TABLE OF CONTENTS. Letter from the Chairman ACU & ACUF Board Members Selecting the Votes Winners & Losers...

Transcription

1 2017 RATINGS of GEORGIA #ACURatings Conservative.org TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the Chairman... 2 ACU & ACUF Board Members... 3 Selecting the Winners & Losers... 4 GA Senate Statistics... 5 GA Senate Vote Descriptions... 6 GA Senate Scores... 8 GA House Statistics GA House Vote Descriptions GA House Scores... 13

2 LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN Dear Fellow Conservative, The American Conservative Union Foundation is proud to present our ratings of the 2017 meeting of the Georgia General Assembly. Like our Congressional Ratings, which date back 46 years, these ratings are meant to reflect how elected officials view the role of government in an individual s life. We begin with our philosophy (conservatism is the political philosophy that sovereignty resides in the person) and then apply our understanding of government (its essential role is to defend life, liberty and property). Because our ratings are designed to educate the public about how consistently their elected officials adhere to conservatism, we carefully examine the entire docket of legislation introduced in each state every year. We select the most meaningful bills and publish the results after the dust has settled. The ACU Foundation is the only organization to score over 8,000 elected officials each year, including lawmakers from all 50 states and Congress. The 2016 election dramatically impacted the political landscape of not only Washington but state legislative chambers all across the country. Republicans now have control of both legislative chambers in 32 states, more than double the number they controlled in With these victories comes an ability to implement policies that restore individual liberty and return us to a limited form of government run by and for We the People. It is our hope that these ratings will serve as a guide showing who can be relied on to fight for conservative principles and restore the role of government to what our nation s founding fathers envisioned. Sincerely, Matt Schlapp Chairman American Conservative Union 2

3 ACU BOARD MEMBERS Matt Schlapp Chairman Charlie Gerow First Vice Chairman Bob Beauprez Treasuer Amy Frederick Secretary Ed Yevoli At-Large ACUF BOARD MEMBERS Jackie Arends Larry Beasley Kimberly Bellissimo Steve Biegun Morton C. Blackwell John Bolton Jose Cardenas Ron Christie Muriel Coleman Becky Norton Dunlop John Eddy Luis Fortuno Alan M. Gottlieb Van D. Hipp, Jr. Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser Michael R. Long Ed McFadden Carolyn D. Meadows Priscilla O'Shaughnessy Ron Robinson Mike Rose Ned Ryun Peter Samuelson Sabrina Schaeffer Terry Schilling Matt Smith Thomas Winter SELECTING THE VOTES ACU researched and selected a range of bills before the Georgia General Assembly that determine a member s adherence to conservative principles. We selected bills that focus on Ronald Reagan s philosophy of the three-legged stool : 1) fiscal and economic: taxes, budgets, regulation, spending, healthcare, and property; 2) social and cultural: 2nd amendment, religion, life, welfare, and education; and 3) government integrity: voting, individual liberty, privacy, and transparency. This wide range of issues are designed to give citizens an accurate assessment that conveys which of Georgia s elected leaders best defend the principles of a free society: Life, Liberty and Property. Matt Schlapp Chairman Millie Hallow Vice Chairman Van D. Hipp, Jr. Treasurer Kimberly Bellissimo Secretary Jose Cardenas Jonathan Garthwaite Charlie Gerow Colin Hanna Niger Innes Adam Laxalt Willes K. Lee Mary Matalin Carolyn D. Meadows Randy Neugebauer Thomas Winter 1331 H Street NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC (202)

4 2017 WINNERS & LOSERS AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE EXCELLENCE <= 10 COALITION OF THE RADICAL LEFT SENATE HOUSE SENATE HOUSE GOOCH WILLIAMS BARR MARTIN PEZOLD Lucas Bazemore Beasley-Teague Bennett Henson Scott AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE ACHIEVEMENT SENATE HOUSE HILL, H. SETZLER HUFSTETLER SPENCER McKOON TIPPINS UNTERMAN 4

5 GEORGIA SENATE STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 61 REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 71 GEORGIA SENATE CONSERVATIVE RATINGS DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 39 RED = REPUBLICANS BLUE = DEMOCRATS LOWEST REPUBLICAN HILL, J. 55 # OF STATE SENATORS HIGHEST DEMOCRAT HARBISON ACU PERCENTAGE 5

