + - - + 3 16 19% 36% 22%
CASSILLY R 34 + - + + + - + + + + + + - - - + 11 16 69% 69% 69%
Conway D 43 - - - - - - - - - - - - + - - + 2 16 13% 21% 15%
Currie D 25 - - - - X - - - - - - - - - - + 1 15 7% 21% 13%
DeGrange D 32 + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 2 16 13% 43% 30%
ECKARDT R 37 + - + - + - + + + - + + - - - + 9 16 56% 50% 55%
EDWARDS R 1 + - + - + - + + + - + + - - - + 9 16 56% 62% 58%
Feldman D 15 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 16 6% 21% 13%
Ferguson D 46 - - - - - - - - - - - - + - - + 2 16 13% 21% 15%
Gladden† D 41 E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E 0 0 n/a 21% 17%
Guzzone D 13 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 16 6% 21% 13%
HERSHEY R 36 + + + - + - + + + - + + - - - + 10 16 63% 71% 67%
HOUGH R 4 + - + + + - + - + + + + + + - + 12 16 75% 92% 89%
JENNINGS R 7 + + + - + - + + + - + + - - - + 10 16 63% 71% 67%
Kagan D 17 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 16 6% 29% 17%
Kasemeyer D 12 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 16 6% 21% 13%
MARYLAND SENATE SCORESMARYLAND SENATE STATISTICS
SPARKS 38%
26%OVERALL AVERAGE
BROCHIN 19%HIGHEST DEMOCRATLOWEST REPUBLICAN
64%REPUBLICAN AVERAGE
10%DEMOCRAT AVERAGE
BATES 53%
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AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2016 Ratings of Maryland
MARYLAND SENATE VOTE DETAIL
Party District SB 275 SB 909HB
1400 HB 686 HB 684 HB 501 HB 668HB
1014 HB 689HB
1005HB
1003HB
1013SB
1112 HB 610HB
1299 HB 336 ACU VotesVotes Cast
2016 %
2015 %
LIFETIME AVG
Kelley D 10 - - - - - - - - - - - - + - - + 2 16 13% 15% 13%
King D 39 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 16 6% 21% 9%
Klausmeier D 8 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 16 6% 38% 19%
Lee D 16 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 16 6% 21% 13%
Madaleno D 18 - - - - - - - - - - - - + - - + 2 16 13% 21% 11%
Manno D 19 - - - - - - - - - - - - + - - + 2 16 13% 21% 11%
Mathias D 38 - - - - - - - - - - - + - - - + 2 16 13% 43% 33%
McFadden D 45 - X - - - - - - - X X - - - - + 1 13 8% 21% 13%
Middleton D 28 - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 15 7% 21% 13%
Miller D 27 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 16 6% 21% 13%
Muse D 26 - - - - - - - - - - - + X - - + 2 15 13% 23% 16%
Nathan-Pulliam D 44 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 16 6% 21% 13%
NORMAN R 35 + - + - + - + + + + + + - - - + 10 16 63% 64% 72%
Peters D 23 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 16 6% 29% 15%
Pinsky D 22 - - - - - - - - - - - - + - - + 2 16 13% 21% 19%
Pugh D 40 - - - - - E E E - - - - + - X + 2 12 17% 21% 16%
Ramirez D 47 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 16 6% 21% 9%
Raskin D 20 - - - - - - - - - - - - + - - + 2 16 13% 29% 14%
READY R 5 + - + + + - + + + + + + - + - + 12 16 75% 86% 87%
REILLY R 33 + - + + + - + + + + + + - - - + 11 16 69% 64% 70%
Rosapepe D 21 - - - - - - - - - - - - + - - + 2 16 13% 21% 11%
SALLING R 6 + + + - + - + + + - + + - - - + 10 16 63% 71% 67%
SERAFINI R 2 + - + - + - + + + + + + - - - + 10 16 63% 71% 75%
SIMONAIRE R 31 - - + + + - + + + + - + E - - + 9 15 60% 64% 60%
WAUGH R 29 + + + - + - + + + + + + - - - + 11 16 69% 64% 67%
Young D 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - + - - + 2 16 13% 21% 15%
Zirkin D 11 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 16 6% 21% 13%
Zucker D 14 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 16 6% 22% 13%
† Legislator did not vote on enough of the selected bills and as a result the 2016 percentage was not rated.
