Voting Records — 2009

Two Roll Call votes were recorded in 2009 for stem cell funding. In addition, a Roll Call vote was recorded for two votes of the Senate Finance Committee regarding SB195 – Ultrasound Options.

Stem Cell Funding
In 2008, the Maryland General Assembly approved a $19 million budget for the Maryland Stem Cell Commission, with no restrictions on how the funds would be spent, leaving the door open for the state to fund research that destroys tiny human embryos.

In 2009, the budget started in the House of Delegates, where Del. Tanya Shewell (R-5A) introduced an amendment that would have required the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund to give priority to non-destructive measures. The measure failed by a vote of 39–93.

On the Senate side, Sen. Janet Greenip (R-33) introduced an amendment to strip all funding from the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund. This effort failed by a vote of 18–28.

Ultimately, however, the appropriation for the Stem Cell Research fund was reduced to $15.4 million, a cut of nearly 20 percent off the 2009 budget and $3 million less than what Gov. O’Malley originally proposed.

Amendments to HB100 (stem cell funding limits)
House Vote: Shewell Amendment

Note: X = a vote in support of the MDRTL position (for stem cell funding limits);
O = a vote in opposition to the MDRTL position; NV = no vote;  EX = excused.

Amendments to HB100 (stem cell funding limits)
Senate Vote: Greenip Amendment

Note: X = a vote in support of the MDRTL position (for stem cell funding limits);
O = a vote in opposition to the MDRTL position; NV = no vote;  EX = excused.

Ultrasound Options

Sen Bryan Simonaire (R-31) initially proposed SB195 as "Anne Arundel County  – Ultrasound Options." As originally written, the bill would have applied only to Anne Arundel County and would have required abortion providers in the county who have ultrasound equipment to give women seeking an abortion the option to view the ultrasound, receive a still photo, and hear the fetal heartbeat through the ultrasound equipment. After discussing the issue with other legislators, Sen. Simonaire amended his bill to make it applicable statewide. The amended version matched an Ohio bill that was passed by a pro-abortion legislature and signed by a pro-abortion governor.

As amended, the bill would have required abortion providers to give women the option of viewing the ultrasound and receiving a printed picture only if a sonogram was implemented during the abortion procedure. Sen. Simonaire presented the proposed amendment at a Senate Finance Committee hearing and asked the committee to accept the amended version of the bill. Typically, when a legislator proposes an amendment to his or her own bill, the committee accepts the amendment as a matter of courtesy and then votes on whether to accept the amended version.

In this case, cowever, the committee rejected Sen. Simonaire’s amendment to his own bill by a vote of 5–5.  Then Sen. Astle (D-30) advised the committee that the Maryland Attorney General had expressed an opinion that origina version of the bill may be unconstitutional, because the legislature may not establish mandates in a county that, like Anne Arundel, has charter home rume. The committee then considered a motion to kill the original, unamended bill, which passed by a vote of 9–2.

SB195 — Ultrasound Options
Senate Finance Committee Vote on February 20, 2009

Note: X = a vote in support of the MDRTL position (for stem cell funding limits);
O = a vote in opposition to the MDRTL position; NV = no vote;  EX = excused.

House of Delegates
2009 Roll Call: Shewell Amendment to the State Budget

Senate 2009 Roll Call: Greenip Amendment to the State Budget

Senate Finance Committee 2009 Roll Call: SB195–Ultrasound Options

Maryland Budget Bill for Fiscal Year 2010

SB195 Original Text

SB195 Amendments

Download PDFs

2009 House Votes

2009 Senate Votes