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

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1 2017 RATINGS of OHIO #ACURatings Conservative.org TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the Chairman... 2 ACU & ACUF Board Members... 3 Selecting the Winners & Losers... 4 OH Senate Statistics... 5 OH Senate Vote Descriptions... 6 OH Senate Scores... 7 OH House Statistics... 9 OH House Vote Descriptions OH House Scores... 11

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 Ohio 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 Ohio 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 Ohio 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 201 N. Union Street, Suite 370 Alexandria, VA (202)

4 2017 WINNERS & LOSERS AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE ACHIEVEMENT SENATE SENATE HOUSE HOUSE HOUSE SENATE HOUSE BACON HUFFMAN ANIELSKI HAMBLEY RETHERFORD DOLAN ANTANI BALDERSON BEAGLE BURKE JORDAN LAROSE LEHNER ARNDT BECKER BLESSING HENNE HILL HOUSEHOLDER REZABEK RIEDEL ROEGNER KUNZE MANNING DUFFEY HOOD COLEY OBHOF BRENNER HUFFMAN ROMANCHUK GARDNER HACKETT HITE OELSLAGER PETERSON TERHAR BRINKMAN BUTLER CARFAGNA HUGHES JOHNSON KELLER ROSENBERGER RYAN SCHAFFER <= 10 COALITION OF THE RADICAL LEFT HOAGLAND HOTTINGER UECKER WILSON CUPP DEAN DEVER DeVITIS EDWARDS FABER GAVARONE GINTER KICK KOEHLER LANDIS LANESE LATOURETTE LIPPS MANNING McCOLLEY SCHERER SCHURING SEITZ SLABY SMITH, R. SPRAGUE STEIN THOMPSON SENATE Skindell Thomas HOUSE Clyde Howse Ingram Kelly Smith, K. Strong Sykes GONZALES MERRIN VITALE GOODMAN PATTON WIGGAM GREEN PELANDA YOUNG GREENSPAN PERALES HAGAN REINEKE 4

5 OHIO SENATE STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 74 OHIO SENATE CONSERVATIVE RATINGS RED = REPUBLICANS REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 97 BLUE = DEMOCRATS DEMOCRAT AVERAGE LOWEST REPUBLICAN EKLUND 71 # OF STATE SENATORS HIGHEST DEMOCRATS ACU PERCENTAGE

6 OHIO SENATE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS 1. SB 145 Banning Dismemberment Abortions. This bill bans dismemberment abortions, a gruesome procedure that involves cutting apart a fetus for extraction. These types of abortions are performed as early as the 14th week of a pregnancy, when an unborn baby is typically sprouting hair and had already developed fingers, toes, and multiple organs. ACU believes abortion is a human tragedy, supports restrictions on the practice, and believes the human remains from this tragedy should be treated with the utmost respect and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 28, 2017 by a vote of HB 27 Reforming the Workers' Compensation System. This bill improves the integrity of the workers' compensation system by instituting a series of reforms to the system. Under the bill, the statute of limitations to filing a claim is limited to one year, the way in which an injured worker's weekly wages is calculated is simplified, and incarcerated dependents of those awarded workers' compensation are no longer eligible for benefits. ACU supports reforms that improve the integrity of the workers' compensation system and help ensure benefits are properly allocated and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 28, 2017 by a vote of SB 79 Requiring Oversight of State Agencies. This bill requires that state departments within the governor s cabinet be reviewed by members of the legislature to determine their usefulness, performance and effectiveness. Each department is required to prove the public need it serves and demonstrate that the rules it has adopted are consistent with the legislative mandate of the department. In addition, the bill requires that the occupational licensing requirements of departments be reviewed to determine if they are the least restrictive form of regulation." ACU supports increased governmental oversight and ensuring agency rulemaking is conducted based on the intentions of the legislature and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 28, 2017 by a vote of HB 49 #23 Protecting the Constitutional Authority of the Legislative Branch. Section of the state budget bill limits the power and authority of the Controlling Board under the Office of Budget and Management. Under the bill, neither the Board nor any state agency can make expenditures of any federal funds greater than the amount appropriated by the general assembly. The bill is in part intended to limit unauthorized expansions of Medicaid. ACU supports the constitutional authority of the legislative branch to make budgetary and funding decisions and supported this bill. The Senate voted to override the governor s line item veto (#3) on August 22, 2017 by a vote of SB 186 Expanding Business Pass-through Tax Deductions. This bill results in a net tax decrease by classifying wages paid to individuals through professional employer organizations as business income. Currently, this income is subject to a graduated tax of up to 4.997, while under this bill, the first $250,000 of income is deductible and the remainder subject to a 3 flat tax. ACU supports reducing taxes to spur economic growth and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on October 18, 2017 by a vote of HB 214 Banning Down Syndrome Abortions. This bill prohibits an abortion from being performed if the pregnant woman is seeking the abortion due to a prenatal diagnosis or test result indicating Down syndrome. ACU believes abortion is a human tragedy, supports restrictions on the practice, and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on December 13, 2017 by a vote of HB 49 #3 Preventing the Expansion of Medicaid to New Additional Groups. Section of the state budget bill prevents the state from expanding its Medicaid program to cover any new optional eligibility groups or classes of individuals with needs not yet already covered under the current program. Increasing per capita Medicaid spending has a negative impact on the economy and family prosperity, which is illustrated by the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index. ACU supports this effort to help ensure the integrity of Medicaid, the state s largest spending program, and supported this section of the budget. The Senate voted to override the governor s line item veto (#23) on August 22, 2017 by a vote of

