2014 RATINGS of MISSISSIPPI

Transcription

1 2014 RATINGS of MISSISSIPPI Conservative.org TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the Chairman 2 MS Senate Vote Descriptions 5 ACU & ACUF Board Members 3 MS Senate Scores 6 How We Selected the 3 MS House Vote Descriptions Winners & Losers 4 MS House Scores 10

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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 80-89% AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE ACHIEVEMENT SENATE SENATE SENATE BROWN BURTON CARMICHAEL CHASSANIOL CLARKE COLLINS DOTY FILLINGANE GANDY GOLLOTT HARKINS HILL HOPSON HUDSON JACKSON, G. LEE McDANIEL PARKER PARKS POLK SMITH SOJOURNER TINDELL TOLLISON WARD WATSON WIGGINS ALDRIDGE ARNOLD BAKER BARTON BECKETT BENNETT BOUNDS BOYD BROWN, CHRIS BUY BYRD CARPENTER CHISM CRAWFORD CURRIE DeBAR DeLANO DENNY EURE FORMBY FRIERSON GIPSON GUICE GUNN HANEY HOOD HORNE HOWELL HUDDLESTON, M. KINKADE LADNER LAMAR LOTT Malone MARTINSON McLEOD METTETAL MIMS MONSOUR MOORE MORGAN PIGOTT POWELL READ RUSHING SHOWS SMITH, J. SNOWDEN STAPLES TAYLOR TURNER UPSHAW WEATHERY WHITE ZUBER KIRBY LONGWITZ MORAN < 10% SENATE Butler, A. Butler, K. Dawkins Jackson, R. Jones Jordan Norwood Simmons, D. Turner ALDAY HAMILTON MAYO BARKER JENNINGS ROGERS, R. COALITION OF THE RADICAL LEFT Bailey Banks Baria Blackmon Broomfield Burnett Clark Clarke Coleman, L. Coleman, M. Ellis Evans, J. Harrison Hines Holloway Huddleston, R. Middleton Myers Perkins Scott Smith, F. Straughter Thomas Watson Whittington Williams-Barnes Wooten Young 4

5 MISSISSIPPI SENATE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS Charter Schools. This bill would expand charter school authorizations throughout the state. ACU supports the expansion of school choice and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on January 16, 2013 by a vote of Merit Pay. This bill extended a merit pay for teachers pilot program in certain counties. ACU supports merit pay program, hopes the legislature will approve the Governor s program for expansion and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 12, 2013 by a vote of Local Control of Education. This bill would mandate that small school districts have an appointed rather than an elected superintendent. ACU supports local control of education and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 12, 2013 by a vote of Abortion. This bill restricts to physicians the use of abortion-inducing drugs and sets a protocol for follow-up care when these drugs are used. ACU supports restrictions on abortion and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 14, 2013 by a vote of Labor Law. This bill prohibits local governments from establishing their own mandatory minimum wage laws. ACU opposes government setting artificial wage minimums that cost jobs among those who are most vulnerable, students and low income workers and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 8, 2013 by a vote of Charter Schools. This bill makes it easier to create charter schools in areas where schools are rated D and F. This bill is more restrictive than 2189 above which failed in the House but ACU supports more school choice and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 13, 2013 by a vote of School Safety. The Guice amendment to a school grant bill allows school boards to allow school employees to carry firearms if their security policies are approved by state agencies. ACU supports these school safety measures and supported this amendment. The Senate passed the bill on April 3, 2013 by a vote of Labor Law. This bill prohibits the use of threats or intimidation against a business or its employees in order to organize a union. ACU supports labor law reform and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on February 13, 2014 by a vote of Labor Law. This bill prohibits labor organizers from block a business entrance or exit or targeting residences in a labor dispute. ACU supports reasonable restrictions on demonstrations and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on February 13, 2014 by a vote of School Choice. This bill would establish Individualized Education Funds for special needs students that could have been used as vouchers for non-public schools. ACU supports the expansion of school choice and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on February 13, 2014 by a vote of School Choice. This bill would have created a pilot program to allow 500 children with disabilities to use state funds for private schools or for therapy and tutoring. ACU supports school choice and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 12, 2014 by a vote of Welfare Reform. This bill would require some welfare recipients to undergo a drug test based on a questionnaire. ACU supports reasonable restrictions on welfare and supported this bill. The senate passed the bill on March 12, 2014 by a vote of Late Term Abortion. This bill bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. ACU supports restrictions on abortions and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on April 1, 2014 by a vote of Religious Freedom. This bill adopts the provisions of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) to Mississippi becoming the 19th state to do so. ACU supports these religious freedom protections and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on April 14, 2014 by a vote of

