Just a few months ago on its
latest annual report card, the Chesapeake Bay received its highest score for water quality in nearly a quarter century. The amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment in the bay has dropped dramatically compared to recent years.
Source: 2017 State of the State address to Maryland Legislature
Feb 1, 2017
Jamie Raskin:
Expand domestic violence protective orders to include pets
A Legacy of Championing Animal Protection: Throughout Jamie's decade in public office, he has championed animal rights and animal welfare. As a State Senator, Jamie worked closely with his friends at the Humane Society to work for strong policies
of animal protection. I have sponsored and fought for bills to:- Make animal abusers pay the cost of care for abused and seized animals;
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Expand domestic violence protective orders to include pets, who are often targeted for violence to further intimidate and terrorize victims of domestic abuse;
- Prohibit dog breed discrimination;
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Prevent animal abusers from further possessing and abusing animals;
- Ban shark finning;
- Protect animals from spike collars; and
- Ban cruel and inhumane tethering of pets outside in extreme weather.
Source: 2016 Maryland House campaign website JamieRaskin.com
Nov 8, 2016
Margaret Flowers:
Environmental justice: Corporations responsible for damage
Environmental justice means that all people have access to clean water and air, healthy foods and a livable future by confronting the climate crisis and environmental degradation. Corporations should be held responsible for environmental damage that
undermines the health of communities. And corporations should not extract minerals or energy sources such as oil, gas or uranium if that cannot be done in a way that protects the integrity of our air, water and food systems.
Flowers helped to found Clean Up The Mines, a national campaign to clean up the thousands of abandoned uranium mines throughout the United States that continue to pollute the land, water and air with radioactive and heavy metals.
She also helped to found We Are Cove Point, a coalition that is working to stop the construction of a large power plant, refinery and gas export facility in southern Maryland.
Source: 2016 Maryland Senate campaign website, FlowersForSenate.org
Aug 8, 2016
Sam Faddis:
Protect environment without miring businesses in red tape
I believe we can have both a vibrant, dynamic, growing economy and a healthy environment.
The Chesapeake Bay is a perfect example of a resource, which needs to be preserved not only for its significant intrinsic value but also because of it enormous economic potential.
I believe the key to finding a balance between environmental and economic considerations is common sense and a focus on practical ways
in which to protect the environment without miring individuals and businesses in red tape and regulations, which kill jobs and strangle growth.
Source: 2018 Maryland Senate website SamFaddis.NationBuilder.com
Feb 3, 2016
Larry Hogan:
Rolled back "rain tax" that reduced Chesapeake Bay pollution
After campaigning with a pledge to roll back taxes, Hogan has made little headway on that front with a Democratic-held General Assembly. He did claim a modicum of success in the fact that the legislature's work product during his first three years did
not contain additional tax increases. In his first year, Hogan signed a bill rolling back a requirement pass during O'Malley's tenure that Maryland's 10 most populous jurisdictions collect a storm-water mitigation fee to fund programs to reduce
Chesapeake Bay pollution. Republicans [called] the fee as the "rain tax" ; it became a frequent applause line during Hogan's campaign. He used executive fiat in 2015 to reduce tolls on the five-mile-long
Bridge that spans the Chesapeake Bay, calling attention to the popular move with special signs. Critics accused Hogan of depriving the state of $50 million annually for road and bridge repair.
Source: Almanac of American Politics on 2018 Maryland Governor race
Oct 5, 2015
Martin O`Malley:
Supported 25 new state wildlands areas
Legislative Summary: This Administration bill proposes the expansion of 14 wildland areas and the addition of 9 wildland areas under the State wildlands preservation system, resulting in an increase of approximately 21,887 acres.
The expansions and additions are located in Allegany, Baltimore, Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, Montgomery, Somerset, and Worcester counties. There are currently 29 separate wildlands designated, consisting of approximately 44,000 acres.
