2014 RATINGS of ARIZONA

Transcription

1 2014 RATINGS of ARIZONA Conservative.org TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the Chairman 2 AZ Senate Vote Descriptions 5 ACU & ACUF Board Members 3 AZ Senate Scores 6 How We Selected the 3 AZ House Vote Descriptions Winners & Losers 4 AZ House Scores 9

2 LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN Dear Fellow Conservatives, On behalf of our entire Board of Directors, I am pleased to present the American Conservative Union s 2014 Rating of the Arizona State Legislature. Though our State Ratings program is newer than our 44-year old Federal Ratings program, it is quickly evolving into a comprehensive evaluative tool that uses principles of conservatism to rate the voting record of state legislators. Our pledge is to rate every state for each session so that every citizen in the nation knows how his or her state officials vote. Our scoring focuses on the full array of policy issues, including taxes, budgets, religious freedom, 2nd Amendment, government regulation, life, and education. Though Reagan s presidential term ended years ago, his legacy and philosophy live on, continuing to guide modern day conservatives. While we take note how conservatives in State Legislatures cast their votes when choosing legislation to score, we at the ACU are ultimately guided by the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the principles of free markets that articulate the inviolate principles of Life, Liberty, and Property. The goal of our ratings is to educate voters about how the liberal agenda is out of sync with mainstream Americans desire for common sense legislation. It serves also to highlight and educate all Americans about how conservative solutions produce better results. As part of that educational initiative, we are proud to include Arizona in the 2014 ratings. Sincerely, Matt Schlapp Chairman American Conservative Union 2

3 ACU BOARD MEMBERS Matt Schlapp Chairman Thomas Winter First Vice Chairman Carolyn Meadows Second Vice Chairman Jameson Campaigne, Jr. Secretary Van Hipp, Jr. Treasurer Tim Goeglein Secretary Joe Bast Bob Beauprez Morton Blackwell Ambassador John Bolton Al Cardenas Ron Christie Muriel Coleman Kellyanne Conway ACU FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS Jose Cardenas Kimberly Bellissimo Amy Frederick Jonathan Garthwaite Tom DeLay Becky Norton Dunlop John Eddy Luis Fortuno Amy Frederick Charlie Gerow Alan Gottlieb Van Hipp, Jr. James Lacy Charlie Gerow Millie Hallow Colin Hanna Willes Lee Michael Long Grover Norquist Anne Northup Ron Robinson Ned Ryun Fred Smith, Jr. Lewis Uhler Carolyn Meadows Matt Schlapp Thomas Winter HOW WE SELECTED THE VOTES As the nation s oldest grassroots conservative organization, the American Conservative Union serves as an umbrella organization for conservatives in America. The ACU tracks a wide range of issues before Congress and State Legislatures to determine which issues and votes serve as a clear litmus test separating those representatives who defend liberty and liberal members who have turned their backs on our founding principles constitutionally limited government, individual liberty, free markets, a strong national defense and traditional values. As a result, the ACU Ratings have included a wide variety of issues covering votes on taxes, wasteful government spending, cultural issues, defense and foreign policy. To contact ACU on a policy issue, please call The votes selected by the ACU are not always considered the most important votes as defined by others, instead the votes selected are chosen to create a clear ideological distinction among those casting them. With our annual ratings, ACU s mission is informing grassroots conservatives and the public in an unbiased, transparent manner on where individual members of Congress fall on the ideological spectrum H Street NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC (202)

4 2014 WINNERS & LOSERS % AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE EXCELLENCE < 10% COALITION OF THE RADICAL LEFT SENATE HOUSE HOUSE SENATE HOUSE HOUSE BARTO ALLEN MESNARD Bedford Alston Larkin BIGGS BARTON MITCHELL Bradley Campbell Mach BURGES BOYER MONTENEGRO Dalessandro Cardenas McCune Davis CRANDELL FARNSWORTH OLSON Farley Clinco Mendez FARNSWORTH FORESE PETERSEN Gallardo Contreras Meyer GRIFFIN GOWAN PIERCE Hobbs Gabaldon Peshlakai MELVIN GRAY SEEL Landrum Taylor Gallego Quezada MURPHY KAVANAGH SMITH Meza Gonzales Sherwood WARD KWASMAN THORPE Pancrazi Hale Wheeler YARBROUGH LESKO TOWNSEND Tovar YEE LOVAS UGENTI 80-89% SENATE REAGAN SHOOTER AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE ACHIEVEMENT HOUSE BORRELLI DIAL FANN LIVINGSTON STEVENS TOBIN 4

