From the office of Sen. J.B. Jennings:
While many legislators voted against Maryland businesses repeatedly in 2010, Sen. J.B. Jennings (District 7) earned a 100% business-friendly rating from Maryland Business for Responsive Government (MBRG).
MBRG recently measured the voting record of each of Maryland’s 188 legislators on 18 bills crucial to Maryland businesses, jobs, and economic growth.
Jennings, a two-term Delegate prior to being sworn in as Senator last month, is one of only two House members to earn the perfect rating.
Sen. Jennings noted, “In Baltimore & Harford Counties, small business is our engine. My parents have had an auto shop down in Essex for 50 years; I’ve run a feed mill up in Hereford for a decade; and there are thousands of retail stores, restaurants, doctors’ offices, and farms in between. I can’t imagine not supporting local businesses at every opportunity. They’re the ones keeping District 7 constituents employed, keeping food on the table and checks in the mail.”
Jennings added that he was not surprised by the number of his colleagues in only the 20th, 30th and 40th percentiles.
“Our General Assembly has a long history of discouraging businesses from investing, building and growing in Maryland by passing laws that impose stringent regulations and high taxes. If Maryland is going to foster economic development and job creation, more elected officials need to endorse business-friendly public policies.”
In recognition of his leadership, MBRG awarded Sen. Jennings the John Shaw Award. The award is presented to legislators with an excellent record in support of Maryland business owners, whose priorities include:
– Upholding private property rights (HB 63)
– Opposing unnecessary and vague mandates of government intrusion in the workplace (HB 381, 175, 1299, 1272 & 463)
– Helping small businesses manage cash flow in a difficult economy (HB 484 & 107)
– Opposing the imposition of unwarranted administrative and legal burdens on businesses (HB 351, 755 & 1153)
– Repealing artificially inflated wage rates that increase the costs of state-contracted projects (HB 746)
– Not supporting ineffective mandates that will foster increased litigation and costs of doing business (HB 279, 825, 1100, 1280 & 1246)
– Supporting economic incentives for employers to create private sector jobs (HB 106)
MBRG is a statewide, nonpartisan research and education organization supported by corporations, trade associations, chambers of commerce, and individuals. Its 2010 rating system is available online at www.mbrg.org.
Sen. Jennings,
I hope you and your colleagues support HB 241/SB 240 Criminal Law
–Restrictions Against Use and Possession of Firearms, that would enhance penalties for those in possession of firearms who have previous firearm convictions. Its about time that Maryland law really punished those criminals from committing the same or similar types of crimes with firearms. Please support this bill and encourage your constituents to see the light. Even the NRA won’t oppose this one.