ROLL CALLS: Maryland Approves Medical Marijuana, Licenses for Undocumented Residents, Gas Tax Hike & New Gun Laws

In the last few weeks, Maryland lawmakers approved a series of high-profile bills on a range of topics. Below Maryland Juice provides a combined House and Senate roll call on four key issues that were advanced by progressive advocates this session:

• HB1515:   Gas Tax Hike to Boost Transportation & Transit Funds
• HB1101:   Medical Marijuana Legalization
• SB715:     Drivers Licenses for Undocumented Residents
• SB281:     Assault Weapons Ban & Gun Registration Laws

DEMOCRATS WHO OPPOSED THESE BILLS: Before the full roll call below, we highlight the Democratic "no" votes on each issue. It is worth noting that the medical marijuana bill was by far the least controversial:

• SENATE MEDICAL MARIJUANA OPPONENTS: The medical marijuana bill passed the State Senate by a vote of 42 to 4. The 4 votes against the bill came from 2 Senate Republicans, joined by 2 Democrats:

1. Sen. John Astle - (Anne Arundel)
2. Sen. Ed DeGrange - (Anne Arundel)

• HOUSE MEDICAL MARIJUANA OPPONENTS: The medical marijuana bill passed the House by a vote of 108 to 28. The 28 votes against the bill came from 21 Senate Republicans, joined by 7 Democrats:  

1. Del. Charles Barkley - (Montgomery)
2. Del. Emmett Burns - (Baltimore County)
3. Del. Norm Conway - (Wicomico)
4. Del. Kevin Kelly - (Allegany)
5. Del. John Olszewski - (Baltimore County)
6. Del. Theodore Sophocleus - (Anne Arundel)
7. Del. John Wood - (St. Mary's)

• SENATE OPPONENTS OF DRIVERS LICENSES FOR UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS: The bill to allow drivers licenses for undocumented residents passed the Senate by a vote of 29 to 18. The 18 votes against the bill came from all 12 Senate Republicans, joined by 6 Democrats:  

1. Sen. Jim Brochin - (Baltimore County)
2. Sen. Ed DeGrange - (Anne Arundel)
3. Sen. Roy Dyson - (St. Mary's)
4. Sen. Katherine Klausmeier - (Baltimore County)
5. Sen. Jim Mathias - (Wicomico)
6. Sen. Norm Stone - (Baltimore County)

• HOUSE OPPONENTS OF DRIVERS LICENSES FOR UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS: The bill to allow drivers licenses for undocumented residents passed the House by a vote of 82 to 55. The 55 votes against the bill came from all 43 House Republicans, joined by 12 Democrats:  

1. Del. John Bohanan - (St. Mary's)
2. Del. Eric Bromwell - (Baltimore County)
3. Del. Emmett Burns - (Baltimore County)
4. Del. Steve DeBoy - (Baltimore County)
5. Del. John Donoghue - (Washington)
6. Del. Mary-Dulany James - (Harford)
7. Del. Kevin Kelly - (Allegany)
8. Del. Joseph Minnick - (Baltimore County)
9. Del. John Olszewski - (Baltimore County)
10. Del. Theodore Sophocleus - (Anne Arundel)
11. Del. Michael Weir - (Baltimore County)
12. Del. C. T. Wilson - (Charles)

• SENATE GUN LAW OPPONENTS:  Laws creating new restrictions on the sale of firearms passed the State Senate by a vote of 28 to 19. The 19 votes against the gun laws came from all 12 Senate Republicans, joined by 7 Democrats:

1. Sen. John Astle - (Anne Arundel)
2. Sen. Ed DeGrange - (Anne Arundel)
3. Sen. Roy Dyson - (St. Mary's)
4. Sen. Katherine Klausmeier - (Baltimore County)
5. Sen. Jim Mathias - (Wicomico)
6. Sen. Mac Middleton - (Charles)
7. Sen. Norm Stone - (Baltimore County)

• HOUSE GUN LAW OPPONENTS:  In the House, the vote for new gun regulations was 78 to 61. The 61 votes against the gun laws came from all 43 Senate Republicans, joined by 18 Democrats:

1. Del. Pamela Beidle - (Anne Arundel)
2. Del. John Bohanan - (St. Mary's)
3. Del. Eric Bromwell - (Baltimore County)
4. Del. Rudolph Cane - (Wicomico)
5. Del. Norm Conway - (Wicomico)
6. Del. Steve DeBoy - (Baltimore County)
7. Del. John Donoghue - (Washington)
8. Del. Mary-Dulany James - (Harford)
9. Del. Sally Jameson - (Charles)
10. Del. Kevin Kelly - (Allegany)
11. Del. James Malone - (Baltimore County)
12. Del. Peter Murphy - (Charles)
13. Del. John Olszewski - (Baltimore County)
14. Del. David Rudolph - (Cecil)
15. Del. Theodore Sophocleus - (Anne Arundel)
16. Del. Michael Weir - (Baltimore County)
17. Del. C.T. Wilson - (Charles)
18. Del. John Wood - (St. Mary's)