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AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2016 Ratings of Maryland
1. HB 686 Mandatory Funding for “Sustainable Community” Projects. This bill is one of numerous bills that creates new mandatory spending programs. It requires the Governor to include funding in Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019 for the “Strategic Demolition and Smart Growth Impact Fund.” It will provide grants and loans to every area the government deems to be a “sustainable community.” ACU opposes these funding mandates because they thwart the will of the people and are fiscally irresponsible and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on February 23, 2016 by a vote of 112-27.
2. HB 501 Insurance Mandates. This bill prohibits insurance companies from raising rates or canceling coverage when a vehicle is operated by a “volunteer driver,” a driver who provides driving services to bring people to a charitable or non-profit organization. ACU opposes insurance mandates that drive up the cost of insurance for everyone and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on February 26, 2016 by a vote of 91-40.
3. HB 309 Szeliga Amendment Fiscal Responsibility. The Szeliga amendment requires the county to meet all commitments to fund a new teaching hospital in Prince Georges County before the state makes additional expenditures under the bill. ACU supports this kind of fiscal responsibility and supported this amendment. The House defeated the amendment on March 9, 2016 by a vote of 49-87.
4. HB 373 Seat Belt Laws. This bill makes the failure to wear a seat belt in the rear passenger seat of a vehicle a primary offense. ACU opposes these “nanny state” laws that make drivers responsible for passengers and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 11, 2016 by a vote of 83-55.
5. HB 744 Government Competition with Private Enterprise. This bill creates a new program, the Senior Call Check Program, to compete with private companies. The program offers a service to call senior citizens living alone and notify relatives or friends if they do not answer. Research based on the ACU Foundation’s Family Prosperity Index shows that when entrepreneurship is suppressed, the resulting decline in economic growth leads to a reduction in family prosperity. ACU opposes government competing for services that can easily be handled by private enterprise and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 11, 2016 by a vote of 98-38.
6. HB 1002 Gun Control. This bill prohibits a person from carrying or possessing a firearm on the property of a public institution of higher education. ACU supports the founders’ belief in the Second Amendment and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 12, 2016 by a vote of 81-54.
7. HB 212 Driving Penalties. This bill nearly triples the fine to $500 for talking on a cellphone while driving and makes the act a misdemeanor offense. ACU Foundation’s Center for Criminal Justice Reform engages heavily on these issues; therefore, ACU opposes over-criminalization and penalties that are not related to safety violations - such as running a red light - and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 13, 2016 by a vote of 107-30.
8. HB 689 Wage Mandates. This bill creates a penalty of $250 per day per employee for businesses on government contracts that are found not to be following the “prevailing wage” law. ACU opposes these artificial wage laws that force contractors to pay a predetermined wage, usually the union rate, in order to participate in government projects. Participation in projects requiring the union rate drives up the cost of these projects for taxpayers. ACU opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 13, 2016 by a vote of 89-50.
9. HB 1398 Vehicle Insurance Mandate. This bill prohibits insurance companies from considering driving records when raising rates or canceling insurance. ACU opposes this absurd mandate that negates the premise of insurance (risk) while driving up the cost of insurance for all other consumers, as has happened with health insurance under Obamacare, and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 13, 2016 by a vote of 107-32.
10. HB 1440 Non-Compete Agreements. This bill prohibits employers from including non-compete or conflict of interest provisions in an employment contract for those employees who earn $15 an hour or less. ACU opposes this interference with the free market that hampers the right of employees to negotiate their own contract and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 13, 2016 by a vote of 90-47.
