Southern Maryland Showdown

State Delegate Tony O'Donnell, R-Lusby, is challenging 16-term incumbent Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Mitchellville, to represent District 5 in the U.S. House. Here's how they compare on key issues.

• Experience

  

  Steny Hoyer

  Hoyer was elected to the Maryland Senate in 1966. He was president of the Senate from 1975-1978. He was elected to represent Maryland’s 5th District in Congress in 1981. He served as House majority leader from 2006-2010. He is the House Democratic whip.

  

  Tony O'Donnell

  O’Donnell was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates representing District 29-C, which includes parts of Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties, in 1994, and continues to represent that district. He has served as House minority leader and is a member of the House Environmental Matters Committee.

• Jobs and Budget

  

  Steny Hoyer

  Hoyer opposed the Republican Budget for fiscal year 2013 saying, “Their budget slashes funding for programs that help the vulnerable, enable our children to afford college, and provide health coverage to those with long-term disabilities. And it puts millions of jobs and our economic recovery at risk as a result of drastic spending cuts.” He voted for the jobs act, aid to GM and Chrysler and raising the debt limit.

  

  Tony O'Donnell

  O’Donnell seeks to “cut regulations that strangle jobs, and enforce current laws that keep us safe.” He has said that he would reform and preserve Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, and simplify the tax code to generate revenue. He has frequently voted against tax increases and energy regulations. He voted against a minimum wage increase in 2008 and a state living wage in 2007.

• Education

  

  Steny Hoyer

  Hoyer sponsored the Full-Service Community Schools Act, which he said encourages partnerships between schools and community service providers. He voted for the No Child Left Behind act, requiring state testing. He voted against the STEM Jobs Act.

  

  Tony O'Donnell

  O’Donnell said that “Parents should be able to choose what school their children attend, and their tax dollars should follow their children,” in the form of vouchers. He voted against the establishment of a Public School Labor Relations Board. He voted for raising the dropout age of public school students.

• Environment and Energy

  

  Steny Hoyer

  Hoyer supports federal oversight of clean water standards. He has voted to enforce limits on carbon dioxide global warming pollution and against barring the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases. He has voted for criminalizing oil cartels and for tax incentives for renewable energy.

  

  Tony O'Donnell

  O’Donnell has said that the U.S. should decrease its dependence on foreign oil by increasing natural gas use, nuclear power and domestic oil production. He supports the construction of the Keystone Pipeline. He voted against the Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2012, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and Additional Emission Caps.

• Health Care

  

  Steny Hoyer

  Hoyer supports the Obama administration’s health care reforms. He voted against repealing the Affordable Care Act. He voted for regulating tobacco as a drug.

  

  Tony O'Donnell

  O’Donnell has said that he would like to repeal the Obama administration’s health care reforms and institute others. He voted against a tobacco tax to fund health care. He voted against state health care exchanges, necessary to meet the requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

• Defense

  

  Steny Hoyer

  Hoyer has advocated “investing more in programs that adequately equip our first responders for response to potential domestic attacks and increase protections at our ports and borders.” He voted to require Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrants for U.S. wiretaps, but not abroad. He voted to restrict no-bid defense contracts. He voted for emergency funding of $78 billion for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

  

  Tony O'Donnell

  O’Donnell has said that he would focus on securing U.S. borders. He has said that the president and secretary of state’s response to the Syrian Embassy attack “did not instill confidence.” He advocated a firm policy approach to China and Russia. He served in the U.S. Navy for more than eight years.

• DREAM Act

  

  Steny Hoyer

  Hoyer supports the DREAM Act, which would extend in-state tuition rates to undocumented minors in Maryland who meet certain conditions.

  

  Tony O'Donnell

  O’Donnell opposes the DREAM Act and supported bringing it to referendum. He voted against the act in the Maryland General Assembly.

• Same Sex Marriage

  

  Steny Hoyer

  Over a decade ago, Hoyer voted for a constitutional amendment to define a marriage as between a man and a woman, but he has since said that the vote was “probably a mistake.” Hoyer recently voted against a similar amendment.

  

  Tony O'Donnell

  O’Donnell voted against the Maryland same-sex marriage bill and has supported defining a marriage as between a man and a woman.

• Gambling Expansion

  

  Steny Hoyer

  Hoyer has said that since Maryland has allowed gambling “it makes sense to have a location in Prince George’s County. It would be beneficial to our county and state by making additional revenues available for education.”

  

  Tony O'Donnell

  O’Donnell has encouraged his supporters to vote against the ballot question expanding gambling. He also voted against a bill to expand gaming.