RATINGS of MISSISSIPPI

Transcription

1 2017 RATINGS of MISSISSIPPI #ACURatings Conservative.org TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the Chairman... 2 ACU & ACUF Board Members... 3 Selecting the Winners & Losers... 4 MS Senate Statistics... 5 MS Senate Vote Descriptions... 6 MS Senate Scores... 8 MS House Statistics MS House Vote Descriptions MS 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 Mississippi State Legislature. 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 Mississippi State Legislature 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 Mississippi 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 <= 10 COALITION OF THE RADICAL LEFT SENATE HOUSE SENATE HOUSE n/a BOMGAR CRISWELL n/a n/a EUBANKS FOSTER HOPKINS AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE ACHIEVEMENT SENATE HOUSE n/a BROWN 4

5 MISSISSIPPI SENATE STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 48 REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 57 MISSISSIPPI SENATE CONSERVATIVE RATINGS DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 34 RED = REPUBLICANS BLUE = DEMOCRATS LOWEST REPUBLICAN HUDSON, PARKS 44 # OF STATE SENATORS HIGHEST DEMOCRAT DAWKINS, DEARING ACU PERCENTAGE

6 MISSISSIPPI SENATE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS Hate Crimes Expansion. This bill expands the definition of a hate crime to include law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel. ACU believes this kind of legislation violates the double jeopardy clause of the U.S. Constitution and opposes attempts to determine people s thoughts when they commit a crime and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on January 26, 2017 by a vote of Franchise Employee Regulations. This bill establishes that, when applying labor law, neither a person that holds a franchise nor that person s employees are employees of the franchisor. ACU supports this common sense application of labor law in response to the National Labor Relations Board rule overturning decades of precedent in this area and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 1, 2017 by a vote of Right to Advertise. This bill removes a provision in state law that prohibits advertisements for alcoholic beverages in localities that are legally dry. ACU considers the right to advertise a First Amendment issue and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 2, 2017 by a vote of Corporate Subsidies. This bill extends the life of the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation until the year The corporation provides bonds and tax credits to government favored companies that locate or expand in certain areas approved by the state. ACU opposes this interference in the free market which forces higher tax burdens on individuals and companies not favored by the government and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 8, 2017 by a vote of Taxpayer-Funded Lobbyists. This bill prohibits state agencies from hiring contract lobbyists to promote government programs. ACU opposes the use of taxpayer funds to promote government programs and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 9, 2017 by a vote of Tax Extension. This bill extends the town of Byhalia s hotel and motel tax until the year 2021, with the revenue being used to promote tourism. Furthermore, the bill allows the town to keep the revenue it unlawfully collected after the tax expired in July of ACU opposes this retroactive tax that enriches certain companies and industries at the expense of others and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 15, 2017 by a vote of Air Service Subsidy. This bill expands upon an existing program that subsidizes airline flights to small towns with few passengers. Under the bill, flights that only run on a seasonal basis are now also eligible for grants. ACU opposes this interference in the marketplace which results in taxpayer funds being misallocated toward wasteful and economically infeasible projects and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 2, 2017 by a vote of Civil Asset Forfeiture. This bill reforms the state's asset forfeiture laws by requiring authorities to obtain a seizure warrant within 72 hours of taking property. Furthermore, the bill requires that details, such as a description of the property, its value, and the seizing agency, all be posted on a website. ACU Foundation s Center for Criminal Justice Reform and Center for 21st Century Property Rights both engage heavily on this issue. ACU believes that property should not be seized without a criminal conviction and supported this bill as a step in the right direction. The Senate passed the bill on March 2, 2017 by a vote of Craft Brewery Regulations. This bill permits small craft breweries to sell light wine and beer directly to customers. However, the bill establishes a number of restrictions, including limits on the price and amount that can be sold to a single customer. In addition, the light wine or beer must be produced on the premises and sales cannot total more than 1,500 barrels or 10 percent of a breweries annual production. ACU supports the right of brewery owners to sell their products as they see fit and supported this bill as a step in the right direction. The Senate passed the bill on March 2, 2017 by a vote of Board of Cosmetology Extension. This bill extends the board of cosmetology to 2021 and now mandates that education requirements for licenses be met at a licensed school, rather than one that is just accredited. When entrepreneurship is suppressed, the resulting decline in economic growth leads to a reduction in family prosperity, as illustrated by the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index. ACU opposes the proliferation of licensing requirements that are primarily designed to restrict competition and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 8, 2017 by a vote of