6 GEORGIA SENATE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS 1. HB 265 Special Tax Break. This bill gives a special tax exemption for the Woodruff Arts Center and increases tax credits and exemptions given to companies and employees if their company relocates or starts an operation in areas chosen by the government and meets a complex series of job requirements. ACU does not believe government should interfere with the free market through the use special exemptions and tax credits and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 14, 2017 by a vote of HB 292 Firearm License Reform. This omnibus firearms license reform bill allows individuals possessing a carry license from a different state to legally carry a firearm for 90 days while awaiting a Georgia License. The state the individual s license is from must have a reciprocal license agreement with Georgia. The bill also prohibits a probate judge from interfering with a Georgia license application, among other provisions. ACU supports the founders belief in the Second Amendment and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 28, 2017 by a vote of HB 37 Sanctuary Policies in Schools. This bill cuts off state funds to private colleges that adopt policies prohibiting school officials from cooperating with law enforcement officers on immigration matters or any other federal or state laws. ACU supports the enforcement of federal immigration laws and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 28, 2017 by a vote of HB 154 Dental Hygienists Regulations. This bill allows licensed dental hygienists to perform routine duties, such as teeth cleaning and fluoride application, with only general supervision, and does not require a dentist to be present when such duties are performed. Expanding entrepreneurship promotes economic growth, which leads to greater family prosperity, as illustrated by the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index. ACU supports this common-sense regulatory reform, which is the law in 47 other states, and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 30, 2017 by a vote of HB 217 Private School Scholarship Programs. This bill increases from $58 million to $150 million per year the cap on tax credits available to individuals and companies that donate to private school student scholarship organizations. ACU supports school choice and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 30, 2017 by a vote HB 243 Minimum Wage. This bill prevents local government mandates that increase the minimum wage or other benefits, including increased pay based on schedule changes, above that required by state or federal law. An increase in the minimum wage results in higher unemployment. High rates of unemployment hinder family prosperity, as illustrated by the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index. ACU opposes these artificial wages that hurt those who need employment the most, such as students and inexperienced workers, and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 30, 2017 by a vote of HB 430 Charter Schools. This bill implements recommendations of the governor s Education Reform Commission in a number of ways: it sets standards to authorize new charter schools, while taking action against failing charter schools; provides for a facilities grant program for charter schools; and defines unused facilities that can be used for charter schools, among other provisions. Educational attainment is an important cultural value that yields substantial economic returns for families and for states, which is illustrated by the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index. ACU supports the expansion of school choice and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 30, 2017 by a vote of HB 434 Eminent Domain. This bill reduces from 20 years to 5 years the amount of time a municipality must hold a property seized under eminent domain as a blighted property before the municipality can use it for something other than public use, such as selling it to a developer. ACU Foundation s Center for 21st Century Property Rights engages heavily on this issue; therefore, ACU opposes the use of eminent domain for anything other than public use and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 30, 2017 by a vote of HB 452 Crimes Committed by Illegal Immigrants. This bill requires the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to create and maintain a website listing any undocumented immigrant convicted of a crime who is released from jail or prison in Georgia. ACU supports enforcement of federal immigration laws and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 30, 2017 by a vote of

7 10. SB 133 Tax Credits for Rural Investments. While eliminating a $10 a year tax on small businesses, this bill also provides $60 million in tax credits to investors in rural businesses. ACU opposes these programs, which, in state after state, have been found to cost the state more in revenue than gained in economic growth and seldom produce the additional jobs promised, and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 30, 2017 by a vote of HB 280 Campus Carry. This bill authorizes the carry and possession of handguns on school campuses for self-defense by license holders. Pre-school facilities are exempted from the bill s provisions. ACU supports the founders belief in the Second Amendment and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 31, 2017 by a vote of SB 206 Insurance Mandate. This bill requires health insurance companies to provide coverage for children s hearing aids. ACU opposes mandates that interfere with the free market and drive up the cost of health insurance for everyone, and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 30, 2017 by a vote of

