2008 Maryland General Assembly Scorecard KEEPING SCORE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT SINCE 1979 Scorecard 2008.indd 1 6/6/08 3:46:29 PM Board of Directors Advisory Committee For more than 25 years, the non-partisan Frederick Hoover, Chair Ajax Eastman Maryland League of Conservation Voters has Steve Linhard, Treasurer Marion Edey served as the political voice for the environment. Nancy Davis, Past President Senator Bernie Fowler We advocate for sound conservation policies, J. Charles Fox, Past President Governor Harry Hughes promote environmentally responsible candidates, and hold individual elected officials accountable Elizabeth Garraway, Ph.D. Edmund A. Stanley, Jr. through our scorecards and reports. Terry Harris Joan Seward Willey Betsy Loyless Staff Chuck Porcari Cindy Schwartz, Kevin Rackstraw Executive Director Margie Roswell Dawn Stoltzfus, Dru Schmidt-Perkins Deputy Director Terri Shuck Aaron Mintzes, Legislative Marcia Verploegen Lewis and Political Manager Jen Brock-Cancellieri, Outreach Manager Ryan Ewing, Field Organizer Kim Dissen, Administrative Assistant Scorecard 2008.indd 2 6/6/08 3:46:32 PM Dear Marylander, We are proud to introduce the Maryland League When you talk to your Senator or Delegates, let them of Conservation Voters’ 2008 General Assembly know what you think of their conservation score. Is there Scorecard, which evaluates the conservation reason for praise, or room for improvement? Send a letter records for every one of our state Senators and to the editor of your local paper. Share your scorecard with Delegates. We’ve taken a long, hard look at the a friend—visit our website at www.mdlcv.org to view it online votes in Annapolis to show you exactly how or call us for an extra copy at 410-280-9855. your representatives are doing when it comes Once again, the votes in this scorecard were chosen by to protecting our air, land, and water. Maryland LCV’s Board of Directors in conjunction with the This scorecard is all about YOU, the conservation voter, great folks at Environment Maryland. We want to thank and is intended to give you the “real score” on your legislators everyone who helped us with this year’s scorecard and give at a time when it seems everyone claims to be an environ- particular thanks to hard-working board members mentalist. Are your elected officials representing your voice, Terry Harris and Dru Schmidt-Perkins, or not? Take a look inside to see if your elected officials’ our indefatigable designer Julie dedication to protecting our environment matches your own. Burris, as well as our We hope you will use this scorecard as a tool, and help us invaluable colleague spread the word, because the more often we let our elected Jennifer Bevan-Dangel. officials know that we are watching—and counting—their Sincerely, votes on environmental issues, the more power we have Cindy Schwartz as conservationists. And with our state grappling with Executive Director such serious concerns as global warming, energy use, transportation, growth and development, a still-polluted Chesapeake Bay, and waterways we need your help to speak out for the environment more than ever. 1 Scorecard 2008.indd 3 6/6/08 3:46:32 PM Highest Scores Lowest Scores Senate (100%) Senate (20% or below) Frosh, Madaleno, Peters, Pinsky, Raskin, Rosapepe Brinkley, Colburn, Greenip, Haines, Harris, Jacobs, Kittleman, Mooney, Pipkin, Stoltzfus House (100%) Bobo, Bronrott, Cardin, Davis, Frick, Hucker, Manno, Mizeur, House (20% or below) Olszewski, Rice, Riley, Robinson Bates, Boteler, Dwyer, Haddaway, Impallaria, Jennings, McConkey, McDonough, Miller, O’Donnell, Serafini, Shank, Stifler, Stocksdale Averages 2008 2007 05–06 03–04 Senate 59% 69% 59% 68% Republicans 12% 38% 13% 18% Democrats 79% 82% 79% 90% House 54% 80% 67% 73% Republicans 29% 50% 26% 32% Democrats 85% 91% 85% 92% 2 Scorecard 2008.indd 4 6/6/08 3:46:33 PM Senate Committee Votes* Education, Health & Environmental Affairs SB 309 Global Warming Solutions Act This bill would have SB 442 Clean Air Permit Fees This bill increases the fees placed mandatory caps on global warming pollution. Yes is the collected for air permits and helps pay for programs mandated correct vote. The bill passed 5–3. under the Clean Air Act. Yes is the correct vote. The bill passed 6–3. SB 710 Phosphorous Ban Delay This bill allows a six-month HB 246 Standing This bill would have allowed local delay of a ban on phosphorous in dishwasher detergent which governments to grant a broader class of citizens the right to Governor O’Malley signed in 2007. No is the correct vote. The challenge local zoning decisions in court. Yes is the correct vote. bill passed 5–3. The bill passed 6–3. SB 844 / HB 1253 Critical Areas Act Reform Strengthens the 1984 Critical Areas Act to limit development in buffers, reduce * Customarily, committee chairs do not always vote on bills pollution, and provide