11. HB 1005 Health Insurance Mandates. This bill prohibits insurance companies from requiring copays or coinsurance for prescription contraceptive drugs or devices, and requires coverage for a six month supply of prescription contraceptives. ACU opposes insurance mandates that drive up the cost of health insurance for most consumers and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 14, 2016 by a vote of 101-38.
12. HB 610 Energy Mandate. This bill creates a new onerous greenhouse gas emissions mandate. ACU opposes these mandates that drive up the cost of energy for everyone while doing little to affect the climate and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 15, 2016 by a vote of 101-37.
13. HB 749 Powdered Alcohol. This bill extends the prohibition on the sale of powdered alcohol for another two years. ACU opposes bans on safe products, opposes bills that are primarily designed to reduce competition, and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 16, 2016 by a vote of 118-21.
MARYLAND HOUSE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS
10
AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2016 Ratings of Maryland
14. HB 668 Mandatory Pre-Kindergarten Funding. This bill is one of numerous bills that creates new mandatory spending programs. It requires the Governor to include funding for pre-Kindergarten programs in the budgets for Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019 in order to receive federal matching funds. ACU opposes these funding mandates because they thwart the will of the people and are fiscally irresponsible and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 17, 2016 by a vote of 93-41.
15. HB 684 Mandatory Funding for Baltimore Subsidy Programs. This bill is one of a number of bills that creates new mandatory spending programs. It requires the Governor to include funding for the “Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative” every year from Fiscal year 2018 through 2022. The funds are to be given to “community development organizations”. ACU opposes these funding mandates because they result in the worst forms of cronyism and are fiscally irresponsible and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 26, 2016 by a vote of 91-44.
16. HB 1400 “Blighted Area” Subsidies. This bill is one of numerous bills that creates new mandatory spending programs. It creates a new bureaucracy, the Seed Community Development Anchor Fund, to award a minimum of $5 million a year over four years. Such mandates thwart the will of the people and “crowd out” private investments. Research based on the ACU Foundation’s Family Prosperity Index shows that a more robust private sector leads to greater per household personal income, increasing the prosperity of the family. ACU opposes these mandatory spending programs that are duplicative of other programs and lead to future tax increases and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 26, 2016 by a vote of 85-50.
17. SB 909 Maryland Corps Program. This bill creates a new bureaucracy to administer the “Maryland Corps Program” that hands out $21,000 taxpayer-funded checks to those who spend nine months with a non-profit organization approved by the government. ACU opposes this wasteful spending vetoed by the Governor as duplicative of other programs and requires government approval for organizations that “meet the social needs of the community”, resulting in the worst forms of cronyism and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 27, 2016 by a vote of 85-49.
18. HB 580 Paid Sick Leave Mandate. This bill requires businesses with more than 14 employees to give their employees 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours of work. ACU opposes labor mandates that interfere with the right of employees to negotiate their own compensation and drives up the cost of doing business and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 29, 2016 by a vote of 84-54
19. HB 1014 Student Loan Bailout. This bill is another mandatory spending bill that requires up to $10 million per year is spent on a $5,000 bailout for students who have accumulated $20,000 or more in student loan debt and allows students who do not pay their loans to continue to attend college. ACU opposes bailouts that encourage fiscal irresponsibility and drive up the cost of higher education for everyone and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 30, 2016 by a vote of 92-45.
20. HB 1013 Transportation Funding Decisions. This bill strips the Governor’s power to make decisions with regard to highway and transportation funding and skews the scoring mechanism to fund pet projects. ACU opposes cronyism and combining highway and mass transit funding in one bill that shortchanges needed road projects – causing favoritism of urban areas over rural areas – and opposed this bill. The House voted to override the Governor’s veto of the bill on March 31, 2016 by a vote of 88-52 (a three-fifths vote was required).
21. HB 1495 Civil Service Rules. This bill allows a court to nullify a “final” decision in a government employee discipline or termination case if the judge finds that the case is “prejudiced” because there was not a clear explanation of the reasons for the action. ACU opposes these vague laws that encourage litigation after the lengthy appeals process given to government employees and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 2, 2016 by a vote of 94-44.