8 GEORGIA SENATE SCORES GEORGIA SENATE VOTE DETAIL Party District HB 265 HB 292 HB 37 HB 154 HB 217 HB 243 HB 430 HB 434 HB 452 SB 133 SB 206 HB 280 ALBERS R ANDERSON, L. R X n/a 64 Anderson, T. D n/a 42 BEACH R BLACK R BRASS R n/a 67 BURKE R 11 E Butler D COWSERT R Davenport D DUGAN R Fort D X GINN R E GOOCH R * HARBIN R X Harbison D X HARPER R E HEATH R E Henson D X HILL, H. R 6 E E HILL, J. R E HUFSTETLER R X E Jackson D E James D X X JEFFARES R JONES, B. R E E X + - E X n/a Jones, E. D Jones, H. D X KENNEDY R KIRK R E * Vote based on change as documented in state s legislative journal ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 8

9 GEORGIA SENATE VOTE DETAIL Party District HB 265 HB 292 HB 37 HB 154 HB 217 HB 243 HB 430 HB 434 HB 452 SB 133 SB 206 HB 280 LIGON R Lucas D X X MARTIN R McKOON R X MILLAR R E + E MILLER R E E MULLIS R Orrock D Parent D PAYNE R n/a 75 Rhett D X Seay D SHAFER R X X Sims D E + X X STONE R X Tate D 38 + X X + E - + E E E E E 3 4 n/a THOMPSON, B. R Thompson, C. D E TILLERY R n/a 75 TIPPINS R X UNTERMAN R 45 E WALKER R WATSON R 1 - X WILKINSON R X WILLIAMS R Legislator did not vote on enough of the selected bills and as a result the 2017 percentage was not rated. 2/3rds of the selected bills must be voted on to receive a score. ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 9

10 GEORGIA HOUSE STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 51 REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 67 GEORGIA HOUSE CONSERVATIVE RATINGS DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 21 RED = REPUBLICANS BLUE = DEMOCRATS 50 LOWEST REPUBLICAN NIMMER 36 HIGHEST DEMOCRAT # OF STATE REPS JONES, V ACU PERCENTAGE

11 GEORGIA HOUSE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS 1. HB 37 Sanctuary Policies in Schools. This bill cuts off state funds to private colleges that adopt policies prohibiting school officials from cooperating with law enforcement officers on immigration matters or any other federal or state laws. ACU supports the enforcement of federal immigration laws and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 22, 2017 by a vote of HB 243 Minimum Wage. This bill prevents local government mandates that increase the minimum wage or other benefits, including increased pay based on schedule changes, above that required by state or federal law. An increase in the minimum wage results in higher unemployment. High rates of unemployment hinder family prosperity, as illustrated by the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index. ACU opposes these artificial wages, which hurt those who need employment the most, such as students and inexperienced workers, and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 22, 2017 by a vote of HB 204 Property Tax Billing. This bill prohibits local authorities from including non-tax related fees on property tax bills and requiring these fees, such as storm-water service fees, to be listed on a separate notice. ACU Foundation s Center for 21st Century Property Rights engages heavily on this issue; therefore, ACU supports this reform that strengthens property rights by preventing government tax liens on private property for non-tax related payments and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 28, 2017 by a vote of HB 118 Fantasy Sports Regulation. This bill legalizes Fantasy Sports in Georgia under regulations that require supervision by a state commissioner, who will authorize Regulations include being 18 years old or above, barring college athletes from participation and a 6 tax on proceeds. ACU supports the legalization of Fantasy Sports with reasonable regulations that allow competition and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 1, 2017 by a vote of SB 206 Insurance Mandate. This bill requires health insurance companies to provide coverage for children s hearing aids. ACU opposes mandates that interfere with the free market and drive up the cost of health insurance for everyone, and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 20, 2017 by a vote of HB 265 Special Tax Break. This bill gives a special tax exemption for the Woodruff Arts Center and increases tax credits and exemptions given to companies and employees if their company relocates or starts an operation in areas chosen by the government and meets a complex series of job requirements. ACU does not believe government should interfere with the free market through the use special exemptions and tax credits and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 22, 2017 by a vote of HB 292 Firearm License Reform. This omnibus firearms license reform bill allows individuals possessing a carry license from a different state to legally carry a firearm for 90 days while awaiting a Georgia License. The state the individual s license is from must have a reciprocal license agreement with Georgia. The bill also prohibits a probate judge from interfering with a Georgia license application, among other provisions. ACU supports the founders' belief in the Second Amendment and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 28, 2017 by a vote of SB 133 Tax Credits for Rural Investments. While eliminating a $10 a year tax on small businesses, this bill also provides $60 million in tax credits to investors in rural businesses. ACU opposes these programs, which, in state after state, have been found to cost the state more in revenue than gained in economic growth and seldom produce the additional jobs promised, and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 28, 2017 by a vote of HB 154 Dental Hygienists Regulations. This bill allows licensed dental hygienists to perform routine duties, such as teeth cleaning and fluoride application, with only general supervision, and does not require a dentist to be present when such duties are performed. Expanding entrepreneurship promotes economic growth, which leads to greater family prosperity, as illustrated by the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index. ACU supports this common-sense regulatory reform, which is the law in 47 other states, and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 30, 2017 by a vote of

