Tough Issue Votes- See How Your AA County Reps Voted

2010 TOUGH ISSUE VOTES

See how your Anne Arundel County Representative Voted

TAXES

SB141 BUDGET RECONCILLIATION – Shank Amendment 353229/1

A vote for this amendment would pledge to the citizens of Maryland that we would not raise taxes for 4 years. 4-1-2010 (Party line vote)

Refusing to pledge against tax increases

Speaker Busch      Del. Barnes     Del. Beidle      Del. Clagett     Del. Frush      

Del. Love  Del. Pena-Melnyk       Del. Sophocleus

Pledging to NOT RAISE TAXES

Del. Costa             Del. Dwyer     Del. George     Del. King        Del. Kipke      

Del. McConkey     Del. Schuh 

 SB140 BUDGET BILL – Shank Amendment 563321/1 This amendment would have reduced the budget by $829 million to offset the looming $ 2 Billion deficit we are facing next year. 4-1-2010 (Party line vote)

Refusing to pledge against tax increases

Speaker Busch      Del. Barnes     Del. Beidle      Del. Clagett     Del. Frush      

Del. Love  Del. Pena-Melnyk       Del. Sophocleus

Pledging to NOT RAISE TAXES

Del. Costa             Del. Dwyer     Del. George     Del. King        Del. Kipke      

Del. McConkey     Del. Schuh 

SB140 BUDGET BILL – This budget when coupled with all allocated state spending equates to $32.2 Billion while facing a $2.2 Billion deficit next year.  This realistically sets in motion the necessity to raise taxes significantly next year.  It was argued that to support this budget, was to mortgage the future of our children and grandchildren.

4-10-2010 (Party line vote)

Supporting a tax directed budget

Speaker Busch      Del. Barnes     Del. Beidle      Del. Clagett     Del. Frush      

Del. Love  Del. Pena-Melnyk       Del. Sophocleus

Voting to NOT RAISE TAXES

Del. Costa             Del. Dwyer     Del. George     Del. King        Del. Kipke      

Del. McConkey     Del. Schuh 

 HJ 5 GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMPENSATION – Legislative pensions are out of proportion with private sector pensions. The Republicans offered a motion to recommit the issue back to committee for a review of these pensions. 2-12-2010 (Party line vote)

Refusing to address bloated legislative pensions

Speaker Busch      Del. Barnes     Del. Beidle      Del. Clagett     Del. Frush      

Del. Love  Del. Pena-Melnyk       Del. Sophocleus

Voting to cut legislative pensions

Del. Costa Del. Dwyer     Del. George     Del. King        Del. Kipke      

Del. McConkey     Del. Schuh 

SB466 RECREATION VEHICLES TITLING – requiring the owner of an off-highway recreational vehicle purchased on or after October 1, 2010, to apply for a certificate of title by electronic transmission; imposing an excise tax for a certificate of title. 4-10-2010

Voting for yet another tax on Maryland citizens

Speaker Busch                  Del. Barnes     Del. Beidle      Del. Clagett     Del. Frush      

Del. Love  Del. Pena-Melnyk

Voting against another tax

Del Costa  Del. Dwyer     Del. George     Del. Kipke       Del. McConkey

Del.Schuh             Del. Sophocleus          (Del. King Absent)

FRAUD

SB141 BUDGET RECONCILLIATION – Amendment 28 This amendment would remove the check box from election ballots for campaign fund contributions. When this fund was established it was a “Dedicated” fund. It is now regularly raided and moved to the general fund with no limitations.  This is fraud!  4-1-2010 (Party line vote)

 Voting to allow finance fraud to continue

Speaker Busch      Del. Barnes     Del. Beidle      Del. Clagett     Del. Frush      

Del. Love  Del. Pena-Melnyk       Del. Sophocleus

Voting to stop fraud

Del. Costa Del. Dwyer     Del. George     Del. King        Del. Kipke      

Del. McConkey     Del. Schuh 

 SB141 BUDGET RECONCILLIATION – Minority Leader Amendment 883720/1

This amendment would have mandated that accurate accounting methods be used to calculate public school enrollment.  The current process releases false numbers. This is fraud!  4-1-2010 (Party line vote)