22. HB 1003 Equal Pay Law. This bill expands the state’s equal pay for equal work law to define “same establishment” for pay comparisons to include any location in the same county with the same employer and increases the burden on the employer to prove there is no discrimination. ACU supports the constitutional principle that one is assumed innocent until proven guilty and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 3, 2016 by a vote of 103-33.
23. HB 1299 Special Tax Exemption. This bill forces Baltimore County to exempt cranes located on government property from personal property taxes, criteria that affects only one company (Ports America Chesapeake). ACU opposes this special exemption from taxes which will increase the general tax burden on everyone else and opposed this bill. The bill passed the House on April 5, 2016 by a vote of 122-18.
24. SB 1112 Special Tax Break. This bill gives a special tax break worth $37.5 million over five years to companies with criteria that fits only one company in Maryland (Northrup-Grumman). ACU opposes tax breaks that benefit only one company in an industry and increases the general tax burden on everyone else and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 7, 2016 by a vote of 76-57.
25. HB 336 Civil Asset Forfeiture. This bill makes some reforms to Maryland’s forfeiture law including a requirement that there be “clear and convincing evidence” of a crime before property is seized and that a receipt be given for seized property. ACU Foundation’s Center for 21st Century Property Rights engages heavily on this issue and supports stronger reforms in civil asset forfeiture laws; but ACU supported this bill as a step in the right direction. The House passed the bill on April 9, 2016 by a vote of 121-18.
11
AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2016 Ratings of Maryland
MARYLAND HOUSE SCORESMARYLAND HOUSE STATISTICS
MARYLAND HOUSE VOTE DETAIL
Party DistrictHB 686
HB 501
HB 309
HB 373
HB 744
HB 1002
HB 212
HB 689
HB 1398
HB 1440
HB 1005
HB 610
HB 749
HB 668
HB 684
HB 1400
SB 909
HB 580
HB 1014
HB 1013
HB 1495
HB 1003
HB 1299
SB 1112
HB 336
ACU Votes
Votes Cast
2016 %
2015 %
LIFETIME AVG
ADAMS R 37B + + + + + + + + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + - + 23 25 92% 78% 85%
AFZALI R 4 + + + + + + - + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + - - + 21 25 84% 78% 87%
Anderson D 43 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - X + 1 24 4% 22% 12%
ANDERTON R 38B - + + + - + - + - + - - - - - + + + X + + - - - - 11 24 46% 67% 56%
Angel D 25 - E - + - X - - - - - - - - - - - E - - - X - - + 2 21 10% 24% 17%
ARENTZ R 36 + + + + + + + + + - + + - + + + + + + + + + + - - 21 25 84% 78% 81%
Atterbeary D 13 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 25 4% 17% 10%
AUMANN R 42B + + + - - + - + - + - + - + + + + + + + + - - - - 15 25 60% n/a 75%
Barkley D 39 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 33% 24%
Barnes, B. D 21 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 22% 10%
Barnes, D. D 25 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 25 4% 28% 16%
Barron D 24 - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 3 25 12% 29% 21%
Barve D 17 - - E - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 24 8% 22% 14%
Beidle D 32 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + - - - - - - + 2 25 8% 28% 19%
BEITZEL R 1A - + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - + + + + + - - + 21 25 84% 83% 76%
Branch D 45 - - - - - E - - - - - - - E - - - - - - - - - - + 1 23 4% 24% 13%
Bromwell D 8 - - - + - + - - - E - - - - - - - + - + - - - - - 4 24 17% 33% 27%
Brooks D 10 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 25 4% 22% 13%
BUCKEL R 1B - X + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - - + 21 24 88% 88% 88%
Busch D 30A - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 25 4% 22% 12%
33%OVERALL AVERAGE
SAMPLE-HUGHES 24%HIGHEST DEMOCRAT
SIMONAIRE 43%LOWEST REPUBLICAN