• SENATE GAS TAX OPPONENTS: The transportation funding package passed the State Senate by a vote of 27 to 20. The 20 votes against the gas tax came from all 12 Senate Republicans, joined by 8 Democrats:  

1. Sen. John Astle - (Anne Arundel)
2. Sen. Jim Brochin - (Baltimore County)
3. Sen. Ed DeGrange - (Anne Arundel)
4. Sen. Roy Dyson - (St. Mary's)
5. Sen. Delores Kelley - (Baltimore County)
6. Sen. Katherine Klausmeier - (Baltimore County)
7. Sen. Jim Mathias - (Wicomico)
8. Sen. Norm Stone  - (Baltimore County)

• HOUSE GAS TAX OPPONENTS: In the House, the transportation funding vote was 76 to 63. The 63 votes against the gas tax came from 41 Senate Republicans, joined by 22 Democrats:

1. Del. Pamela Beidle - (Anne Arundel)
2. Del. Aisha Braveboy - (Prince George's)
3. Del. Eric Bromwell - (Baltimore County)
4. Del. Emmett Burns - (Baltimore County)
5. Del. Rudolph Cane - (Wicomico)
6. Del. Frank Conaway - (Baltimore)
7. Del. Norm Conway - (Wicomico)
8. Del. Steve DeBoy - (Baltimore County)
9. Del. Barbara Frush - (Prince George's)
10. Del. Mary-Dulany James - (Harford)
11. Del. Kevin Kelly - (Allegany)
12. Del. Stephen Lafferty - (Baltimore County)
13. Del. Jim Malone - (Baltimore County)
14. Del. Joseph Minnick - (Baltimore County)
15. Del. Shirley Nathan-Pulliam - (Baltimore County)
16. Del. John Olszewski - (Baltimore County)
17. Del. David Rudolph - (Cecil)
18. Del. Luiz Simmons - (Montgomery)
19. Del. Theodore Sophocleus - (Anne Arundel)
20. Del. Geraldine Valentino-Smith - (Prince George's)
21. Del. Michael Weir - (Baltimore County)
22. Del. John Wood - (St. Mary's)

HOW MARYLAND POLITICIANS VOTED ON FOUR KEY ISSUES:

BELOW: FULL HOUSE & SENATE ROLL CALLS

Maryland House Approves Transportation Funding Plan 76-63 // ROLL CALL: Analysis of How Lawmakers Voted on the Gas Tax

Maryland Juice recently highlighted the state's efforts to raise critical transportation funds to help maintain highways & bridges and build new transit lines (eg: the MoCo/PG Purple Line and Baltimore Red Line). Our sources were indicating that the vote on Maryland's $3.4 billion infrastructure funding bill was going to be very close, since the primary vehicle for raising funds was a proposed gas tax increase. But on Friday afternoon, the House of Delegates did indeed approve the historic transportation funding package in a fairly close 76-63 vote.

22 DEMOCRATIC HOUSE MEMBERS JOINED MARYLAND GOP IN OPPOSING O'MALLEY'S TRANSPORTATION FUNDING PLAN - The Washington Post's  John Wagner printed the full roll call for the vote, but below we analyze the details a bit and highlight the unusual votes. First, it should be noted that every single Republican Delegate voted against Governor O'Malley's revenue plan. Meanwhile, 22 Democrats joined 41 Republicans in opposing transportation funding.

Democratic opposition to Gov. Martin O'Malley's transportation funding plan came mostly from ideologically conservative Dems in the House of Delegates (details below). While some of the members surely have alternate explanations for their votes against the gas tax hike, it is worth noting that of the 22 Democratic House "no" votes, all but four members also cast votes against either the Dream Act, marriage equality or death penalty repeal:

HOUSE DEMOCRATS WHO VOTED AGAINST MD TRANSPORTATION FUNDING PLAN:

1. Pamela Beidle (Anne Arundel) - also voted against Dream Act & death penalty repeal
2. Aisha Braveboy (Prince George’s) - also voted against marriage equality
3. Eric Bromwell (Baltimore County) - also voted against Dream Act & death penalty repeal
4. Emmett Burns (Baltimore County) - also voted against Dream Act & marriage equality
5. Rudolph Cane (Wicomico) - also voted against marriage equality
6. Frank Conaway (Baltimore)
7. Norman Conway (Wicomico) - also voted against Dream Act, marriage equality & death penalty repeal
8. Steven DeBoy (Baltimore County) - also voted against Dream Act, marriage equality & death penalty repeal
9. Barbara Frush (Prince George’s)
10. Mary-Dulany James (Harford) - also voted against Dream Act, marriage equality & death penalty repeal
11. Kevin Kelly (Allegany) - also voted against Dream Act, marriage equality & death penalty repeal
12. Stephen Lafferty (Baltimore County) - also voted against Dream Act
13. James Malone (Baltimore) - also voted against Dream Act & death penalty repeal
14. Joseph Minnick (Baltimore County) - also voted against Dream Act, marriage equality & death penalty repeal
15. Shirley Nathan-Pulliam (Baltimore County)
16. John Olszewski (Baltimore County) - also voted against Dream Act & death penalty repeal
17. David Rudolph (Cecil) - also voted against Dream Act & death penalty repeal
18. Luiz Simmons (Montgomery)
19. Theodore Sophocleus (Anne Arundel) - also voted against Dream Act, marriage equality & death penalty repeal
20. Geraldine Valentino-Smith (Prince George’s) - also voted against marriage equality
21. Michael Weir (Baltimore County) - also voted against Dream Act, marriage equality & death penalty repeal
22. John Wood (St. Mary’s) - also voted against Dream Act, marriage equality & death penalty repeal

DEL. LUIZ SIMMONS CAST THE LONE "NO" VOTE FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY - Meanwhile, in liberal Montgomery County, 23 out of 24 Delegates cast votes in favor of the transportation plan. Only Democratic Delegate Luiz Simmons cast a vote against the gas tax (Note: he previously served in the legislature as a Republican). Simmons represents House District 17, alongside Sen. Jennie Forehand and Delegates Kumar Barve & Jim Gilchrest. But while Simmons voted against the transportation funding plan, his colleagues Barve & Gilchrest voted for the bill. Maryland-based political consultant David Goodman responded to Luiz Simmons' gas tax "no" vote with the following remark on Twitter:

Indeed, Maryland Juice has been hearing buzz about a potential 2014 run for State Senate by District 17 Delegate Luiz Simmons. The seat is currently held by fellow Democrat, State Senator Jennie Forehand.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC "NO" VOTES IN THE MARYLAND HOUSE - Three Prince George's Democrats voted against the revenue package: Delegates Aisha Braveboy, Barbara Frush, and Geraldine Valentino-Smith. Del. Braveboy represents District 25 in a 3-member House District with Dereck Davis and Melony Griffith. But Braveboy parted ways with her D25 colleagues in voting "no" on the transportation plan. It is worth noting that she's also a potential candidate for Attorney General in 2014.

Meanwhile, the Delegates representing District 12 continued to demonstrate ideological differences. House District 12 is currently represented by three Maryland Democrats: retiring Delegate Liz Bobo in subdistrict 12B and Delegates Steve Deboy and Jim Malone in subdistricct 12A. But even those these three Delegates are all Democrats, Deboy and Malone persistently join the Republicans on close votes -- even though their new 2014 district will include liberal Columbia, Maryland and scores of new progressive voters. Naturally, Bobo voted for the transportation funds, while Deboy and Malone voted against the infrastructure money. Some of their 2014 Democratic Primary competitors have taken notice of these political dynamics.

Here are a few more instances of Democrats in the House disagreeing with their legislative district colleagues:

MARYLAND GOP HEADS TO SOUTH CAROLINA DURING GAS TAX DEBATE - Amusingly, while the House of Delegates held a close vote on a Maryland gas tax hike, the Maryland Republican Party was holding press events in South Carolina. The Baltimore Sun's Erin Cox noted that the Maryland GOP's Executive Director David Ferguson drove his truck to Charleston, South Carolina for the weekend (excerpt below):

BALTIMORE SUN: Gov. Martin O'Malley took the stage Saturday at a high school in this early presidential primary state, telling an auditorium of South Carolina Democrats that his principles worked in Maryland — and they'd work elsewhere....

The Maryland Republican Party's executive director took issue with the achievements O'Malley cited. David Ferguson drove his truck down to Charleston to stage an event outside the West Ashley High School where O'Malley spoke....

MORE ON THE MD TRANSPORTATION DEBATE SOON!

Maryland Finally Abolishes the Death Penalty & Joins Civilized World // Here are the Democrats Who Voted Against Repeal

Today Maryland joined the civilized world and finally abolished its use of the death penalty. Last week the State Senate voted to repeal the death penalty (roll call here), and today the House of Delegates followed suit with a 82-56 vote in support of abolition.

It's about freaking time, people.