Voting to allow finance fraud to continue

Speaker Busch      Del. Barnes     Del. Beidle      Del. Clagett     Del. Frush      

Del. Love  Del. Pena-Melnyk       Del. Sophocleus

Voting to stop fraud

Del. Costa Del. Dwyer     Del. George     Del. King        Del. Kipke      

Del. McConkey     Del. Schuh 

UNION BILLS

 SB731 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES – COLLECTIVE BARGANING

This is a union bill – Collective Bargaining is against free market enterprise and is considered anti business. 4-10-2010

Voting against Free Market Enterprise

Speaker Busch      Del. Barnes     Del. Beidle      Del. Clagett     Del. Costa

Del. Frush Del. George     Del.Kipke        Del. Love        Del. Pena-Melnyk      

Del. Sophocleus

Voting to protect business

Del. Dwyer           Del. McConkey           Del. Schuh      (Del. King Absent)

HB1100 PREVAILING WAGE – PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTS- This bill provides for triple damages is wage disputes. This is seen as an anti business vote. 4-9-2010 (Party line vote)

Voting against Maryland Business

Speaker Busch      Del. Barnes     Del. Beidle      Del. Clagett     Del. Frush      

Del. Love  Del. Pena-Melnyk       Del. Sophocleus

Voting to protect business

Del. Costa Del. Dwyer     Del. George     Del. King        Del. Kipke      

Del. McConkey     Del. Schuh     

 SB590 FAIRNESS IN NEGOATIONS- This is a union bill that removes local and state authority from public school labor relations.

 Voting with the Union

Speaker Busch      Del. Barnes     Del. Beidle      Del. Clagett     Del. Costa      

Del. Frush             Del. Kipke       Del. Love        Del. Pena-Melnyk      

Del. Sophocleus

Voting against the Union

      Del. Dwyer     Del. George     Del. King        Del. Kipke      

Del. McConkey           Del. Schuh   

 BUSINESS

 SB 107 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE – This bill was heavily debated. It was argued by the Republicans that this bill would further impact small businesses that have not yet recovered from last year’s increase in unemployment insurance rate calculations. This was considered an anti business vote. 3-23-2010

Voting against Maryland Business

Speaker Busch      Del. Barnes     Del. Beidle      Del. Clagett     Del. Frush      

Del. King  Del. Kipke       Del. Love        Del. Pena-Melnyk       Del. Schuh 

Del. Sophocleus

Voting to protect business

Del. Costa             Del. Dwyer     Del. George     Del. McConkey          

SB 107 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE – George Amendment 753222/1 – This amendment would have lowered the insurance rate from 13.5% to 12.9% to relieve the pressure on Maryland’s small businesses.   3-22-2010

Voting against Maryland Business

Speaker Busch      Del. Barnes     Del. Beidle      Del. Clagett     Del. Frush      

Del. Kipke             Del. Pena-Melnyk       Del. Sophocleus

Voting to protect business

Del. Costa Del. Dwyer     Del. George     Del. King       

Del. McConkey     Del. Schuh 

Excused Del. Love          

SB 107 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE – O’Donnell Amendment 663224/1 – This amendment would have repealed the insurance rate increase from last year. 

Voting against Maryland Business

Speaker Busch      Del. Barnes     Del. Beidle      Del. Clagett     Del. Frush      

Del. Pena-Melnyk Del. Sophocleus

Voting to protect business

Del. Costa             Del. Dwyer     Del. George     Del. King        Del. Kipke      

Del. McConkey     Del. Schuh     

Excused Del. Love

HB 755 EARNED INCOME INFORNATION ACT – This bill requires that employers keep and file with the state, specific information related to employees.  This was a heavily debated bill that was considered very anti business. 3-19-2010

Voting against Maryland Business

Speaker Busch      Del. Barnes                 Del. Clagett     Del. Frush      

Del. Love              Del. Pena-Melnyk      

Voting to protect business

Del. Beidle            Del. Costa       Del. Dwyer     Del. George     Del. King       

Del. Kipke             Del. McConkey           Del. Schuh      Del. Sophocleus

HB 92 JOB CREATION AND RECOVERY TAX CREDIT – O’Donnell Amendment 643221/1 This amendment would have required that 50% of the funding go to small businesses with less than 50 employees. Without the amendment the credit only applies to companies with more than 50 employees.  3-17-2010 (Party line vote)