6 MISSISSIPPI SENATE SCORES MISSISSIPPI SENATE STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 67% REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 95% LOWEST REPUBLICANS MASSEY, BROWNING 67% DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 22% HIGHEST DEMOCRAT WILEMON 78% MISSISSIPPI SENATE VOTE DETAIL Party District ACU Cast ACU % Blount D % BROWN R X % BROWNING R % Bryan D % BURTON R % Butler, A. D % Butler, K. D % CARMICHAEL R X X % CHASSANIOL R % CLARKE R 22 (+) + + X % COLLINS R % Dawkins D X X % DOTY R % FILLINGANE R % Frazier D % 6

7 MISSISSIPPI SENATE VOTE DETAIL Party District ACU Cast ACU % GANDY R % GOLLOTT R % Hale D % HARKINS R % HILL R X % HOPSON R X % Horhn D X X % HUDSON R % JACKSON, G. R % Jackson, R. D % Jackson, S. D % Jolly D % Jones D X % Jordan D % KIRBY R % LEE R % LONGWITZ R % MASSEY R 1 (-) % McDANIEL R % Montgomery D % MORAN R % Norwood D 28 X X X % PARKER R % PARKS R X X X % POLK R % Simmons, D. D % Simmons, W. D % SMITH R % 7

8 MISSISSIPPI SENATE VOTE DETAIL Party District ACU Cast ACU % SOJOURNER R % Stone D % TINDELL R % TOLLISON R % Turner D 16 X % WARD R X % WATSON R % WIGGINS R % Wilemon D X X X % 8

9 MISSISSIPPI VOTE DESCRIPTIONS Charter Schools. This bill makes it easier to create charter schools in areas where schools are rated D and F. ACU supports more school choice and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on January 24, 2013 by a vote of Tax Relief. This bill exempts manufacturers from the sales tax on energy. ACU supports broad-based tax relief and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 13, 2013 by a vote of Labor Law. This bill prohibits local governments from establishing their own mandatory minimum wage laws. ACU opposes government setting artificial wage minimums that cost jobs among those who are most vulnerable, students and low income workers and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on February 15, 2013 by a vote of Tax Relief. This bill would have provided an ad valorem tax exemption for manufacturers who buy government mandated pollution control equipment. ACU supports lowering the crippling costs of government regulation and supported this bill. The House defeated the bill on February 27, 2013 by a vote of votes are required to pass a bill Abortion. This bill restricts to physicians the use of abortion-inducing drugs and sets a protocol for follow-up care when these drugs are used. ACU supports restrictions on abortion and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on March 5, 2013 by a vote of Merit Pay. This bill extended a merit pay for teachers pilot program in certain counties. ACU supports merit pay program, hopes the legislature will approve the Governor s program for expansion and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on March 11, 2013 by a vote of Local Control of Education. This bill would mandate that small school districts have an appointed rather than an elected superintendent. ACU supports local control of education and opposed this bill. The House defeated the bill on April 2, 2013 by a vote of Welfare Reform. This bill would require some welfare recipients to undergo a drug test based on a questionnaire. ACU supports reasonable restrictions on welfare and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on January 15, 2014 by a vote of Labor Law. This bill prohibits the use of threats or intimidation against a business or its employees in order to organize a union. ACU supports labor law reform and supported this bill. A key vote came on an amendment which would have nullified the bill by making it contingent on passage of a comprehensive equal pay for women act. ACU opposed the amendment. The House defeated the amendment on March 5, 2014 by a vote of Religious Freedom. This bill adopts the provisions of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) to Mississippi becoming the 19th state to do so. ACU supports these religious freedom protections and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on April 1, 2014 by a vote of Late Term Abortion. This bill bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. ACU supports restrictions on abortions and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on April 1, 2014 by a vote of School Choice. This bill would have created a pilot program to allow 500 children with disabilities to use state funds for private schools or for therapy and tutoring. ACU supports school choice and supported this bill. The House defeated the bill on April 2, 2014 by a vote of School Safety. The Guice amendment to a school grant bill allows school boards to allow school employees to carry firearms if their security policies are approved by state agencies. ACU supports these school safety measures and supported this amendment. The House passed the amendment on March 12, 2013 by a vote of Private Contracting. This bill allows the state Department of Human Services to use private firms to carry out many of its duties. ACU supports reducing government competition with private enterprise and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on April 2, 2013 by a vote of

