Freedom Index

A Legislative Scorecard Based on the Principles of the U.S. Constitution

Legislative Scorecard Based on the U.S. Constitution

The Legislative Scorecard is a nationwide educational program of The John Birch Society. Its purpose is to create an informed electorate on how state legislators are voting. The Scorecard is nonpartisan; it does not promote any candidate or political party. Bills are selected for their constitutional implications and cost to the taxpayers.

Please share this Scorecard in your district to inform people about your legislator's record on key votes.
U.S. Constitution, Amendment I --- 11 C.F.R. §114(4)(c)(4) --- 616 F.2d 45 (2d Cir. 1980)

Legislative Scorecard

Based on the U.S. Constitution

MD Scorecard 2023

The Legislative Scorecard is a nationwide educational program of The John Birch Society. Its purpose is to create an informed electorate on how state legislators are voting. The Scorecard is nonpartisan; it does not promote any candidate or political party. Bills are selected for their constitutional implications and cost to the taxpayers.

Please share this Scorecard in your district to inform people about your legislator's record on key votes.
U.S. Constitution, Amendment I --- 11 C.F.R. §114(4)(c)(4) --- 616 F.2d 45 (2d Cir. 1980)

The following scorecard lists several key votes in the Maryland General Assembly in 2023 and ranks state delegates and senators based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.

This is our second state-level Scorecard; the selected votes may not be reflective of legislators’ overall records. Their cumulative scores will change as we add more votes. Please check regularly for updates.

Senate

1. "Hate Crime" Commission

Good Vote: No

HB1066 "Hate Crime" Commission (passed 40 to 7 on 4/10/2023). Establishes the Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention to “develop strategies to prevent and respond to hate crime activity” and “evaluate State laws and policies.”

2. Dashain Day

Good Vote: No
HB967 Daishan Day (passed 34 to 0 on 4/10/2023). Proclaims October 5 annually as Dashain Day, codifying into law a Hindu religious festival in honor of Durga, the Universal Mother Goddess.

3. Disarming and Tracking Gun Owners

Good Vote: No
HB3 Disarming and Tracking Gun Owners (passed 41 to 2 on 4/7/2023). Directs the Maryland State Police Gun Center to track all firearms surrendered under final protective orders and creates a statewide database for law enforcement agencies to report information on individuals who surrender firearms.

4. 'Right to Abortion' in the Maryland Constitution

Good Vote: No

HB705 'Right to Abortion' in the Maryland Constitution (passed 33 to 14 on 3/31/2023). Proposes to amend the Maryland Constitution to declare a “fundamental right” to “reproductive freedom,” including but not limited to the ability to “prevent, continue, or end one’s own pregnancy.”

5. Medicaid-Covered Sex Mutilation

Good Vote: No

HB283 Medicaid-Covered Sex Mutilation (passed 31 to 13 on 3/31/2023). Requires Medicaid, under the “Trans Health Equity Act,” to provide coverage for “gender-affirming treatment” to all “transgender, nonbinary, intersex, two-spirit, and other gender diverse individuals.”

6. 'No-Fault Divorce'

Good Vote: No
SB36 'No-Fault Divorce' (passed 33 to 10 on 3/20/2023). Authorizes a family court to grant an “absolute divorce” on the grounds of either a six-month separation between the parties or “irreconcilable differences” based on reasons stated by the complainant.
Legislator Scores
[ + ] Pro-liberty Vote[ - ] Anti-liberty Vote[ . ] Did not Vote
Name Party District Score 123456
Malcolm Augustine D SD-047 0% ------
Jack Bailey R SD-029 100% +..+++
Pamela Beidle D SD-032 0% ------
Joanne Benson D SD-024 0% -.---.
Mary Carozza R SD-038 67% +--+++
Jill Carter D SD-041 0% ------
Paul Corderman R SD-002 80% +.+++-
Sarah Elfreth D SD-030 0% -..---
Arthur Ellis D SD-028 0% ------
Brian Feldman D SD-015 0% ------
William Ferguson D SD-046 0% ------
William Folden R SD-004 20% ---+.-
Jason Gallion R SD-035 67% +--+++
Dawn Gile D SD-033 0% ------
Melony Griffith D SD-025 0% ------
Guy Guzzone D SD-013 0% -.----
Antonio Hayes D SD-040 0% ------
Stephen Hershey R SD-036 50% ---+++
Katie Hester D SD-009 0% ------
Shelly Hettleman D SD-011 0% -.----
Michael Jackson D SD-027 20% -.-+--
Mary James D SD-034 0% -----.
J.B. Jennings R SD-007 50% -.-++.
Cheryl Kagan D SD-017 0% -.----
Ariana Kelly D SD-016 0% ------
Nancy King D SD-039 0% -.----
Katherine Klausmeier D SD-008 0% ------
Benjamin Kramer D SD-019 0% ------
Clarence Lam D SD-012 0% ------
Johnny Mautz R SD-037 67% --++++
Cory McCray D SD-045 0% -.----
Mike Mckay R SD-001 50% ---+++
Anthony Muse D SD-026 0% --.-.-
Justin Ready R SD-005 67% +--+++
James Rosapepe D SD-021 0% -.----
Johnny Salling R SD-006 67% +--+++
Bryan Simonaire R SD-031 67% +--+++
William Smith D SD-020 0% ----.-
Charles Sydnor D SD-044 0% ------
Jeff Waldstreicher D SD-018 0% ------
Mary Washington D SD-043 0% ------
Alonzo Washington D SD-022 0% --.--.
Ron Watson D SD-023 33% ----++
Chris West R SD-042 33% ---++-
Karen Young D SD-003 0% ------
Craig Zucker D SD-014 0% -.----

Average Constitutional Score by Party

Party Score
Democrat 1.6%
Republican 60.4%