Generally, the wildland areas must be devoted to public purposes for recreational, scenic, scientific, educational, conservation, and historical use. Commercial enterprises and permanent roads, use of motorized equipment/vehicles/boats, and structures
are not allowed in the wildland areasLegislative Outcome: Passed Senate 47-0-0 on April 4; passed House 101-35-5 on April 7; vetoed by Gov. O`Malley on May 15 as duplicative of HB 296, which he signed.
Source: Maryland legislative voting records: SB 336 & HB 296
May 15, 2014
Kathy Szeliga:
Voted NO on new state wildlands areas
Legislative Summary: This Administration bill proposes the expansion of 14 wildland areas and the addition of 9 wildland areas under the State wildlands preservation system, resulting in an increase of approximately 21,887 acres.
The expansions and additions are located in Allegany, Baltimore, Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, Montgomery, Somerset, and Worcester counties. There are currently 29 separate wildlands designated, consisting of approximately 44,000 acres.
Generally, the wildland areas must be devoted to public purposes for recreational, scenic, scientific, educational, conservation, and historical use. Commercial enterprises and permanent roads, use of motorized equipment/vehicles/boats, and structures
are not allowed in the wildland areasLegislative Outcome: Passed Senate 47-0-0 on April 4; passed House 101-35-5 on April 7; Rep. Kathy Szeliga voted NAY; vetoed by Gov. O`Malley on May 15 as duplicative of HB 296, which he signed.
Source: Maryland legislative voting records: SB 336
Apr 7, 2014
Kelly M. Schulz:
Voted NO on new state wildlands areas
Legislative Summary:˙This Administration bill proposes the expansion of 14 wildland areas and the addition of 9 wildland areas under the State wildlands preservation system, resulting in an increase of approximately 21,887 acres.
The expansions and additions are located in Allegany, Baltimore, Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, Montgomery, Somerset, and Worcester counties. There are currently 29 separate wildlands designated, consisting of approximately 44,000 acres.
Generally, the wildland areas must be devoted to public purposes for recreational, scenic, scientific, educational, conservation, and historical use. Commercial enterprises and permanent roads, use of motorized equipment/vehicles/boats, and structures
are not allowed in the wildland areasLegislative Outcome:Passed Senate 47-0-0 on April 4; passed House 101-35-5 on April 7; Del. Kelly Schulz voted NAY; vetoed by Gov. O`Malley on May 15 as duplicative of HB 296, which he signed.
Source: Maryland legislative voting records: SB 336
Apr 7, 2014
Richard Madaleno:
Co-sponsored 25 new state wildlands areas
Legislative Summary: This Administration bill proposes the expansion of 14 wildland areas and the addition of 9 wildland areas under the State wildlands preservation system, resulting in an increase of approximately 21,887 acres.
The expansions and additions are located in Allegany, Baltimore, Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, Montgomery, Somerset, and Worcester counties. There are currently 29 separate wildlands designated, consisting of approximately 44,000 acres.
Generally, the wildland areas must be devoted to public purposes for recreational, scenic, scientific, educational, conservation, and historical use. Commercial enterprises and permanent roads, use of motorized equipment/vehicles/boats, and structures
are not allowed in the wildland areasLegislative Outcome: Passed Senate 47-0-0 on April 4; co-sponsored by Sen. Madaleno on Jan. 17 and voted YES; passed House 101-35-5 on April 7; passed by Gov. O`Malley on May 15 as HB 296.
Source: Maryland legislative voting records: SB 336
Apr 5, 2014
Jamie Raskin:
Voted YES on 25 new state wildlands areas
Legislative Summary: This Administration bill proposes the expansion of 14 wildland areas and the addition of 9 wildland areas under the State wildlands preservation system, resulting in an increase of approximately 21,887 acres.
The expansions and additions are located in Allegany, Baltimore, Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, Montgomery, Somerset, and Worcester counties. There are currently 29 separate wildlands designated, consisting of approximately 44,000 acres.
