Senator Colburn Receives John Shaw Award

Maryland Business for Responsive Government (MSRG), a statewide nonpartisan organization, honored Senator Richard F. Colburn for his exemplary track record of supporting pro-business legislation in 2013. He received the prestigious John Shaw Award at a ceremony in Annapolis on February 5.

Senator Colburn stated, “It is truly an honor for me to once again receive this prestigious award by fighting for our Eastern Shore businesses which are the backbone of Delmarva’s economy."

Throughout the year, MBRG’s 20-member State Advisory Council selects recorded votes from the most recent General Assembly session that have practical or philosophical importance to the widest possible range of Maryland businesses, trade associations, and chambers of commerce.  MBRG identifies the selected bills in a publication, Roll Call, and analyzes the votes to produce a score for each legislator. For the 2013 analysis, Roll Call, analyzed ten Senate votes and twelve House votes, including SB 683 (Labor and Employment Maryland Wage and Hour Law –Payment of Wages) and HB 226 (Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2013).  Senator Colburn was chosen based on the scorecard standards set by MBRG; he achieved a cumulative score of 84 percent over 28 Sessions by voting in favor of pro-business positions on important legislation.

“It’s truly an honor to recognize those elected officials – both Republican and Democrat – who are consistently working to improve the climate for business owners in Maryland, and therefore, our state economy,” said President MBRG, Duane Carey.

In recognition of his pro-business voting record, Senator Colburn received a certificate, a lapel pin, support materials for his campaign, and special recognition in Roll Call.

The award is named for John Shaw, an exemplary citizen and legislator who served his country more than 200 years ago when Annapolis was the nation’s capital. He is best known for creating a distinctive American flag with an eight-pointed star, which flew over Annapolis during the Revolutionary War and is the inspiration for the lapel pins awarded to the honorees.

Senator Colburn Receives MML Award

Senator Richard F. Colburn (R-Eastern Shore) received a 2014 Maryland Municipal League (MML) award for his contributions on behalf of all of Maryland’s cities and towns during the 2013 session at the recent annual MML Eastern Shore Chapter dinner meeting in Grasonville. 

Senator Colburn, a member of the Budget and Taxation Committee, advocated strongly in favor of retaining the additional $15.2 million in municipal highway user revenue (HUR) grant monies in the fiscal year 2014 budget when it was being debated in his subcommittee.  As a result, the monies were retained in the budget and will be dispersed to the municipalities.

Senator Colburn stated, “Because of my role as Town Manager of Federalsburg and because I represent 23 municipalities, I know firsthand the significance of these HUR monies to our Maryland towns and cities.  It’s not just the importance of salting and plowing snow covered roads and fixing pot holes.  These very monies allow our town governments to have a 5/10/15 year street maintenance plan.  And therefore, it is essential that HUR funding be maintained.”

In the delivery of the award, it was stated, “We know we can count on Senator Colburn to help us again when our additional $16 million in municipal HUR grant monies is discussed in his budget subcommittee this session.”  

The MML is a voluntary, nonprofit, nonpartisan association controlled and maintained by city and town governments.  They work to strengthen the role and capacity of municipal government through research, legislation, technical assistance, training and the dissemination of information for its members.