Paul Pinsky became a member of the Maryland Senate in 1994 after serving two terms in the House of Delegates. He serves on the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee where he is an outspoken voice.

Paul is a strong advocate for a clean environment and was the lead sponsor of the landmark Healthy Air Act (2006) which limits pollution emitted from some of the state's oldest and dirtiest power plants. The bill also required required reductions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. During the 2007 legislative session Senator Pinsky introduced the Global Warming Solutions Act which would have set an aggressive mandatory greenhouse gas emissions cap for the state of Maryland and, in addition, would have created an office of Climate Change. Senator Pinsky is expected to reintroduce the legislation during the 2008 session in addition to other environmental initiatives. Paul serves as chair of the Environment sub-committee.

Senator Pinsky was the lead sponsor of several successful bills that provide state funding to obtain the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification. He is recognized as the state leader in building and expanding efforts around National Board Certification. The senator also serves as chair of the Education subcommittee.
Paul has also led efforts to reform Maryland's tax structure by closing corporate tax loopholes and creating a progressive tax structure. In additional to his other duties, Senator Pinsky serves as co-chairman of the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, & Legislative Review.

Senator Pinsky taught high school history for twenty years and currently is a teachers' union organizer with an affiliate of the Maryland State Teachers' Association. He represents the 22nd district in Prince George's County where he lives with his wife, Joan Rothgeb, and two daughters, Sarah and Laura.