Generally, the wildland areas must be devoted to public purposes for recreational, scenic, scientific, educational, conservation, and historical use. Commercial enterprises and permanent roads, use of motorized equipment/vehicles/boats, and structures
are not allowed in the wildland areasLegislative Outcome: Passed Senate 47-0-0 on April 4; Sen. Raskin voted YES; passed House 101-35-5 on April 7; vetoed by Gov. O`Malley on May 15 as duplicative of HB 296, which he signed.
Source: Maryland legislative voting records: SB 336
Apr 4, 2014
Martin O`Malley:
Passed milestone of preserving 1 million acres of open space
We are making our air and our waters cleaner. We have planted more trees on public lands in the last seven years than ever before. More farmers are now planting cover crops to reduce nutrient runoff than ever before. To protect our farmlands, our forests
and our open space for the future, this year Maryland passed the milestone of preserving 1 million acres for our children's future.Together, we have taken the strongest actions in decades to make the Chesapeake Bay cleaner and healthier; strong
actions that are restoring our menhaden, our blue crab, and our oyster populations.
And we are leading the states of our Bay watershed in cleaning up the Chesapeake--consistently meeting our two-year milestones, allowing less nitrogen and phosphorus
to pollute our Bay today than seven years ago. Measurable progress, by our hands, in our time, for the long term restoration of the Bay.
Source: 2014 State of the State Address to Maryland legislature
Jan 23, 2014
Martin O`Malley:
Flush Tax: fund green upgrade to wastewater treatment plants
My Republican predecessor called the "flush tax" one of his most important accomplishments while in office. By allowing us to make green upgrades to wastewater treatment plants, we have greatly reduced the pollution flowing into our Bay.But
the fee was never sufficient to cover the work that has to be done. While others have suggested tripling the flush tax, I believe that the fairest way forward is to double the yield by switching most households to a fee structure based on consumption--
whereby, the less you use, the less you pay. This will double the amount of work we are able to do for the Bay.
SB 240 would modify increase the average fee from $2.50 per month to $5.00 per month. Low end users (e.g., 2,000 gallons per month) would
see a lower fee ($1.80 per month) and higher end users (e.g., 8,000 gallons per month) would see an increase ($9.30 per month). Residents who qualify for an exemption from the fee because of income will be encouraged to apply for this exemption.
Source: 2012 Maryland State of the State Address
Feb 3, 2012
Mary Landrieu:
Coastal wetlands erosion is an unfolding catastrophe
Coastal and Levee Protection: One of the nation’s greatest environmental catastrophes is slowly unfolding every day in Louisiana. Because of manmade changes to our waterways, the natural replenishment of our coastal wetlands has ended and erosion
is slowly destroying our coastline. We lose the equivalent of a football field of land to the ocean every 30 minutes--that’s 25 to 35 square miles every year.
Source: 2008 Senate campaign website, www.marylandrieu.com, “Issues”
Mar 2, 2008
Michael Steele:
Revitalize the Chesapeake; focus on open space preservation
Michael is committed to working with Maryland conservationists to promote a stronger, healthier environment. Michael worked with Gov. Ehrlich to protect and revitalize the Chesapeake. Michael worked with conservationists to help restore the Anacostia and
help complete the Anacostia River Walk. The Ehrlich-Steele administration worked to preserve almost 60,000 acres of fields, open space, farmland and forests; and currently, one out of five acres in Maryland are under permanent environmental protection.
Source: Campaign site, MichaelSteeleForMaryland.com, “On the Issues”
May 2, 2006
Robert Ehrlich:
Support joining Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
HB189: Prohibiting affected facilities collectively from emitting more than specified amounts per year of oxides of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, and mercury; requiring the Governor to include the State in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Analysis by The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions: The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is the first mandatory cap-and-trade program in the United States to limit carbon dioxide from the power sector. Ten states currently
participate in RGGI. RGGI was established in 2005 and administered its first auction of carbon dioxide˙emissions allowances in 2008. The annual average CO2 emissions from RGGI electric generation sources decreased by 45 percent [over the next ten years].
