RichardMadaleno

ISSUES

Bolstering Maryland’s Public Schools

Newsweek magazine has ranked four Montgomery County public high schools in the top 100 high schools in the nation, including one right here in District 18 -- Bethesda-Chevy Chase. All of the county’s eligible schools are counted among the top 3.5 percent in the country.

I believe that protecting funding for teachers' pensions is paramount to making sure our schools continue to be ranked among the best in the nation, and will do all I can do assure Montgomery County's strong voice in any statewide debate about altering our funding structure. In 2009 I introduced legislation to this effect, and will continue to be a leader on the issue.

Click here to read more about my thoughts on this topic.

Supporting Working Families

Progressive Maryland, which is committed to helping working families in our state, ranked me with a 96%, one of the highest scores in the entire General Assembly, and named me a "2009 Hero of Working Families." My leadership on this issue included:

Cosponsoring The Workplace Fraud Act, which cracks down on employers evading payroll taxes and workplace safety regulations by fraudulently misclassifying employees as “independent contractors”. Despite ferocious opposition from big special interests, we succeeded in passing the bill into law.

Cosponsoring the The Fair Share Act, which authorizes the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the entity that bargains for decent pay and working conditions on behalf of state workers, to negotiate and collect a “fair share” fee from non-members who benefit from union representation. This will make AFSCME an even stronger bargaining agent for state workers, many of whom deserve a raise. This bill became law.

Cosponsoring Maryland's Preschool for All Business Plan, which will ensure that Maryland has a comprehensive blueprint to create more high-quality pre-K for four-year olds. This plan will help thousands of Maryland families whose breadwinners work full-time cannot afford quality pre-K for their kids.

Protecting the Environment

As your State Senator, I have worked to promote innovative environmental policies that have been passed by the General Assembly and enacted into law. The Maryland League of Conservation Voters, which educates Marylanders about legislators' environmental records, ranked me in 2009 with a perfect score. My leadership included:

Cosponsoring the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act to reduce global warming pollution, which was signed into law.

Cosponsoring the Chesapeake Bay Nitrogen Reduction Act of 2009, significant legislation to reduce nitrogen pollution in the Chesapeake Bay from septic systems, which was signed into law.

Supporting a new law to create stronger building energy efficiency standards.

Supporting a new law to preserve vital sources of funding for cover crops and open space.

Securing Civil Rights

As your State Senator, I have fought diligently for the civil rights and civil liberties of all Marylanders. My leadership has included:

Successfully advocating for domestic partnership benefits for state employees, which go into effect July 1st. I was recognized as "Champion of Our Community" from the LGBT Faculty and Staff Association at the University of Maryland for my work on this and other LGBT issues.

Serving as lead sponsor of the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act, which would grant the freedom to marry to same-sex couples.

Serving as a sponsor of legislation to eliminate the inheritance tax paid by surviving domestic partners -- gay or straight -- on jointly owned homes.

Cosponsoring the Freedom of Association and Assembly Protection Act to protect the rights of all Marylanders to organize to advance their political and social views free of the chilling specter of government surveillance and dossiers. A version of this legislation was signed into law.

Serving as lead sponsor of legislation to ban employment, housing and public accommodations discrimination on the basis of one's gender identity.

Click here to read my opinion piece in the Washington Blade about why we must pass a law to ban discrimination against transgender people.

Click here to read my opinion piece in the Washington Post about why I fight for equal marriage rights.

Contributing to Our Transportation Trust Fund

One of the most important issues facing our state is the declining solvency of our transportation trust fund. In 2009, I introduced a five cent increase in the current $0.235 per gallon gas tax to address this issue.

Click here to read more about why I have chosen to advocate for crucial support via a gas tax increase to our transportation trust fund.

Expanding Treatment for Drug and Alcohol Dependence

I believe expanding treatment for those with substance abuse issues is a critical area of importance for Maryland. Investing in this arena will reduce health care costs later, make our roads safer, alleviate burdens on our prison systems, and strengthen families.

I am proud to have received "Legislator of the Year Award" from the MD Chapter of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence for my work to expand treatment services for individuals with substance abuse problems.

Expanding Funding for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

I am proud to be honored with an "Outstanding Service Award" from the Maryland Association of Community Services for my work to protect and expand funding for the developmentally disabled and a "Leadership Award" from the Jubilee Association of Maryland in recognition and appreciation of my leadership and dedication to people with developmental disabilities.

Strengthening the Relationship Between Montgomery County and Annapolis

In advance of the 2009 legislative session, I was unanimously elected Chair of the 8-person Montgomery County Senate Delegation. In this role, I work with elected officials on both the state and county level from Montgomery County to advance a common agenda. Several colleagues have remarked that the Montgomery County Delegation seems particularly well-unified, with open lines of communication between Rockville and Annapolis. I thank County Executive Leggett, Council President Phil Andrews, and my House of Delegates counterpart, Brian Feldman, for working with me to give Montgomery County a strong statewide voice, especially during these economic times.