10 MISSISSIPPI SCORES MISSISSIPPI STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 61% REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 95% LOWEST REPUBLICANS NELSON, ROGERS, M. 69% DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 19% HIGHEST DEMOCRAT MALONE 100% MISSISSIPPI VOTE DETAIL* Party District ACU Cast ACU % ALDAY R % ALDRIDGE R 17 X % ARNOLD R X % Bailey D % Bain D % BAKER R % Banks D % Baria D X X % BARKER R X % BARTON R X % BECKETT R % BELL R % BENNETT R % Blackmon D % BOUNDS R % 10

11 MISSISSIPPI VOTE DETAIL* Party District ACU Cast ACU % BOYD R % Broomfield D X X X X X 0 8 0% Brown, Cecil D % BROWN, CHRIS R % Buck, Kelvin D X X X X X % Buck, Kimberly D X X X X X % Burnett D % BUY R % BYRD R % Calhoun D X % CARPENTER R % CHISM R % Clark D X % Clarke D % Cockerham D 96 + X + X + - X % Coleman, L. D % Coleman, M. D % CRAWFORD R % CURRIE R X % DeBAR R % DeLANO R X % DENNY R % Dickson D X X % Dixon D X % Eaton D % Ellis D % Espy D X X % 11

12 MISSISSIPPI VOTE DETAIL* Party District ACU Cast ACU % EURE R % Evans, B. D X - X % Evans, J. D % Evans, M. D % Flaggs D X X X X X % FORMBY R % FRIERSON R % GIPSON R % GUICE R % GUNN R % HAMILTON R % HANEY R % Harrison D % Hines D 50 - X X % Holland D X X % Holloway D % HOOD R % Horan D X % HORNE R % HOWELL R % HUDDLESTON, M. R % Huddleston, R. D % JENNINGS R % Johnson D % KINKADE R X % LADNER R % LAMAR R % 12

13 MISSISSIPPI VOTE DETAIL* Party District ACU Cast ACU % Lane D X % LOTT R X % Malone D X % MARTINSON R % MASSENGILL R % MAYO R % McLEOD R % METTETAL R % Middleton D X % Miles D % MIMS R % Moak D X % MONSOUR R % MOORE R X % MORGAN R X % Myers D % NELSON R % Oberhousen D % PATTERSON R % Perkins D % PIGOTT R % POWELL R % READ R % Reynolds D % ROGERS, M. R % ROGERS, R. R X % 13

14 MISSISSIPPI VOTE DETAIL* Party District ACU Cast ACU % RUSHING R % Scott D % SHIRLEY R % SHOWS R X % Smith, F. D % SMITH, J. R % SNOWDEN R % STAPLES R % Steverson D % Straughter D X % Stringer D % Sullivan D % TAYLOR R X % Thomas D % TURNER R X % UPSHAW R X X X X X X % Warren D % Watson D X % WEATHERY R % WHITE R % Whittington D % Williams-Barnes D % Wooten D % Young D % ZUBER R % * The following members of the House did not vote on enough of the selected votes and as a result were not rated: Faulkner, Jackson, Denton, Campbell, WILLIS. 14

15 NOTES

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