Normally I add this to my monoblogue Accountability Project page once it’s clear that no Special Sessions would be called to change the rankings. This post will similarly be added to the page (which includes links to the monoblogue Accountability Project rating files) upon publication. But it’s time to bestow honors and point out those who are shortchanging the state with their poor legislative decisions.
Now what you’ve all been waiting for – Awards and Dubious Distinctions
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. If you look at the 2007 and 2008 lists you may see two-time (*) and even three-time (**) offenders.
Delegates: Anderson*, Barnes, Barve, Benson*, Bobo, Branch*, Bronrott*, Burns, Busch, Cane*, Cardin, Carr, Carter*, V. Claggett*, Conaway, Davis, Doory, Dumais, Feldman*, Frick, Frush, Gaines, Gilchrist, Glenn*, Griffith, Guzzone, Harrison, Haynes, Healey*, Heller, Holmes, Howard*, Hubbard*, Hucker**, Ivey, Jones, Kaiser, Kirk, Kramer, Krysiak, Love, MacIntosh*, Manno*, Mizeur*, Montgomery*, Morhaim, Murphy, Niemann, Nathan-Pulliam**, Pendergrass, Proctor, Ramirez*, Rice, Robinson, Rosenberg*, Ross, Simmons, Stukes, F. Turner, V. Turner, Vallario*, Vaughn, and Waldstreicher.
Senators: Conway**, Currie**, Della, Exum**, Forehand, Frosh*, Gladden**, Harrington*, Jones, Lenett*, Madaleno*, Pinsky**, Pugh**, Raskin*, and Rosapepe**.
Yes, that list has 63 Delegates. This hall of scorn now comprises a record 44.7% of the House of Delegates (smashing the old record of 12.8% in 2007) while the share of Senators on the list dropped slightly from a record 34.0% last year to 31.9 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 2009, once again the person with that target on his back was:
Delegate D. Page Elmore (District 38A). Page is now a three-time “winner” of this award – this year his rating was a pathetic 31.79. Unfortunately, this year Elmore was challenged by Delegates Wendel Beitzel and Susan Aumann for this dubious distinction. Two other Delegates, Leroy Myers and Andrew Serafini, had lower overall ratings but missed a large number of votes, which reduced their rating. When present, their records were rather good so hopefully in 2010 they can be present more often.
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) Dog for 2009 is a new winner this year:
Delegate John F. Wood Jr. (District 29A) upended two-time winner Delegate Kevin Kelly to win the award with a 42.41 rating.
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.
After having seven Legislative All-Stars last year, their numbers dropped to six this year. Five of these honorees are:
- Delegate Pat McDonough (District 7), his first time so honored.
- Delegate Warren E. Miller (District 9A) is now a two-time Legislative All-Star.
- Delegate Anthony J. O’Donnell (District 29A), my 2008 Legislator of the Year and three-time Legislative All-Star.
- Delegate Don H. Dwyer, Jr. (District 31) is also a first-time Legislative All-Star.
- Senator Janet Greenip (District 33) had the highest rating in the Maryland Senate and sadly concludes her Senate career as its only three-time Legislative All-Star.
So who is the winner of the coveted monoblogue award for the 2009 Legislator of the Year?
Along with Delegate Miller, this man managed to achieve the highest rating for the 2009 General Assembly session. Both he and Miller have the exact same overall rating, which is now the highest in the General Assembly, so I couldn’t use that as the basis for selection.
Miller and my winner differed on one vote, and I chose a man who took a stand with just one other Delegate against the nanny state incursion of banning texting while driving. Without further ado, my 2009 monoblogue award for Legislator of the Year goes to:
Delegate Joseph C. Boteler III (District 8). After being a Legislative All-Star last year and in the final running for the award won by Delegate O’Donnell, this year Boteler improved his effort and earned the award, the second time it’s been held by a Delegate.
Delegate Myers and I missed that last few days of the session due to the tragic death of his son in a motorcycle accident. While I realize that you have tried to review a great deal of information a little more research might have avoided what appears as a discredit to a delegate that was dealing with a horrific situation. Unintended consequences are what we deal with all of the time.
My condolences for the loss.
That’s why I noted on the page that these things do happen on occasion and the timing was obviously a factor. Over the two years (and four sessions) for which I’ve done this project I’ve noticed that some Delegates miss a great deal of time for various reasons, but you’re the first who’s addressed this to me directly.
I suppose that’s a flaw in the system, but that’s why I penalize absences less than I do simply not voting since the voting records generally show the difference.
The idea behind this is to be informative, so I appreciate the explanation and will add this to my 2009 page.