5 ARIZONA SENATE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS Religious Freedom. This bill would increase religious freedom protections to non-governmental entities and says that individuals may use burdens on their religious exercise as a defense in judicial actions even if the government is not part of the case. ACU supports the expansion of religious freedom protections and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on February 19, 2014 by a vote of Common Core. This bill would prohibit the Arizona Board of Education from implementing Common Core standards. ACU is opposed to the top down one size fits all approach to implementing Common Core and supported this bill. The bill was defeated in the Senate on March 5, 2014 by a vote of ACU views common core as a problem because it relinquishes local control of education requirements in the core can be good and bad. Eliminate no federal control. 3. SCR 1003 Sunset Initiative. This resolution would have required ballot initiatives that affected state spending to be re-voted every eight years. ACU supports these measures that puts a time limit on government program known as sunset legislation and supported this resolution. The Senate failed to pass the resolution on March 17, 2014 by a vote of as it did not receive the required majority (16) to place an initiative on the ballot Health Care. This bill would allow unannounced inspections of abortion clinics. They are currently the only health-care institutions in Arizona not subject to unannounced inspection. ACU supports these measures to remove special exemptions of the law for abortion clinics and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on April 9, 2014 by a vote of Second Amendment. This bill would allow those 19 years of age or older to obtain a concealed weapon permit if they are currently in the military or have an honorable discharge. ACU supports expansion of Second Amendment rights and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on April 15, 2014 by a vote of Obamacare Implementation. This bill would require Obamacare insurance exchange Navigators to undergo criminal background checks and put privacy protections in place. ACU supports these commonsense requirements for those who will be handling sensitive personal information of those forced to use Obamacare. The bill passed the Senate on April 16, 2014 by a vote of Second Amendment. This bill would strengthen state preemption laws by imposing penalties on localities that willfully violate the statute that gives the state authority to regulate firearms. ACU supports increased protection of Second Amendment rights and supported this bill. The bill passed the senate on April 16, 2014 by a vote of Concealed Carry. This bill would allow concealed carry permit holders to carry in most public places and events unless security devices such as metal detectors are in place. ACU supports efforts to expand Second Amendment rights and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on April 16, 2014 by a vote of Education. This bill prohibits Arizona from adopting any education standards mandated by the federal government. It also call for future changes to state academic standards to be accomplished through a transparent process that allows ample time and opportunity to review proposed changes. ACU opposes federal control of education and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on April 21, 2014 by a vote of Government Regulation. This bill would allow private ride share companies to carry insurance that covers them while transporting customers rather than at all times. ACU supports free market competition in private transportation and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on April 22, 2014 by a vote of Special Tax Break. This bill extends for five years a special tax break to qualified investors who support new businesses as defined by the Arizona Commerce Authority. The bill doubles investment cap to $500,000. ACU opposes the government picking winners and losers in the marketplace and opposed this bill. The bill passed Senate on April 22, 2014 by a vote of Campaign Finance Reform. This bill prohibits the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission from investigating or acting on a complaint against candidates who do not accept public funds. ACU supports less government regulation of political campaigns and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on April 23, 2014 by a vote of School Choice. This bill expands a program that offers vouchers for alternative educational choices to students, including private online courses. ACU supports the expansion of educational choices for students and supported this bill. The bill was defeated in the Senate on April 23, 2014 by a vote of

6 ARIZONA SENATE SCORES ARIZONA SENATE STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 52% REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 85% LOWEST REPUBLICAN PIERCE 46% DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 10% HIGHEST DEMOCRAT McGUIRE 31% ARIZONA SENATE VOTE DETAIL Party District SCR ACU Cast ACU % Ableser D X X X + - X X % BARTO R % Begay D X % BIGGS R % Bradley D % BURGES R % Bedford D X X % CRANDELL R % Dalessandro D % DRIGGS R % Farley D X % FARNSWORTH R % Gallardo D X X X X X X % GRIFFIN R % Hobbs D X % 6

7 ARIZONA SENATE VOTE DETAIL Party District SCR ACU Cast ACU % Landrum Taylor D X % McCOMISH R % McGuire D % MELVIN R % Meza D % MURPHY R % Pancrazi D % PIERCE R % REAGAN R X + - X X % SHOOTER R % Tovar D % WARD R % WORSLEY R % YARBROUGH R % YEE R % 7