77%REPUBLICAN AVERAGE
8%DEMOCRAT AVERAGE
12
AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2016 Ratings of Maryland
MARYLAND HOUSE VOTE DETAIL
Party DistrictHB 686
HB 501
HB 309
HB 373
HB 744
HB 1002
HB 212
HB 689
HB 1398
HB 1440
HB 1005
HB 610
HB 749
HB 668
HB 684
HB 1400
SB 909
HB 580
HB 1014
HB 1013
HB 1495
HB 1003
HB 1299
SB 1112
HB 336
ACU Votes
Votes Cast
2016 %
2015 %
LIFETIME AVG
Carey D 31A - - - + - + - - - - - - - - - - - + - - - - - - + 4 25 16% 50% 33%
CAROZZA R 38C - + + + - + - + - + + - - + + + + + + + + - - - - 15 25 60% 67% 63%
Carr D 18 - - - - - - + - - - - - E - - - - - - - - - - + + 3 24 13% 28% 13%
Carter† D 41 E - E E E E E E E E - - - - E E E - E E E E - + + 2 9 n/a 22% 16%
CASSILLY R 35B - + + - + + - + + + + - - + + + + + + + + - - - + 17 25 68% 67% 67%
Chang D 32 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 25 4% 33% 19%
CILIBERTI R 4 + + + + + + - + + + - + + + + + + + + + + + - - + 21 25 84% 83% 84%
Clippinger D 46 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 22% 13%
CLUSTER R 8 + + + + + + - + - + + + - + + + + + + + + - + - - 19 25 76% 78% 81%
Conaway D 40 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - X + 1 24 4% 22% 12%
Cullison D 19 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 22% 13%
Davis D 25 - - - - - - - - - - - - - E - - - - - - - - - - + 1 24 4% 22% 12%
Dumais D 15 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - X - - + 1 24 4% 19% 11%
Ebersole D 12 - - - - - - - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 24 8% 17% 13%
Fennell D 47A - - - - - - - - - - - E - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 24 8% 24% 16%
FISHER R 27C + + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - 23 25 92% 94% 95%
FLANAGAN R 9B - - + - - + - + + + - - - + + + + + + + - - - - + 13 25 52% 72% 62%
FOLDEN R 3B - + + + + + - + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + - - + 20 25 80% 67% 73%
Fraser-Hidalgo D 15 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 22% 10%
Frick D 16 - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 3 25 12% 33% 22%
Frush D 21 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 22% 13%
Gaines D 22 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 22% 13%
GHRIST R 36 - + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + - + + + + + - - - 19 25 76% 83% 80%
Gilchrist D 17 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 24% 14%
GLASS R 34A - - + + - + - + - - + + - - + + + + - + + + + - + 15 25 60% 72% 71%
Glenn D 45 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 22% 13%
GRAMMER R 6 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - - + 23 25 92% 89% 90%
Gutiérrez D 18 - - - - E E - - - - - - - E - - - - - - - - - + + 2 22 9% 29% 16%
Hammen D 46 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 22% 13%
Hayes D 40 - - - E - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - X + 1 23 4% 24% 14%
Haynes D 44A - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 22% 13%
Healey D 22 - - - + - - - - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - X + 2 23 9% 22% 10%
Hettleman D 11 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 22% 15%
Hill D 12 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 17% 12%
Hixson D 20 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - E E E - - - - - - X X 0 20 0% 22% 7%
Holmes D 23B - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 25 4% 22% 12%
13
AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2016 Ratings of Maryland
MARYLAND HOUSE VOTE DETAIL
Party DistrictHB 686
HB 501
HB 309
HB 373
HB 744
HB 1002
HB 212
HB 689
HB 1398
HB 1440
HB 1005
HB 610
HB 749
HB 668
HB 684
HB 1400
SB 909
HB 580
HB 1014
HB 1013
HB 1495
HB 1003
HB 1299
SB 1112
HB 336
ACU Votes
Votes Cast
2016 %
2015 %
LIFETIME AVG
HORNBERGER R 35A - - + + + + + + - - - - + - + + + + + + + - + - + 16 25 64% 78% 71%
Howard, C. D 24 - - - E - - - - - - - - - - - - E - - - - E - - + 1 22 5% 22% 9%