ON LIFE VS. DEATH, A SAD PARTY LINE VOTE - The death penalty repeal vote was (sadly) a mostly party line affair, with all but two Republican House members voting against the "pro-life" position. Only two Republican Delegates maintained consistency in their "pro-life" beliefs and joined Democrats in repealing executions: Susan Aumann and Bill Frank (both Catholic Republicans). In contrast, most Democrats voted to end state murder. But 18 Democrats joined the GOP (including one Charles Barkley from MoCo) and voted to continue using taxpayer dollars to pay state employees to kill people. You can see the Democratic Hall of Shame below. I also flagged the pro-death penalty Democrats who voted against marriage equality and the Dream Act. Interesting patterns:

GOP HOUSE MEMBERS WHO VOTED PRO-LIFE:

1. Aumann, Susan - Baltimore Co.
2. Frank, William - Baltimore Co.

DEMOCRATIC HOUSE MEMBERS WHO EMBRACE VIOLENCE:

1. Barkley, Charles - Montgomery
2. Beidle, Pamela - Anne Arundel - ( also voted against Dream Act )
3. Bohanan, John - St. Mary's - ( also voted against Dream Act )
4. Bromwell, Eric - Baltimore Co. - ( also voted against Dream Act )
5. Conway, Norm - Wicomico - ( also voted against Dream Act & Marriage Equality )
6. DeBoy, Steve - Baltimore Co. - ( also voted against Dream Act & Marriage Equality )
7. Donoghue, John - Washington - ( also voted against Dream Act & Marriage Equality )
8. James, Mary-Dulany - Harford - ( also voted against Dream Act & Marriage Equality )
9. Jameson, Sally - Charles - ( also voted against Dream Act & Marriage Equality )
10. Kelly, Kevin - Allegany - ( also voted against Dream Act & Marriage Equality )
11. Malone, Jim - Baltimore Co. - ( also voted against Dream Act )
12. Minnick, Joseph - Baltimore Co. - ( also voted against Dream Act & Marriage Equality )
13. Olszewski, John - Baltimore Co. - ( also voted against Dream Act )
14. Rudolph, David - Cecil - ( also voted against Dream Act )
15. Sophocleus, Theodore - Anne Arundel - ( also voted against Dream Act & Marriage Equality )
16. Weir, Michael - Baltimore Co. - ( also voted against Dream Act & Marriage Equality )
17. Wilson, C. T. - Charles - ( also voted against Marriage Equality )
18. Wood, John - St. Mary's - ( also voted against Dream Act & Marriage Equality )

Erin Cox from The Baltimore Sun Tweeted the unofficial roll call (see full vote below):

GOP NOT PLANNING ON PETITIONING EXECUTION BAN TO REFERENDUM - Now the death penalty repeal measure heads to Gov. Martin O'Malley's desk to be signed into law -- and believe it or not, The Washington Times reported this week that Republicans appear unlikely to petition the ban on executions to referendum (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON TIMES: Maryland Republicans might concede the fight over the state’s death penalty, saying that they are unlikely to mount a referendum effort as the House prepares to grant final passage to a repeal....

In recent years, outnumbered Republicans in Maryland have used online petitions to send several controversial Democratic proposals to referendum, but the lawmaker who helped lead those efforts says he doesn’t see it happening for the death penalty....

Delegate Neil C. Parrott said he hasn’t completely ruled out leading a petition drive, but that a campaign would face long odds and might not do much to affect policy in a state where recent laws have already made it extremely difficult for prosecutors to pursue executions.

Maryland Juice hopes that Parrott and his crew of petitioners hold to these statements, because right now the only other person who desires a death penalty referendum is Senate President Mike Miller.

WE MUST PRESERVE THIS SHAMEFUL HISTORY - Maryland Juice thinks that we need to preserve the evidence of our state's shameful past and make a museum out of our soon-to-be-defunct execution chambers:

CD6: Nuns to Protest at Rep. Roscoe Bartlett's Office // National Pundit Calls Sen. Rob Garagiola "The Most Arrogant" Candidate

UPDATE: A number of readers in the comments below, either defend Senator Garagiola or criticize John Delaney. Additionally, a few anonymous readers were baffled by Stu Rothenberg's comments. We print a few select responses below:

READER #1: That Rothenberg piece struck me as an amazing piece of Washington-elite disconnectedness.

CD6: Rep. Roscoe Bartlett Will Begin Montgomery County Outreach Effort for November General Election // My 2 Cents

Roll Call's Abby Livingston has one of the more useful post-primary election stories from the 6th Congressional District media beat. Her piece interviews political insiders, but also previews Rep. Roscoe Bartlett's strategy for the November General Election. See an excerpt from @RollCallAbby's piece below:

ROLL CALL: Bartlett, who took 43 percent of the vote against seven opponents in Tuesday’s primary, is looking ahead as well. “We’re going to win,” the 85-year-old lawmaker said Wednesday.