 Voting against Maryland Small Business

Speaker Busch      Del. Barnes     Del. Beidle      Del. Clagett     Del. Frush      

Del. Love  Del. Pena-Melnyk       Del. Sophocleus

Voting to protect Small Business

Del. Costa Del. Dwyer     Del. George     Del. King        Del. Kipke      

Del. McConkey     Del. Schuh     

SOCIAL ISSUES

SB140 BUDGET BILL – Boteler Amendment 783024/1 – This amendment would remove state funding of Embryonic Stem cell research.  All reports reveal that “Adult” stem cells are the only cells being used successfully for medical advancements.  This is considered a Pro-Life vote. 4-1-2010

  Voting against the Pro Life position

Speaker Busch      Del. Barnes     Del. Beidle      Del. Clagett     Del. Frush      

Del. Love  Del. Pena-Melnyk      

Voting Pro Life

Del. Costa Del. Dwyer     Del. George     Del. King        Del. Kipke      

Del. McConkey     Del. Schuh 

Not Voting Del. Sophocleus

SB140 BUDGET BILL – Frank Amendment 983026/1 – This amendment would remove state funded Abortions.  Reports reveal that as many as 6 to 7 abortions per person are funded by your tax dollars.  This is considered a Pro-Life vote. 4-1-2010

Voting against the Pro Life position

Speaker Busch      Del. Barnes     Del. Beidle      Del. Clagett     Del. Frush      

Del. Love  Del. Pena-Melnyk      

Voting Pro Life

Del. Costa Del. Dwyer     Del. George     Del. King        Del. Kipke      

Del. McConkey     Del. Schuh      Del. Sophocleus

IMPEACHMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL GANSLER – The Attorney General violated Maryland’s marriage law when he issued a legal opinion allowing out of state same sex marriages to be recognized in Maryland.  He violated the law and the separation of powers.  Then he declared himself unimpeachable by the legislature.  On March 31, 2010 I brought a charge of impeachment against the Attorney General.  O’Donnel motion 3-31-2010

Voting in support of the Attorney General

Speaker Busch      Del. Barnes     Del. Beidle      Del. Clagett     Del. Frush      

Del. Love              Del. Pena-Melnyk       Del. Sophocleus

Voting to Impeach the Attorney General on the House Floor

Del. Costa Del. Dwyer     Del. George     Del. King        Del. Kipke      

Del. McConkey     Del. Schuh 

SEX OFFENDERS

 HB 599 REPEAT CHILD SEX OFFENDERS – GOOD TIME CREDIT

O’Donnell Amendment 143023/1 – This amendment would have reduced good time credits (early release) for repeat child sex offenders.  This was an attempt to protect our children from sexual predators.  3-17-2010

Voting against the protection of our children

Speaker Busch      Del. Barnes     Del. Beidle      Del. Clagett     Del. Frush      

Del. Love  Del. Pena-Melnyk      

Voting to protect children for predators

Del. Costa Del. Dwyer     Del. George     Del. King        Del. Kipke      

Del. McConkey     Del. Schuh      Del. Sophocleus

HB 473 SEXUAL OFFENDERS – LIFETIME SUPERVISION

Haddaway Amendment 843820/1 – It was determined that this bill was way short of lifetime supervision. This amendment was to change the title of the bill to “Limited Supervision” to reflect the limitations in the bill.  3-17-2010

Voting against the title change

Speaker Busch      Del. Barnes     Del. Beidle      Del. Clagett     Del. Frush      

Del. Love  Del. Pena-Melnyk       Del. Sophocleus

Voting to be honest

Del. Costa Del. Dwyer     Del. George     Del. King        Del. Kipke      

Del. McConkey     Del. Schuh     

HB 473 SEXUAL OFFENDERS – LIFETIME SUPERVISION

Shank Amendment 343424/1 This amendment was a “truth in sentencing” amendment. It would have made a life sentence truly a life sentence.  As it stands, life is far less than a life sentence. 3-17-2010

Voting against truth in sentencing

Speaker Busch      Del. Barnes     Del. Beidle      Del. Clagett     Del. Frush      

Del. Love              Del. Pena-Melnyk       Del. Sophocleus

Voting for truth in sentencing

Del. Costa Del. Dwyer     Del. George     Del. King        Del. Kipke      

Del. McConkey     Del. Schuh