8 ARIZONA HOUSE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS Religious Freedom. This bill would increase religious freedom protections to non-governmental entities and says that individuals may use burdens on their religious exercise as a defense in judicial actions even if the government is not part of the case. ACU supports the expansion of religious freedom protections and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on February 20, 2014 by a vote of Health Care. This bill would allow unannounced inspections of abortion clinics. They are currently the only health-care institutions in Arizona not subject to unannounced inspection. ACU supports these measures to remove special exemptions of the law for abortion clinics and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on March 4, 2014 by a vote of Medicaid Reform. This bill requires the director of Arizona s Medicaid program to annually apply for waivers from the federal government that would allow work requirements for able-bodied adults and a lifetime limit to the number of years they can remain on Medicaid. ACU supports reforms to a program rife with waste, fraud and abuse and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on March 6, 2014 by a vote of Second Amendment. This bill would strengthen state preemption laws by imposing penalties on localities that willfully violate the statute that gives the state authority to regulate firearms. ACU supports increased protection of Second Amendment rights and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on March 12, 2014 by a vote of Concealed Carry. This bill would allow concealed carry permit holders to carry in most public places and events unless security devices such as metal detectors are in place. ACU supports efforts to expand Second Amendment rights and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on March 12, 2014 by a vote of Obamacare Implementation. This bill would require Obamacare insurance exchange Navigators to undergo criminal background checks and put privacy protections in place. ACU supports these commonsense requirements for those who will be handling sensitive personal information of those forced to use Obamacare. The bill passed the House on April 16, 2014 by a vote of School Choice. This bill would expand a program that provides scholarships for private schools, tutoring and online courses for low income students. ACU supports the expansion of school choice and supported this bill. The bill was defeated in the House on April 17, 2014 by a vote of Second Amendment. This bill would allow those 19 years of age or older to obtain a concealed weapon permit if they are currently in the military or have an honorable discharge. ACU supports expansion of Second Amendment rights and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on April 18, 2014 by a vote of Education. This bill prohibits Arizona from adopting any education standards mandated by the federal government. It also call for future changes to state academic standards to be accomplished through a transparent process that allows ample time and opportunity to review proposed changes. ACU opposes federal control of education and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on April 21, 2014 by a vote of Political Speech. This bill would limit the Clean Elections Commissions authority to investigate allegations of campaign contribution limit violations and instead give that authority to the Attorney General and Secretary of State. ACU opposes limitations on political speech and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on April 22, 2014 by a vote of Special Tax Break. This bill extends for five years a special tax break to qualified investors who support new businesses as defined by the Arizona Commerce Authority. The bill doubles investment cap to $500,000. ACU opposes the government picking winners and losers in the marketplace and opposed this bill. The bill passed the House on April 22, 2014 by a vote of Government Regulation. This bill would allow private ride share companies to carry insurance that covers them while transporting customers rather than at all times. ACU supports free market competition in private transportation and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on April 23, 2014 by a vote of

9 ARIZONA HOUSE SCORES ARIZONA HOUSE STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 56% REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 89% LOWEST REPUBLICAN BROPHY McGEE 67% DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 8% HIGHEST DEMOCRAT MIRANDA 25% ARIZONA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL* Party District ACU Cast ACU % ALLEN R % Alston D % BARTON R % BORRELLI R % BOYER R 20 + X % BROPHY McGEE R % Campbell D X - X - - E 0 9 0% Cardenas D % CARTER R % Clinco D X % COLEMAN R % Contreras D X % DIAL R % Escamilla D X X % FANN R % 9

10 ARIZONA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL* Party District ACU Cast ACU % FARNSWORTH R % FORESE R X X % Gabaldon D % Gonzales D X % GOODALE R X X + - X % GOWAN R % GRAY R % Hale D X X % Hernández D 29 - X X X % KAVANAGH R % KWASMAN R X % Larkin D % LESKO R % LIVINGSTON R % LOVAS R % Mach D % McCune Davis D X X % Mendez D X X % MESNARD R % Meyer D X % Miranda D X X X X % MITCHELL R % MONTENEGRO R % MUNOZ D 27 X X X X X - - X % OLSON R % ORR R % Otondo D % 10

11 ARIZONA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL* Party District ACU Cast ACU % Peshlakai D % PETERSEN R % PIERCE R X % PRATT R 8 + X % Quezada D % ROBSON R % Saldate D % SEEL R % Sherwood D % SHOPE R % SMITH R % Steele D % STEVENS R % THORPE R % TOBIN R % TOWNSEND R % UGENTI R X X % Wheeler D X % *The following member of the Senate did not vote on enough of the selected votes and as a result was not rated: Gallego. 11

12 TO SEE MORE ACU RATINGS, PLEASE VISIT: acuratings.conservative.org Conservative.org