O'Malley Earns B+ on Report Card

After consultation with conservation leaders in the state, the Maryland LCV Board of Directors and staff prepared this Governor’s Report Card. Maryland LCV awarded the Governor an overall grade for his performance on the environment based on a number of separately graded categories, which contain a number of detailed issues intended to be representative of the O’Malley Administration’s commitment and actions on environmental issues. The methodology used to prepare this and prior report cards includes a thorough review of departmental and agency actions, policy positions, funding priorities and budget submissions, public statements, environmental advisors, and executive appointments. View our Press Release

Read the 2011 Governor’s Report Card

Overall Grade: B+

• Budget A-
• Water Quality B
• Climate Change A
• Energy B+
• Smart Growth A-

• Transportation A-

• Fisheries & Wildlife A

• Administration & Appointments B+

The grades obviously tell a story but if you look below those grades in each category you see that the Governor earned a number of high marks for specific actions.

Governor O’Malley recognized that you can invest in our economy and environment by funding the Chesapeake Bay Trust Fund and Program Open Space. He signed the Administration-sponsored 2009 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Act and made Maryland a national leader in addressing climate change.

His sponsorship of the Maryland Offshore Wind Act is a continuation of that national leadership and we look forward to working with him to pass it in 2012.

In response to President Obama’s call to clean up the Chesapeake Bay and our waters, the Governor led the Bay region with the most aggressive watershed implementation plan (or WIP) in the watershed.

To help us grow smarter, Governor O’Malley proposed a ban on septic systems for large subdivisions and this summer he is working with counties to draft a statewide growth plan – Plan Maryland.

Read the 2011 Governor’s Report Card

If you look a little deeper still - you will also see that we don’t agree with everything that the Governor supports. In 2011 the Legislature passed a bill to incentivize the burning of garbage by adding it to the highest level in the state renewable energy standard. We asked the Governor to veto this bill, unfortunately he choose to sign it. This will result in dirtier air and misrepresent our progress toward meeting our RPS.

The Maryland LCV will be offering one final grade to Gov. O'Malley’s administration in 2013. We will be watching closely to determine whether Gov. O'Malley can keep pace with Gov. O'Malley, or falls back into the pack with other Governors.

Read Past Governor’s Report Card