Almanac of American Politics: on Environment


Larry Hogan: Rolled back "rain tax" that reduced Chesapeake Bay pollution

After campaigning with a pledge to roll back taxes, Hogan has made little headway on that front with a Democratic-held General Assembly. He did claim a modicum of success in the fact that the legislature's work product during his first three years did not contain additional tax increases. In his first year, Hogan signed a bill rolling back a requirement pass during O'Malley's tenure that Maryland's 10 most populous jurisdictions collect a storm-water mitigation fee to fund programs to reduce Chesapeake Bay pollution. Republicans [called] the fee as the "rain tax" ; it became a frequent applause line during Hogan's campaign. He used executive fiat in 2015 to reduce tolls on the five-mile-long Bridge that spans the Chesapeake Bay, calling attention to the popular move with special signs. Critics accused Hogan of depriving the state of $50 million annually for road and bridge repair.
Source: Almanac of American Politics on 2018 Maryland Governor race Oct 5, 2015

Gray Davis: Phase out environmental gasoline additives

At home he angered liberals by agreeing to phase out a gasoline additive backed by environmentalists and to support the flag burning amendment. He opposed a plan to renovate the Bay Bridge supported by Mayors Willie Brown and Jerry Brown as too expensive. He opposed trial lawyers’ proposal to raise the cap on medical malpractice awards. He opposed gay marriage. He supported Wilson’s reduction in car taxes and opposed taxes on Internet commerce.
Source: National Journal, the Almanac of American Politics Feb 11, 2000

Tom Ridge: Changed rules & got 350 polluted industrial sites cleaned up

[Under Ridge], the gas tax was increased to provide for more road building. He set up an opportunity zones program for distressed areas and set up a program that cleaned up 350 polluted industrial sites, by limiting landowners’ liability after certain conditions were met; in contrast, the federal government’s Superfund program, which relies on lawyers seeking big judgment from landowners, had cleaned up only 13 of 111 sites in Pennsylvania in nearly 20 years.
Source: National Journal, the Almanac of American Politics Jan 28, 2000

  • The above quotations are from Almanac of American Politics, by Grant Ujifusa and Michael Barone.
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2020 Presidential contenders on Environment:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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Page last updated: Dec 02, 2021