Some Maryland Lawmakers Fail when it comes to Animal Issues

August 18, 2010

Courtesy of The Baltimore Sun's Unleashed Blog by reporter Jill Rosen

It seems that some Maryland lawmakers are better than others when it comes to animal issues, according to animal advocates.

The political action commitee Maryland Votes for Animals and the Humane Society's Legislative Fund recently ranked all 188 members of the General Assembly according to how they voted on recent animal-related bills. Bills included would strengthen penalties for attendees of animal fights, protect the terrapin and prevent chaining of dogs, among other things.

Forty lawmakers scored perfect 100s and eight got bonus points for sponsoring the key bills. Another 117 pols earned scores of at least 75 percent.

But by voting against the key bills, 12 legislators earned failing marks of less than 50 percent.

Those who flunked were all Republicans, including: senators Alex Mooney and Edward Reilly, and delegates, Wayne Norman, Andrew Serafini, Donna Stifler, Nancy Stocksdale, Mary Roe Walkup, Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, Richard Impallaria, Warren Miller, Don Dwyer Jr., Adelaide Eckardt.

Mooney scored lowest with a 27 percent grade.

The single most important thing any citizen of Maryland can do to help animals is to use the power of their vote to help elect humane legislators to office," Maryland Votes for Animals chairwoman Carolyn Kilborn said.

Lawmakers who scored the highest include: senators Catherine Pugh, Jamie Raskin and Normal Stone, and delegates Jon Cardin, Virginia Clagett, Tom Hucker, Wade Kach and James Malone.