Senators

Friday, Jan. 27, 2006

We sent ballots to a cross-section of about 100 StateHouse insiders — lobbyists representing a wide range ofinterests, members of the Ehrlich administration, Democratic and Republican operatives and, yes, reporters — to rank the legislators based on how effective they are.

Most effective senators

1. Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr.

(D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach

President

Points: 195

Judges’ comments: ‘‘Has 30 votes to burn down the State House”; ‘‘No one else is even close — knows what is going to happen before it happens.”

2. Thomas McLainMiddleton

(D-Dist. 28) of Waldorf

Chairman, Finance

Points: 187

Judges’ comments: ‘‘The diplomat”; ‘‘Maybe the next Senate president.”

3. Ulysses Currie

(D-Dist. 25) of Forestville

Chairman, Budget and Taxation

Points: 183

Judges’ comments: ‘‘Power of the purse”; ‘‘He’s sort of in charge.”

4. Brian E. Frosh

(D-Dist. 16) of Bethesda

Chairman, Judicial Proceedings

Points: 154

Judges’ comments: ‘‘Amazing how he advances a progressive agenda without ruffling too many feathers”; ‘‘The kind of guy other pols portray in their campaign ads.”

5. Patrick J. Hogan

(D-Dist. 39) of Montgomery Village

Points: 114

Judges’ comments: ‘‘Republican affiliation seems like a lifetime ago”; ‘‘Gets the substance, process and politics.”

6. Paula C. Hollinger

(D-Dist. 11) of Pikesville

Chairwoman, Health, Education and Environmental Affairs

Points: 97

Judges’ comments: ‘‘Surprisingly effective for a pain in the ass, but no Clarence Blount”; ‘‘She won’t make this list in Congress.”

7. David R. Brinkley

(R-Dist. 4) of New Market

Points: 70

Judges’ comments:‘‘The outsider who became part of the ‘Lunch Bunch’”; ‘‘GOP statesman ... Ehrlich’s Lt. Gov.?”

8. Philip C. Jimeno

(D-Dist. 31) of Brooklyn Park

Chairman, Executive Nominations

Points: 54

Judges’ comments: ‘‘Without his vote, you’re dead in JPR.”

9. Sandra B. Schrader

(R-Dist. 13) of Columbia

Points: 41

Judges’ comments: ‘‘Getting high marks from both GOPers and Dems — Ehrlich would be smart to add her to his ticket.”

10. J. Lowell Stoltzfus

(R-Dist. 38) of Westover

Minority leader

Points: 39

Judges’ comments: ‘‘Tough job holding disparate group together”; ‘‘Asks the right questions.”

Honorable mention

Edward J. Kasemeyer (D-Dist. 12) of Columbia narrowly missed the cut. The chamber’s point man on slots, pensions and the capital budget quietly dominates his chamber.

Least effective senators

1. Janet Greenip

(R-Dist. 33) of Crofton

Points: 121

Judges’ comments: ‘‘We sacrificed Bobby Neall for this?”

2. Richard F. Colburn

(R-Dist. 37) of Cambridge

Points: 110

Judges’ comments: ‘‘Sadly, a phony college degree wouldn’t have helped.”

3. Ralph M. Hughes

(D-Dist. 40) of Baltimore

Points: 101

Judges’ comments: ‘‘Could catalogue his legislative accomplishments on a matchbook cover and still have room for his official photograph.”

4. Alexander X. Mooney

(R-Dist. 3) of Urbana

Points: 96

Judges’ comments: ‘‘A nutbread without the bread.”

5. James Brochin

(D-Dist. 42) of Towson

Points: 88

Judges’ comments: ‘‘Man without a party”; ‘‘Would be seated in hallway if Senate rules allowed it.”

6. John A. Giannetti Jr.

(D-Dist. 21) of Laurel

Points: 76

Judges’ comments: ‘‘Sex, booze, guns and babes. This isn’t a Senate career — it’s an R. Kelly video.”

7. Ida G. Ruben

(D-Dist. 20) of Silver Spring

President pro tem

Points: 59

Judges’ comments: ‘‘Actually effective in her own way, but getting things simply because no one wants to deal with her is no way to do business.”

8. J. Robert Hooper

(R-Dist. 35) of Street

Points: 57

Judges’ comments: ‘‘The trash man should leaveth.”

9. John J. Hafer

(R-Dist. 1) of Frostburg

Points: 46

Judges’ comments: ‘‘Stayed one term too long.”

10. Jennie M. Forehand

(D-Dist. 17) of Rockville

Points: 45

Judges’ comments: ‘‘Southern charm can’t mask 28 years of ineffectiveness.”

Honorable mention

Gwendolyn T. Britt (D-Dist. 47) of Landover Hills, possible running mate for gubernatorial hopeful Douglas M. Duncan, is not blowing away the State House crowd with her Senate career, narrowly missing the cut with 39 points.