HOWARD, S. R 30B + + + + + + + + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + - - 22 25 88% 78% 83%
IMPALLARIA R 7 + + + + + + + + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + - - + 22 25 88% 82% 87%
Jackson D 27B - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 18% 13%
JACOBS R 36 + + + - + + - + + + + - - + + + + + - + + + + - - 18 25 72% 78% 80%
Jalisi D 10 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 25 4% 28% 16%
Jameson D 28 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 25 4% 22% 15%
Jones D 10 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - X + 1 24 4% 22% 12%
Kaiser D 14 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 25 4% 22% 12%
Kelly D 16 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 22% 13%
KIPKE R 31B - + + + - + + + - + - + - + - + + + + + + - - - + 16 25 64% 67% 74%
KITTLEMAN R 9A + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - + 24 25 96% 94% 95%
Knotts D 26 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 25 4% 22% 13%
Korman D 16 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 28% 18%
Kramer D 19 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 22% 13%
KREBS R 5 + + + + + + - + + + + + + E + + + + + + + + - - + 21 24 88% 94% 94%
Krimm D 3A - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 22% 15%
Lafferty D 42A - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 28% 16%
Lam D 12 - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 24 8% 17% 13%
Lierman D 46 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 22% 15%
Lisanti D 34A - - - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - + - - - - - - + 3 25 12% 39% 25%
LONG R 6 + + + + + + + + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + - - + 22 25 88% 78% 83%
Luedtke D 14 - - - - E - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 24 4% 22% 9%
MALONE R 33 + + + + + + + + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + - + 23 25 92% 72% 82%
MAUTZ R 37B + + + + + + + + - + - + - + - + + + + + + - - - - 17 25 68% 72% 70%
McCOMAS R 34B - + + - - + - + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - - + 19 25 76% 83% 86%
McCONKEY R 33 - - + + + + + + - + + + - + + + + + + + + + + - + 20 25 80% 78% 83%
McCray D 45 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - X + 1 24 4% 22% 13%
McDONOUGH R 7 + + + + E + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - - + 22 24 92% 88% 89%
McIntosh D 43 - - - - - - - - - - - - X - - - - - - - - - - X + 1 23 4% 18% 11%
McKAY R 1C - E + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - X 21 23 91% 94% 93%
McMILLAN R 30A - - + - E + + + - + + - - - + + + + + + - - + + + 15 24 63% 72% 71%
METZGAR R 6 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - - + 23 25 92% 83% 88%
MIELE R 8 - - + - + + - + - + - - - + + + + + + + + - - - + 14 25 56% 61% 59%
Miller, A. D 15 - - - - - - - - - - - - - X - - - - - - - - - + + 2 24 8% 28% 19%
MILLER, W. R 9A + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - - 23 25 92% 88% 93%
14
AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2016 Ratings of Maryland
MARYLAND HOUSE VOTE DETAIL
Party DistrictHB 686
HB 501
HB 309
HB 373
HB 744
HB 1002
HB 212
HB 689
HB 1398
HB 1440
HB 1005
HB 610
HB 749
HB 668
HB 684
HB 1400
SB 909
HB 580
HB 1014
HB 1013
HB 1495
HB 1003
HB 1299
SB 1112
HB 336
ACU Votes
Votes Cast
2016 %
2015 %
LIFETIME AVG
Moon D 20 - - - + - - + - - - - - + - - - X - - - - - X + + 5 23 22% 33% 28%
Morales D 19 - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - E - - - - + + 3 24 13% 22% 17%
MORGAN R 29A - + + + + + + + - + + + - + + + + + + + - + - - + 19 25 76% 89% 82%
Morhaim D 11 - E - - - - - - - - - - - E - - - - - - - - - + + 2 23 9% 22% 14%
Oaks D 41 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 24% 14%
O'DONNELL R 29C + + + + + + - + - - + - - + + + + + + + - E + - - 16 24 67% 83% 83%
OTTO R 38A + + + + + + - + + + + + - - + + + + + + + + - - - 19 25 76% 78% 78%
PARROTT R 2A + + + + + + + + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + - - 22 25 88% 89% 92%
