monoblogue’s Legislative Awards and Scorn for 2008

Back in July, faithful readers may recall that I published a post announcing the monoblogue Accountability Project, which extended the work of the former Maryland Accountability Project from the last General Assembly term.

At that time, I announced my 2007 picks and pans for the General Assembly and promised a post in December for the 2008 awards. Just a month before the next session begins, today I reveal the winners. They’ll be added to the 2008 General Assembly page as well, but this post brings them out onto the main screen of monoblogue. Without further ado, here are those deserving of praise and scorn.

I’ll start with the dubious distinctions, or what I call the Reasons To Adopt Recall. These legislators were the worst at taxing, spending, and generally taking away what little freedom we still have to do with our money and property as we wish. In the House of Delegates this group all had a zero or negative rating; in the Senate they rated less than 10. It’s my belief that each and every one of these folks needs to be thrown out in 2010, and I don’t care what the voter registration numbers in their district are!

What’s really sad is the sheer number of legislators on this list. There’s so many that in order to save space I’ll just do last names. You’ll see why they deserve scorn after reading the voting records of the House of Delegates and Senate. Note that names with an asterisk (*) are second-time dishonorees because they made the 2007 list as well.

Delegates: Anderson, Benson, Carter, Donoghue, Glenn, Hubbard, Hucker*, Levi, MacIntosh, Mizeur, Nathan-Pulliam*, and Pena-Melnyk.

Senators: Conway*, Currie*, Exum*, Frosh, Gladden*, Harrington, Kelley, Lenett, McFadden*, Middleton, Miller*, Pinsky*, Pugh*, Raskin, Robey*, and Rosapepe*.

While this hall of scorn comprises 8.5% of the House of Delegates (down from 12.8% in 2007), the share of Senators on the list increased from 29.8% to a truly stupefying 34.0 percent.

And then we have the RINO Huntee, the legislator who’s best at selling out to the Democrats and voting with them as they raise taxes and increase spending – all to suck up and maybe get a few crumbs for his or her district. In 2008, the person with that target on his or her back was:

Delegate D. Page Elmore, District 38A. Page is now a two-time “winner” of this award, and this year was outranked by five Democrats, including the two honored in the next category.

Turning to awards, next up is what I call the Top (Blue) Dog Award, given to the Democrat who best reaches across the aisle and votes with those of us who believe in limiting government while maximizing freedom – unfortunately, most of the time here in Maryland that vote is in vain. Nevertheless, my Top (Blue) Dogs for 2008 are:

Delegates Kevin Kelly (District 1B) and Joseph J. Minnick (District 6), who tied with the exact same rating. Kelly is now a two-time honoree.

I also have a group who I’ve dubbed the Legislative All-Stars. In most cases they score over 90% but also include at least the top scorer in a body who doesn’t make that threshold. They are the cream of the Maryland crop and those of us who desire a more sensible, limited state government would do well to have one like each of these men and women in every General Assembly seat. And I’m pleased that the ranks have grown from just four All-Stars in 2007 to seven in 2008. These honorees are:

Delegates Joseph C. Boteler III (District 8), Warren E. Miller (District 9A), Christopher B. Shank (District 2B), and Senators Janet Greenip (District 33), Andrew P. Harris (District 7) and Alexander X. Mooney (District 3). All three Senators are being honored for the second straight year, and another 2007 Legislative All-Star is my pick for 2008 Legislator of the Year.

So who is the winner of the coveted monoblogue award for the 2008 Legislator of the Year?

Along with Delegates Boteler and Miller, this man managed to achieve the highest rating for the 2008 General Assembly session. Because the three managed to all tie for the year’s top rating, the tie-breaker becomes the overall term rating, which became the basis for selection.

The 2008 monoblogue award goes to Delegate Anthony J. O’Donnell (District 29). We couldn’t have a better person as the Minority Leader in the House of Delegates and hopefully 2010 will bring more Delegates for him to lead.

Author: Michael

It's me from my laptop computer.