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 106-27-8 on Mar/30/06; Passed Senate 35-10-2 on Apr/4/06; Signed by Gov. Ehrlich on May/2/06.
Source: Analysis of Maryland legislative voting record HB189
May 2, 2006
Richard Madaleno:
Support joining Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
HB189: Prohibiting affected facilities collectively from emitting more than specified amounts per year of oxides of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, and mercury; requiring the Governor to include the State in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Analysis by The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions: The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is the first mandatory cap-and-trade program in the United States to limit carbon dioxide from the power sector. Ten states currently
participate in RGGI. RGGI was established in 2005 and administered its first auction of carbon dioxide˙emissions allowances in 2008. The annual average CO2 emissions from RGGI electric generation sources decreased by 45 percent [over the next ten years].
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 106-27-8 on Mar/30/06; Passed Senate 35-10-2 on Apr/4/06; Sen. Madaleno co-sponsored the bill and voted YES; Signed by Gov. Ehrlich on May/2/06.
Source: Analysis of Maryland legislative voting record HB189
Apr 4, 2006
Anthony Brown:
Support joining Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
HB189: Prohibiting affected facilities collectively from emitting more than specified amounts per year of oxides of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, and mercury; requiring the Governor to include the State in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Analysis by The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions: The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is the first mandatory cap-and-trade program in the United States to limit carbon dioxide from the power sector. Ten states currently
participate in RGGI. RGGI was established in 2005 and administered its first auction of carbon dioxide emissions allowances in 2008. The annual average CO2 emissions from RGGI electric generation sources decreased by 45 percent [over the next ten years].
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 106-27-8 on Mar/30/06; Rep. Brown co-sponsored the bill and voted YES; Passed Senate 35-10-2 on Apr/4/06; Signed by Gov. Ehrlich on May/2/06.
Source: Analysis of Maryland legislative voting record HB189
Mar 30, 2006
Peter Franchot:
Support joining Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
HB189: Prohibiting affected facilities collectively from emitting more than specified amounts per year of oxides of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, and mercury; requiring the Governor to include the State in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Analysis by The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions: The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is the first mandatory cap-and-trade program in the United States to limit carbon dioxide from the power sector. Ten states currently
participate in RGGI. RGGI was established in 2005 and administered its first auction of carbon dioxide˙emissions allowances in 2008. The annual average CO2 emissions from RGGI electric generation sources decreased by 45 percent [over the next ten years].
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 106-27-8 on Mar/30/06; Rep. Peter Franchot voted YES; Passed Senate 35-10-2 on Apr/4/06; Signed by Gov. Ehrlich on May/2/06.
Source: Analysis of Maryland legislative voting record HB189
Mar 30, 2006
Parris Glendening:
$955 million for public transit & Smart Growth initiatives
We must take the next dramatic steps to make Smart Growth a permanent fixture on Maryland’s landscape.- We will create a “Smart Growth Clearing House,” a one-stop information center for builders, planners, environmentalists, farmers, and others who
want to incorporate Smart Growth into their initiatives.
- We will also advance the Smart Growth / Anti-Sprawl ethic with a $750 million investment in public transportation. Our goal is to double Transit ridership by the year 2020.
- We will also
launch a new “Community Legacy” program with an initial commitment of $15 million. This program--modeled after Rural Legacy-will fill in funding gaps in existing programs to revitalize targeted neighborhoods.
- We will expand our efforts to focus on
Community Parks & Playgrounds with a 3-year, $45 million initiative.
- [We propose a] 5-year, $145 million investment in Maryland’s “Green Print”. We will do more to preserve large tracts of open space, and work to connect already preserved lands.
Source: 2001 State of the State speech to Maryland legislature
Jan 8, 2001
Page last updated: Oct 13, 2021