Patterson D 28 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 22% 15%
Peña-Melnyk D 21 - - - + - - X - - - - - - E E E - - - - E - - + + 3 20 15% 22% 16%
Pendergrass D 13 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 25 4% 12% 9%
Platt D 17 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 22% 15%
Proctor D 27 - - - - - E - - - - - X - - E E - - - - - - - + + 2 21 10% n/a 10%
Queen D 14 X X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 23 9% n/a 9%
REILLY R 35B - + + + + + + + - + + + - + + + + + + + + - - - + 19 25 76% 82% 79%
REY R 29B + + + + + + - + + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + - + 22 25 88% 83% 86%
Reznik D 39 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 22% 13%
Robinson, B. D 40 - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 24 8% 22% 14%
Robinson, S. D 39 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 28% 12%
ROSE R 5 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - - - 22 25 88% 89% 88%
Rosenberg D 41 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - E - - - - - + + 2 24 8% 22% 14%
SAAB R 33 + + + + + + + + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + - - 22 25 88% 83% 86%
Sample-Hughes D 37A - + - + - - - - - + - - - - - - + - - + - - - - + 6 25 24% 33% 29%
Sanchez D 47B - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 3 25 12% n/a 12%
SHOEMAKER R 5 + + E + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - - + 22 24 92% 72% 82%
SIMONAIRE R 31B - - + + - + + + - + - - - - - + + E E + - - - - + 10 23 43% 67% 55%
Smith D 20 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 28% 18%
Sophocleus D 32 - - - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 2 25 8% 33% 23%
Stein D 11 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - E - - - - - - + + 2 24 8% 22% 14%
Sydnor D 44B - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 3 25 12% 22% 17%
SZELIGA R 7 - - + + - + - + + + - E - - - + + + + + + - - - + 13 24 54% 83% 76%
Tarlau D 47A - X - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 3 24 13% 22% 17%
Turner D 13 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - E E E - - - - - - - + 1 22 5% 17% 10%
Valderrama D 26 - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 24 8% 22% 14%
Valentino-Smith D 23A - - E - - - - - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 23 9% 22% 14%
Vallario D 23B - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 25 4% 22% 12%
Vaughn D 24 - - - - - - E E E E - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 21 5% 22% 16%
15
AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2016 Ratings of Maryland
MARYLAND HOUSE VOTE DETAIL
Party DistrictHB 686
HB 501
HB 309
HB 373
HB 744
HB 1002
HB 212
HB 689
HB 1398
HB 1440
HB 1005
HB 610
HB 749
HB 668
HB 684
HB 1400
SB 909
HB 580
HB 1014
HB 1013
HB 1495
HB 1003
HB 1299
SB 1112
HB 336
ACU Votes
Votes Cast
2016 %
2015 %
LIFETIME AVG
VOGT R 4 - + + + + + + + - + - - - + + + + + - + + - - - + 16 25 64% 72% 68%
Waldstreicher D 18 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 28% 16%
Walker D 26 - - - - - - X - - - - - - - E E E + - - - - - - + 2 21 10% 17% 17%
Washington, A. D 22 - E - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 24 8% 22% 10%
Washington, M. D 43 - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 24 8% 22% 10%
WEST R 42B - + + - - + - + - + - - + + - + + + + + X + - - - 13 24 54% 61% 58%
WILSON, B. R 2B - + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - - - + 20 25 80% 83% 82%
Wilson, C. D 28 - - - - - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + 1 24 4% 18% 14%
WIVELL R 2A + - + + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + + + + - - + 21 25 84% 89% 86%
Young, K. D 3A - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 28% 18%
Young, P. D 44B - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + + 2 25 8% 22% 15% † Legislator did not vote on enough of the selected bills and as a result the 2016 percentage was not rated.