Dumpster fire in MD Senate fueled by corporate cash
Polluter largesse correlates to vocal opposition on Senate floor
This week, the Maryland Senate voted overwhelmingly to continue subsidizing trash incineration by maintaining its status as a “tier 1 renewable energy source”. Burning trash is not a renewable energy source. It spews asthma inducing toxins into the air and accelerates the climate crisis. It disproportionately harms Black and working class people in Maryland.
The amendment to end Maryland’s green energy subsidies for trash incineration corporations, ironically enough, was introduced by Republican Senator Hough (Frederick) and defeated by the Democratic supermajority. You can read about it in Maryland Matters. Clean Water Action has a detailed write up of what’s at stake here. Or watch the whole thing play out for yourself on video (starts around 1:09:00).
What’s important to understand about what went down on the state Senate floor is that every Democrat who spoke out against this amendment has received significant donations from Covanta, which operates the trash incinerator in Montgomery County and a larger one in Northern Virginia, and/or Wheelabrator, the operator of the Baltimore City trash incinerator.
Senator Brian Feldman (he was the most vocal and influential in his opposition to the amendment as “floor leader” and according to multiple sources he whipped votes against it, while the checks he banked were largest)- From Covanta: 5/21/15- $1,000, 6/2/16- $500, 7/14/17- $500, 8/28/18- $1,000, 7/30/19- $500, 9/3/20- $1,000. Total: $4,500
Senator Kathy Klausmeier (she muddied the waters by suggesting the amendment would close the incinerators, when it would only end subsidies)- From Covanta: 9/29/15- $100, 6/2/16- $200, 7/14/17- $250, 11/9/18- $500, 10/11/19- $250, 10/7/20- $500. From Wheelabrator: 9/10/18- $250, 11/6/20- $1,000. Total: $3,050
Senator Malcolm Augustine- From Covanta: 12/19/19- $500, 9/3/20- $500. From Wheelabrator: 9/10/19- $1,000, 10/15/20- $1,000. Total: $3,000
Senator Delores Kelley (she made a point of mentioning that she had refused a contribution from Wheelabrator, but took checks from the other Maryland operator in Montgomery County)- From Covanta: 9/29/15- $500, 9/18/18- $1,000. Total: $1,500
Senate President Bill Ferguson- From Covanta: 10/7/20- $1,000. From Wheelabrator: 9/21/19- $250. Total: $1,250
Senator Ron Young: From Covanta (his opposition was most tepid, and his check stalest and smallest): 11/14/15- $250
The senators should return this cash to avoid the appearance of pay to play politics in Annapolis. Perpetrators of environmental racism are unethical sources of campaign contributions.
Covanta and Wheelabrator also made significant contributions to Democratic and Republican lawmakers in the Maryland House of Delegates, where a stand alone bill on the same issue was heard last week. Contact your delegate(s) and tell them to support HB0322 and join the party in Maryland that takes no corporate donations — the Maryland Green Party!
Update 2/7/21
This article has been updated to include this timeline of votes on this legislation. What caused the massive swing among Democratic senators?
Update 2/10/21
This article has been updated to include the final roll call vote on the amendment to end subsidies for trash incineration.
Update 2/11/21
This article has been updated to include additional donations by trash incineration corporations to some of the 30 senators who voted against ending subsidies to those corporations.
Steve Hershey: Covanta- 6/2/16: $200, 11/14/18: $500, 10/17/19: $250, 11/30/20: $500; Wheelabrator- 9/14/18: $250, 10/17/19: $500, 11/30/20: $500. Total: $2,700
Antonio Hayes: Covanta- 10/7/19: $250; Wheelabrator- 9/21/18: $250, 9/10/19: $1,000, 11/10/20: $1,000. Total: $2,500
J.B. Jennings: Covanta- 6/8/16: $200, 7/14/17: $100, 10/9/18: $500, 7/30/19: $250; Wheelabrator- 8/27/18: $250, 9/10/19: $500, 11/4/20: $500. Total: 2,300
Pam Beidle: Wheelabrator- 10/25/19: $1,000, 12/15/20: $1,000. Total: $2,000
Joanne Benson: Covanta- 9/29/15: $100, 6/2/16: $200, 7/30/19: $100, 11/18/20: $250. Wheelabrator- 11/23/20: $500. Total: $1,150
Ben Kramer: Covanta- 6/2/16: $200, 7/14/17: $100, 7/30/19: $100, 9/3/20: $500. Total: $900
Cory McCray: Wheelabrator- 9/6/18: $250, 9/25/19: $250, 11/3/20: $250. Total: $750
Melony Griffith: Wheelabrator- 11/7/19: $250, 11/21/20: $250. Total: $500
J.J. Peters: Covanta- 10/12/15: $500
Jim Rosapepe: Covanta- 7/14/17: $250, 7/14/17: $250. Total: $500
Carl Jackson: Covanta- 9/30/20: $250
Obie Patterson: Wheelabrator- 9/10/19: $250
Jeff Waldstreicher: Covanta- 7/14/17: $100