7 OHIO SENATE SCORES OHIO SENATE VOTE DETAIL Party District SB 145 HB 27 SB 79 HB 49 (#3) HB 49 (#23) SB 186 HB 214 BACON R BALDERSON R BEAGLE R Brown D BURKE R COLEY R X DOLAN R n/a 86 EKLUND R GARDNER R HACKETT R HITE R X X HOAGLAND R n/a 100 HOTTINGER R HUFFMAN R JORDAN R KUNZE R LAROSE R LEHNER R MANNING R McCOLLEY R 1 X X X X X X n/a O'Brien D OBHOF R OELSLAGER R PETERSON R Schiavoni D Skindell D Sykes D Tavares D TERHAR R ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG + Member voted with ACU s position - Member voted against ACU s position X Member was absent for vote E Member was excused for vote 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. 7

8 OHIO SENATE VOTE DETAIL Party District SB 145 HB 27 SB 79 HB 49 (#3) HB 49 (#23) SB 186 HB 214 Thomas D UECKER R Williams D WILSON R n/a 85 Yuko D n/a 6 ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG + Member voted with ACU s position - Member voted against ACU s position X Member was absent for vote E Member was excused for vote 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. 8

9 OHIO HOUSE STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 75 LOWEST REPUBLICAN ANTANI 80 OHIO HOUSE CONSERVATIVE RATINGS RED = REPUBLICANS REPUBLICAN AVERAGE BLUE = DEMOCRATS DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 30 HIGHEST DEMOCRAT # OF STATE REPS PATMON ACU PERCENTAGE 9

10 OHIO HOUSE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS 1. HB 114 Eliminating the State Renewable Energy Standard. This bill eliminates the state s renewable energy standard and no longer forces utility companies to obtain a percentage of their energy from renewable sources. Furthermore, the bill reduces the requirement that utilities reduce peak demand and allows customers to opt-out of utilities' energy efficiency program. ACU supports all forms of energy, believes government should not favor one form of energy over another, and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 30, 2017 by a vote of HB 27 Reforming the Workers' Compensation System. This bill improves the integrity of the workers' compensation system by instituting a series of reforms to the system. Under the bill, the statute of limitations to filing a claim is limited to one year, the way in which an injured worker's weekly wages is calculated is simplified, and incarcerated dependents of those awarded workers' compensation are no longer eligible for benefits. ACU supports reforms that improve the integrity of the workers' compensation system and help ensure benefits are properly allocated and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on May 17, 2017 by a vote of HB 41 Requiring Voter IDs for Early Voting. This bill strengthens ballot integrity by requiring an individual voting in-person absentee to submit a form of identification, just as they would if voting on election day. The bill continues to allow an individual who does not have the proper form of identification to fill out a written absentee ballot application. ACU supports strengthening the integrity of our electoral process and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on June 21, 2017 by a vote of HB 49 #3 Preventing the Expansion of Medicaid to New Additional Groups. Section of the state budget bill prevents the state from expanding its Medicaid program to cover any new optional eligibility groups or classes of individuals with needs not yet already covered under the current program. Increasing per capita Medicaid spending has a negative impact on the economy and family prosperity, which is illustrated by the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index. ACU supports this effort to help ensure the integrity of Medicaid, the state s largest spending program, and supported this section of the budget. The House voted to override the governor s line item veto (#23) on August 22, 2017 by a vote of HB 49 #23 Protecting the Constitutional Authority of the Legislative Branch. Section of the state budget bill limits the power and authority of the Controlling Board under the Office of Budget and Management. Under the bill, neither the Board nor any state agency can make expenditures of any federal funds greater than the amount appropriated by the general assembly. The bill is in part intended to limit unauthorized expansions of Medicaid. ACU supports the constitutional authority of the legislative branch to make budgetary and funding decisions and supported this bill. The House voted to override the governor s line item veto (#3) on August 22, 2017 by a vote of HB 235 Increasing Oversight of State Education Planning and Spending. This bill increases government transparency by requiring the Ohio Department of Education to submit to members of the legislature a written copy of how federal education funds will be spent under the Every Student Succeeds Act." ACU supports increased oversight of governmental agencies and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on September 20, 2017 by a vote of HB 226 Legalizing the Use of Fireworks. This bill permits individuals to shoot off consumer grade fireworks such as roman candles, fountains and firecrackers starting in the year The bill grants municipalities the right to establish their own restrictions and sets up a regulatory framework, including a 4 percent fee on sales. ACU supports the ability to purchase and use fireworks in the state and supported this bill as a step in the right direction. The House passed the bill on October 11, 2017 by a vote of HB 119 Ensuring the Integrity of Government Assistance Programs. This bill helps ensure that government benefits provided under Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are only being administered to those who are eligible. Under the bill, the state is required to check federal, state and commercial databases on a quarterly basis in order to verify factors such as identity, income, residency, citizenship status, employment status and disability status. ACU supports efforts that reduce welfare fraud and ensure benefits are preserved for those eligible. The House passed the bill on November 1, 2017 by a vote of HB 214 Banning Down Syndrome Abortions. This bill prohibits an abortion from being performed if the pregnant woman is seeking the abortion due to a prenatal diagnosis or test result indicating Down syndrome. ACU believes abortion is a human tragedy, supports restrictions on the practice, and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on November 1, 2017 by a vote of HB 334 Expanding Business Pass-through Tax Deductions. This bill results in a net tax decrease by classifying wages paid to individuals through professional employer organizations as business income. Currently this income is subject to a graduated tax of up to 4.997, while under this bill the first $250,000 of income is deductible and the remainder subject to a 3 flat tax. ACU supports reducing taxes to spur economic growth and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on November 11, 2017 by a vote of