12 10. HB 217 Private School Scholarship Programs. This bill increases the cap from $58 million to $150 million per year on tax credits available to individuals and companies that donate to private school student scholarship organizations. ACU supports school choice and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 30, 2017 by a vote of HB 280 Campus Carry. This bill authorizes the carry and possession of handguns on school campuses for self-defense by license holders. Pre-school facilities are exempted from the bill s provisions. ACU supports the founders belief in the Second Amendment and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 30, 2017 by a vote of HB 430 Charter Schools. This bill implements recommendations of the governor s Education Reform Commission in a number of ways: it sets standards to authorize new charter schools, while taking action against failing charter schools; provides for a facilities grant program for charter schools; and defines unused facilities that can be used for charter schools, among other provisions. Educational attainment is an important cultural value that yields substantial economic returns for families and for states, which is illustrated by the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index. ACU supports the expansion of school choice and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 30, 2017 by a vote of HB 434 Eminent Domain. This bill reduces from 20 years to 5 years the amount of time a municipality must hold a property seized under eminent domain as a blighted property before the municipality can use it for something other than public use, such as selling it to a developer. ACU Foundation s Center for 21st Century Property Rights engages heavily on this issue; therefore, ACU opposes the use of eminent domain for anything other than public use and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 30, 2017 by a vote of HB 452 Crimes Committed by Illegal Immigrants. This bill requires the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to create and maintain a website listing any undocumented immigrant convicted of a crime who is released from jail or prison in Georgia. ACU supports enforcement of federal immigration laws and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 30, 2017 by a vote of

13 GEORGIA HOUSE SCORES GEORGIA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District HB 37 HB 243 HB 204 HB 118 SB 206 HB 265 HB 292 SB 133 HB 154 HB 217 HB 280 HB 430 HB 434 HB 452 Abrams D Alexander D BALLINGER R X X + E X BARR R X BATTLES R E E Bazemore D X X n/a 8 Beasley-Teague D 65 E - - X E X n/a 10 BELTON R E Bennett D X - E Bentley D n/a 31 BENTON R X E BESKIN R X Beverly D BLACKMON R E X Boddie D n/a 21 BONNER R n/a 71 BROADRICK R E E + X BROCKWAY R E - X Bruce D X Buckner D Burnough D n/a 21 BURNS R X X CALDWELL, J. R CALDWELL, M. R Cannon D CANTRELL R CARSON R CARTER, A. R Carter, D. D X CASAS R X X E E E n/a CHANDLER R X ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 13

14 GEORGIA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District HB 37 HB 243 HB 204 HB 118 SB 206 HB 265 HB 292 SB 133 HB 154 HB 217 HB 280 HB 430 HB 434 HB 452 CLARK, D. R CLARK, H. R COLEMAN R E - + E COLLINS R n/a 64 COOKE R 18 E E + E COOMER R X COOPER R E - + E CORBETT R COX R X n/a 69 DEFFENBAUGH R DEMPSEY R Dickerson D DICKEY R DOLLAR R 45 + E X Douglas D Drenner D 85 E E E X E - E E n/a 0 13 Dreyer D n/a 14 DUBNIK R X n/a 77 Dukes D X E DUNAHOO R X X X DUNCAN R E E Ealum D 153 X X X + - X EFSTRATION R 104 E EHRHART R X ENGLAND R EPPS R Evans D FLEMING R E X Frazier D E Frye D X Gardner D GASAWAY R 28 X + + X Gilliard D n/a 21 ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 14

