2016 - ACU Ratingsacuratings.conservative.org/.../sites/5/2016/08/Maryland_2016_web.pdfMD Senate Vote Descriptions MD Senate Scores MD House Vote Descriptions MD House Scores 5 7 9

20162016

Letter from the Chairman

ACU & ACUF Board Members

Selecting the Votes

2016 Winners & Losers

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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MD Senate Vote Descriptions

MD Senate Scores

MD House Vote Descriptions

MD House Scores

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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

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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.

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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




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SB 909

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HB 1495

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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




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%

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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




HB 501

HB 309

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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.

Documents

2016 - ACU Ratingsacuratings.conservative.org/.../sites/5/2016/08/Maryland_2016_web.pdfMD Senate Vote Descriptions MD Senate Scores MD House Vote Descriptions MD House Scores 5 7 9