The Truth about Janet Greenip’s Voting Record

State Senator Votes Against Public Education Funding, Against Clean Air & Water

Votes for Loopholes for Corporate Giants to Avoid Taxes

Background: District 33 State Senate Candidate Scott Hymes is running against the current State Senator, Janet Greenip, a Republican from Crofton. Ms. Greenip was elected to the Maryland Senate in 2002. Before that, she served two terms in the Maryland House of Delegates.

The Real Deal about Janet Greenip

For twelve years, Ms. Greenip has struggled to pass any bills as a lead sponsor and very few bond bills to bring home much-need state funding for our schools, our roads and our communities. In 2006, Ms. Greenip failed to secure passage of any of her only seven bills she sponsored. (Most legislators sponsor 15-30 bills or more each legislative session.) Not one of her bills made it out of its assigned committee this year. And of these seven bills, not even one bill dealt with increasing the performance of our schools, recruiting the best qualified teachers, or making sure our classrooms were healthy and safe. As Senator, Scott Hymes’ number one priority will be fighting for the best schools possible in Anne Arundel County.

More shocking about her dismal record is the fact that during this past legislative session, Ms. Greenip did not sponsor a single bond bill – not even one. Most effective legislators introduce at least a dozen or more bond bills to help secure state funding for much-needed projects in their home district – for instance a community center construction bond bill. In fact, Ms. Greenip’s lack of ability to work with fellow legislators resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Severna Park Community Center’s bond bill in 2005. The families of District 33 deserve a State Senator who understands the priorities of our district, sponsors bills to address these issues, and then works with the members of the General Assembly and stands up for our fair share of state funding.

Ms. Greenip proudly described herself as an “obstructionist” to The Capital newspaper. She is known for her record of supporting corporate interests over the needs of families. For example, she voted against a bill that would have closed a tax code loophole, which is taken advantaged by corporate giants who shelter in Delaware, but operate in Maryland to avoid paying their fair share of state taxes. She has also voted against bills to hold big corporations accountable for their pollution to our air and water. This is especially disappointing for Anne Arundel County families where seven percent of our children suffer from asthma and we have higher cancer rates than surrounding cities and counties. Ms. Greenip also has a deep stock portfolio with energy companies and her loyalty to these industry giants is obvious by her voting record. One of her highest and most consistent campaign contributors is Constellation energy.

Take time to compare the priorities of Ms. Greenip with Scott’s priorities of education, access to health care, solving transportation issues, growing smarter and protecting our environment. As noted in her campaign website’s “On the Issues” page, Ms. Greenip’s three priorities include: finding ways to deny civil rights and to preserve so-called “traditional marriage;” denying expanded access for voting for working families; and battling the party-hyped dangers of eminent domain – a process that has helped build our schools, hospitals, universities, correctional facilities, wastewater treatment plants, highways and mass transit. Scott believes strongly in property rights and believes eminent domain should only be used as a last resort and for the greater good of the community not for developers gain.

Ms. Greenip’s “On The Issues” page of her website never once mentions education, health care, transportation, environment, economic development, and so many more important issues. Ms. Greenip’s priorities are not our families’ priorities and they are not Scott Hymes’ priorities.

Ms. Greenip’s misplaced priorities are most likely the leading reasons why she was chosen “least effective legislator” in Annapolis in 2006 by a group of Annapolis insiders. In contrast, Senator Bobby Neall, who was our state senator prior to Ms. Greenip, was voted “Best State Legislator” in 1986 by the Maryland’s leading monthly magazine. Our district went from Best to Worst. Our families deserve the best legislator possible.

Ms. Greenip will be quick to say that the Democratic Leadership of the Maryland Senate keeps her from passing bills or securing funding. Not only is this just a convenient excuse for her inability to legislate and work together with colleagues, but it’s actually not true. Other Republican Senators successfully sponsor legislation and secure millions of dollars for their district.

For decades, our district was represented by Senator Neall and the late Senator John Cade. These two outstanding public servants were revered by their colleagues and sought out for their common sense leadership. Even in a legislature that was overwhelmingly Democratic – even more so than today, these two elected Republicans secured millions of dollars each legislative session for our communities. They worked with fellow legislators. They reached across the partisan divide. They exemplified teamwork.

Scott Hymes will be a leader, not a do-nothing follower. He will be an independent voice who will end the partisanship that politicians like Janet Greenip create with their extreme views and lack of diplomacy. He will work with his fellow legislators and create consensus. Most importantly, Scott will listen to his constituents, understand their needs, and fight for legislation and funding that we so critically need to maintain and improve our quality of life in District 33.

To list all of Ms. Greenip’s misplaced votes during her 12 years is an overwhelming task. We have included a sample of her terrible voting record. Hold your elected leaders accountable for their votes and for their lack of action. Vote for leadership. Vote for results. Vote for accountability. Vote for Scott Hymes for State Senate District 33.

25 Reasons Why We Must End Janet Greenip’s Ill-Fated Career as State Senator:

1. She voted against the 2006 Healthy Air Act, which was signed by the Governor.
2. She voted against the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund – An Ehrlich Administration Priority.
3. She voted against a bill to increase penalties for violating water quality and wetland laws.
4. She voted against Chesapeake and Coastal Bays Critical Area Protection legislation.
5. She voted against the BGE Rate Bill to keep this year’s rate increase at 15 percent.
6. She voted for deregulation of the Electric Utility Industry Restructuring in 1999.
7. She voted against the reform of the Public Service Commission, which sat idly by while our utility rates skyrocketed and secretly met with the utility industry to strategize ways to kill environmental bills to hold our state’s largest polluters accountable.
8. She voted against the Maryland Stem Cell Research Act, which was signed by Governor Ehrlich.
9. She supports unbridled growth like the Wal-Mart store in Crofton.
10. She opposed the creation of the Office of Smart Growth.
11. She opposed nearly every Smart Growth bill in 1998 and 1999.
12. She voted against legislation in 2005 that requires General Assembly approval to sell any state lands, including state parks.
13. She opposed the Drinking Water Security Act of 2005.
14. She opposed the Water Quality Improvement Act of 1998.
15. She voted against Medical Malpractice Reform in 2004.
16. She voted against the Thornton Plan to bring much-needed funding to Anne Arundel County Schools.
17. She voted against a bill requiring a minimum amount of physical fitness for kindergarten through 5 th grade students.
18. She voted against the Teacher Quality Act of 2006.
19. She voted against the creation of a Task Force on Universal Preschool Education.
20. She was the only senator out of 47 (both parties) to vote against increasing state aid to community colleges to fund ESOL classes (teaching English to non-English speaking students).
21. She voted twice against a bill to prevent corporations from avoiding the Maryland corporate income tax by shifting their income out of state through Delaware holding companies.
22. She voted against increasing minimum wage to help our most vulnerable families.
23. She voted against Transit funding legislation in 2004.
24. She was one of only two votes against extending the Minority Business Enterprise Program.
25. She voted against the Antidiscrimination Act of 2001.