cleaner water and wildlife habitat. Yes is before their committee. Accordingly, we do not score committee the correct vote. The bill passed 7–1. chair votes unless their decision not to vote alters the outcome. Conway, Dyson, Chair Vice Chair Colburn Greenip Harrington Harris Lenett Pinsky Rosapepe District 43 29 37 33 47 7 19 22 21 SB 309 + a – – + – + + + SB 710 + a – – – – – + + SB 844/ HB 1253 + + a – + + + + + SB 442 + + – – + – + + + HB 246 + + – – + – + + + Totals 5/5 3/5 0/5 0/5 4/5 1/5 4/5 5/5 5/5 + Pro–environment vote a Not voting (disadvantage for the environment) – Anti–environment vote 3 Scorecard 2008.indd 5 6/6/08 3:46:34 PM Finance SB 209 Renewable Portfolio Standard This bill will require that 20% of Maryland’s energy consumption come from renewable sources such as solar and wind power by 2020. The correct vote is yes. The bill passed 6–4. SB 205 EmPOWER Maryland This bill requires Maryland to reduce its energy consumption per capita 15% by 2015. Yes is the correct vote. The bill passed 7–2. SB 268 RGGI Pipkin/Kelley amendment This amendment would have diverted all funds received through the sale of carbon allowances per the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative passed in the 2006 Healthy Air Act away from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund, which provides resources for energy efficiency programs. The correct vote is no. The bill passed 7–4. SB 268 RGGI Garagiola/Astle amendment This motion reconsidered the Pipkin/Kelley amendment so that a portion of the funds from the sale of carbon allowances would go toward the Strategic Energy Investment Fund as intended. The correct vote is yes. The bill passed 7–4. Middleton, Astle, Chair Vice Chair Della Exum Garagiola Glassman Kelley Kittleman Klausmeier Pipkin Pugh District 28 30 46 24 15 35 10 9 8 36 40 SB 209 + + – + + a – – + – + SB 205 + + a + + a + – + – + SB 268 Pipkin/Kelley + – – + + – – – + – – SB 268 Garagiola/Astle + + – + + – + – + – + Totals 4/4 3/4 0/4 4/4 4/4 0/4 2/4 0/4 4/4 0/4 3/4 + Pro–environment vote a Not voting (disadvantage for the environment) – Anti–environment vote 4 Scorecard 2008.indd 6 6/6/08 3:46:34 PM Judicial Proceedings SB 590 Statute of Limitations This bill creates a standard three-year period for the Maryland Department of the Environment to bring suits for violations of environmental laws. The correct vote is yes. The bill passed 8–3. Frosh, Gladden, Chair Vice Chair Brochin Forehand Haines Jacobs Mooney Muse Raskin Simonaire Stone District 16 41 42 17 5 34 3 26 20 31 6 SB 590 + + + + – – – + + + + Totals 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 0/1 0/1 0/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/1 + Pro-environment vote – Anti-environment vote 5 Scorecard 2008.indd 7 6/6/08 3:46:34 PM Senate Floor Votes SB 309 Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) Exum SB 844 / HB 1253 Critical Areas Act Reform (Colburn amend- amendment This weakening amendment would have limited ment) Changes the definition of the critical area buffer where the Maryland Department of the Environment’s current development cannot take place from 300 feet to 200 feet. No is authority overseeing programs to reduce pollution. The correct the correct vote. The amendment passed in the Senate 32–14. vote is no. The amendment passed on the Senate floor 27–20. SB 209 Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) This bill will SB 309 Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) Pinsky require that 20% of Maryland’s energy consumption come from amendment This amendment was offered on the Senate renewable sources such as solar and wind power by 2020. The floor to clarify the Exum Amendment and allow the Maryland correct vote is yes. The bill passed 31–14. Department of the Environment to maintain its existing authority. The correct vote is yes. The amendment failed on the SB 710 Phosphorous Ban Delay amendment (Frosh amendment) Senate floor 22–24. This amendment imposes a fine for dish detergent manufacturers in exchange for a six-month delay in the ban. The correct vote is SB 268 Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program yes. The amendment failed 23–23. (RGGI 1) Creates a fund to finance energy efficiency programs through the sale of carbon allowances per the HB 1056 Wetlands and Waterways Permit Fees Creates a fund Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). The correct vote is to support Maryland Department of the Environment’s Wetlands yes. The bill failed 21–25. and Waterways programs. The correct vote is yes. The bill passed 37–10. SB 268 Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Program (RGGI 2) The earlier RGGI vote was reconsidered and the bill HB 1185 Fare Box Recovery Requires Maryland Transportation was amended to allocate more resources for energy efficiency Authority to recover at least 35% of their transit operating costs programs.