Joanne C. Benson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joanne Claybon Benson
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Benson in 2013
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| Member of the Maryland Senate from the 24th district |
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| Assumed office January 12, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Nathaniel Exum |
| Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 24th district |
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| In office January 9, 1991 – January 12, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Francis J. Santangelo Sr. |
| Succeeded by | Tiffany T. Alston |
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| Born | March 11, 1941 Roanoke, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residences | Hyattsville, Maryland, U.S. |
| Education | Bowie State College (BS) The Catholic University of America (MA) |
| Occupation | Educator |
| Signature |  |
Joanne Claybon Benson (born March 11, 1941) is an American politician. She works for the state of Maryland. She represents District 24 in the Maryland State Senate. Before that, she was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates.
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Early Life and Education
Joanne Benson was born on March 11, 1941. Her hometown is Roanoke, Virginia. She went to South Hagerstown High School.
After high school, she studied at Bowie State College. In 1961, she earned a degree in education. Later, she went to The Catholic University of America. She earned her master's degree there in 1972.
Working in the Legislature
Benson was a member of the House of Delegates for many years. She served from 1991 to 2011. She worked on important committees. These committees focused on health and government.
She was also a member of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. She used to be the leader of this group. She still helps at their meetings. She often gives an inspiring prayer.
In 2010, she won an election for state senator. She defeated the person who held the job before her. She started her new role in January 2011. In 2020, she became the Senate's Deputy Majority Leader. Since 2019, she has led the Senate Rules committee.
In 2019, Benson helped a young person named Curtis Brooks. He had been sentenced to prison for life as a teenager. She worked with the Governor of Colorado to reduce his sentence. This is called a commutation.
What Joanne Benson Believes In
Rules About Guns
In 2019, Benson worked on a new law. This law aimed to stop the making or selling of "ghost guns." These are guns that are hard to trace.
Minimum Wage Rules
In 2019, Benson voted to raise the state's minimum wage. The minimum wage is the lowest amount of money a worker can be paid per hour. She wanted it to be $15 an hour. She was a bit sad that the change would not happen until 2025.
Helping Families
In 2022, Benson supported a new law. This law would give paid family leave to all workers in Maryland. Paid family leave means people can take time off work to care for family. They still get paid during this time. Benson said this should be a right, not a special favor. She believes it is a kind and fair thing to do.
Taxes for Fuel
In 2013, Benson voted for a law to raise fuel taxes. Fuel taxes are extra costs added to gasoline. This money often helps pay for roads.
Improving Transportation
In 2021, Benson worked on a law about roads. She wanted the Maryland Department of Transportation to keep its promises. These promises were about making roads wider. This included the Capital Beltway and Interstate 270. She also wanted to update the American Legion Memorial Bridge. The bill passed in one part of the government. But it did not get a vote in the Senate.