11 OHIO HOUSE SCORES OHIO HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District HB 114 HB 27 HB 41 HB 49 (#3) HB 49 (#23) HB 235 HB 226 HB 119 HB 214 HB 334 ANIELSKI R ANTANI R Antonio D ARNDT R Ashford D Barnes D BECKER R Bishoff D 20 - X X X X X X X X X 0 1 n/a BLESSING R Boccieri D X Boggs D Boyd D X X BRENNER R BRINKMAN R Brown D 20 X X X n/a 69 BUTLER R CARFAGNA R n/a 100 Celebrezze D Cera D Clyde D CONDITT R X X X X X 5 5 n/a Craig D CUPP R X DEAN R DEVER R DeVITIS R DUFFEY R X EDWARDS R n/a 100 FABER R n/a 100 Fedor D ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG + Member voted with ACU s position - Member voted against ACU s position X Member was absent for vote E Member was excused for vote 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. 11

12 OHIO HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District HB 114 HB 27 HB 41 HB 49 (#3) HB 49 (#23) HB 235 HB 226 HB 119 HB 214 HB 334 Galonski D 35 X n/a 11 GAVARONE R n/a 100 GINTER R GONZALES R GOODMAN R n/a 100 GREEN R X + X GREENSPAN R n/a 100 HAGAN R HAMBLEY R HENNE R X HILL R X Holmes D n/a 50 HOOD R X X X HOUSEHOLDER R n/a 100 Howse D HUFFMAN R n/a 100 HUGHES R n/a 100 Ingram D n/a 10 JOHNSON R 90 X n/a 89 KELLER R n/a 100 Kelly D n/a 10 Kent D n/a 20 KICK R n/a 100 KOEHLER R LANDIS R LANESE R n/a 90 LANG R 52 X X X X X n/a n/a n/a LATOURETTE R Leland D Lepore-Hagan D X X LIPPS R n/a 100 ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG + Member voted with ACU s position - Member voted against ACU s position X Member was absent for vote E Member was excused for vote 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. 12

13 OHIO HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District HB 114 HB 27 HB 41 HB 49 (#3) HB 49 (#23) HB 235 HB 226 HB 119 HB 214 HB 334 MANNING R X X X McCOLLEY R n/a 100 MERRIN R n/a 100 Miller D 17 - X X - X X X 0 5 n/a n/a n/a O'Brien D Patmon D X Patterson D PATTON R n/a 100 PELANDA R X PERALES R Ramos D Reece D X REINEKE R RETHERFORD R REZABEK R RIEDEL R n/a 100 ROEGNER R Rogers D ROMANCHUK R ROSENBERGER R RYAN R SCHAFFER R SCHERER R X SCHURING R SEITZ R n/a 100 Sheehy D SLABY R n/a 90 Smith, K. D SMITH, R. R SPRAGUE R STEIN R n/a 100 ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG + Member voted with ACU s position - Member voted against ACU s position X Member was absent for vote E Member was excused for vote 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. 13

14 OHIO HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District HB 114 HB 27 HB 41 HB 49 (#3) HB 49 (#23) HB 235 HB 226 HB 119 HB 214 HB 334 Strahorn D Strong Sykes D X n/a 0 Sweeney D THOMPSON R VITALE R West D n/a 40 WIGGAM R n/a 100 YOUNG R ZELTWANGER R 54 X X X X X 5 5 n/a ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG + Member voted with ACU s position - Member voted against ACU s position X Member was absent for vote E Member was excused for vote 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. 14