15 GEORGIA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District HB 37 HB 243 HB 204 HB 118 SB 206 HB 265 HB 292 SB 133 HB 154 HB 217 HB 280 HB 430 HB 434 HB 452 GILLIGAN R X Glanton D GOLICK R Gordon D E GRAVLEY R GREENE R GURTLER R n/a 79 HANSON R 80 E n/a 54 HARDEN R HARRELL R E HATCHETT R E HAWKINS R Henson D X HILL R n/a 64 HILTON R n/a 57 HITCHENS R HOGAN R n/a 64 Holcomb D HOLMES R E - - E - E E E E E E 2 6 n/a HOUSTON R Howard D E E E E E E E E E E E E 0 2 n/a 9 18 Hugley D X Jackson, D. D n/a 14 Jackson, M. D E JASPERSE R X + + X JONES, JAN R JONES, JEFF R Jones, S. D X E E X JONES, T. R E n/a 62 Jones, V. D X + X X n/a 64 KELLEY R E E + + E Kendrick D KIRBY R E X + + X KNIGHT R X ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 15

16 GEORGIA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District HB 37 HB 243 HB 204 HB 118 SB 206 HB 265 HB 292 SB 133 HB 154 HB 217 HB 280 HB 430 HB 434 HB 452 LaRICCIA R Lopez D n/a 21 LOTT R LUMSDEN R Marin D E MARTIN R X E + + E E MATHIAK R n/a 64 MAXWELL R McCALL R McClain D E McGowan D n/a 36 MEADOWS R Metze D Mitchell D MORRIS R 156 E E X + E E n/a Mosby D Nelson D n/a 14 NEWTON R n/a 71 NIMMER R 178 E E X NIX R Oliver D Paris D 142 E E n/a 25 Park D n/a 14 PARRISH R PARSONS R 44 + X PEAKE R E PETREA R X - X + + X PEZOLD R PIRKLE R POWELL, A. R E POWELL, J. R PRICE R X X Prince D PRUETT R E + E X E E E E E E 4 5 n/a ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 16

17 GEORGIA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District HB 37 HB 243 HB 204 HB 118 SB 206 HB 265 HB 292 SB 133 HB 154 HB 217 HB 280 HB 430 HB 434 HB 452 QUICK R RAFFENSPERGER R X RAKESTRAW R RALSTON R 7 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 0 0 n/a n/a n/a REEVES R X X - X + X X n/a RHODES R RIDLEY R n/a 71 ROGERS R RUTLEDGE R E - E E RYNDERS R E X Scott D X SETZLER R E + + E Shannon D n/a 14 Sharper D SHAW R X SILCOX R X n/a 69 SMITH, L. R X E E Smith, M. D E SMITH, R. R E Smyre D X SPENCER R X Stephens, M. D X STEPHENS, R. R X Stephenson D Stovall D X STOVER R E STRICKLAND R X TANKERSLEY R TANNER R TARVIN R X TAYLOR, D. R TAYLOR, T. R X TEASLEY R Thomas, E. D ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 17

18 GEORGIA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District HB 37 HB 243 HB 204 HB 118 SB 206 HB 265 HB 292 SB 133 HB 154 HB 217 HB 280 HB 430 HB 434 HB 452 Thomas, M. D X Trammell D TURNER R Waites D E WATSON R X WELCH R X - - X X WERKHEISER R X Wilkerson D X WILLARD R X + - X Williams, A. D WILLIAMS, C. R Williams, E. D X E - + X - - X n/a 15 WILLIAMS, R. R n/a 71 WILLIAMSON R ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG Legislator did not vote on enough of the selected bills and as a result the 2017 percentage was not rated. 2/3rds of the selected bills must be voted on to receive a score. 18