7 Hospice Moratorium. This bill extends a moratorium on new hospice facilities until While the bill does provide an exception for up to 5 new facilities, the facilities must be able to provide "unique or otherwise unavailable services" to patients under the age of 18, and the applicants must show good cause as to why they are needed. ACU opposes this government moratorium that drives up the cost of medical care and is primarily designed to restrict competition and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 15, 2017 by a vote of Sanctuary Cities. This bill prevents local governments and universities from enacting laws or policies that prohibit the enforcement of immigration laws or cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The bill also permits authorities to verify an individual's immigration status, and prevents local governments or agencies from giving legal status to someone in the country illegally. ACU supports the enforcement of federal immigration laws and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 21, 2017 by a vote of Government Television Funding. This bill appropriates nearly $4 million in Fiscal Year 2018 to the state Educational Television Authority, which provides government television and radio programs. ACU does not believe it is the proper role of government to compete with the private sector within the broadcasting business and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 26, 2017 by a vote of Competitive Bidding. This bill strengthens the competitive bidding process for government purchases. Some of these changes include the ability for bids to be submitted electronically, a reduction in the amount of sole source bids, and the allowance of reverse auctions for some projects. ACU supports the strengthening of competitive bidding regulations, which reduce government costs and spending, and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 28, 2017 by a vote of Reducing Asbestos Fraud. This bill helps reduce fraud in asbestos claims by preventing a plaintiff from being compensated for the exact same injury multiple times. The bill also increases transparency by providing defendants the right of discovery, as well as enhances the ability of courts to oversee asbestos cases. ACU supports this type of common sense tort reform and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 28, 2017 by a vote of Occupational Licensing Reform. This bill creates the Occupational Licensing Review Commission to review regulations proposed by the state s occupational licensing boards. In addition, the policies a board drafts must promote competition and use the least restrictive regulation necessary to protect consumers public health and safety. Expanding entrepreneurship promotes economic growth, which leads to greater family prosperity, as illustrated by the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index. ACU opposes the proliferation of licensing requirements that raise consumer costs and are primarily designed to restrict competition, and supported this bill as a step in the right direction. The Senate passed the bill on March 28, 2017 by a vote of Medicaid Fraud. This bill makes a series of improvements to strengthen the state s ability to detect fraud in Medicaid eligibility. Under the bill, a system would be established that identifies those who are ineligible for benefits such as non-mississippi residents and the deceased. An overreliance on welfare diminishes recipients employment prospects, keeping families out of the workforce and unable to prosper, as illustrated by the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index. ACU supports efforts to reform a program rife with waste and fraud and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 29, 2017 by a vote of

8 MISSISSIPPI SENATE SCORES MISSISSIPPI SENATE VOTE DETAIL Party District Barnett D Blackmon D BLACKWELL R Blount D BRANNING R 18 - X X X X BROWNING R Bryan D BURTON R Butler D CARMICHAEL R CAUGHMAN R CHASSANIOL R CLARKE R Dawkins D Dearing D DeBAR R DOTY R FILLINGANE R Frazier D X GOLLOTT R X HARKINS R X HILL R HOPSON R X X Horhn D HUDSON R X JACKSON, G. R Jackson, R. D X Jackson, S. D X 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 MISSISSIPPI SENATE VOTE DETAIL Party District Jolly D Jordan D X KIRBY R MASSEY R X X X McDANIEL R McMAHAN R MICHEL R n/a 59 MORAN R Norwood D PARKER R X PARKS R X POLK R SEYMOUR R Simmons, D. D Simmons, W. D Stone D TINDELL R TOLLISON R Turner-Ford D WATSON R WIGGINS R Wilemon D Witherspoon D YOUNGER 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. 9

10 MISSISSIPPI HOUSE STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 52 REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 68 MISSISSIPPI HOUSE CONSERVATIVE RATINGS DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 28 RED = REPUBLICANS BLUE = DEMOCRATS LOWEST REPUBLICAN BARKER 33 # OF STATE REPS HIGHEST DEMOCRAT COCKERHAM ACU PERCENTAGE 10

11 MISSISSIPPI HOUSE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS Oversight of Attorney General. This bill requires the Attorney General to get the approval of the Outside Counsel Oversight Committee before filing any lawsuit concerning claims over $250,000. The bill is in response to the costly billing practices of outside law firms, such as a securities fraud case that resulted in $5.4 million in legal fees. ACU supports efforts that increase oversight and protect taxpayers from outrageous legal expenses and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on January 25, 2017 by a vote of Civil Asset Forfeiture. This bill reforms the state's asset forfeiture laws by requiring authorities to obtain a seizure warrant within 72 hours of taking property. Furthermore, the bill requires that details, such as a description of the property, its value, and the seizing agency, all be posted on a website. ACU Foundation s Center for Criminal Justice Reform and Center for 21st Century Property Rights both engage heavily on this issue. ACU believes that property should not be seized without a criminal conviction and supported this bill as a step in the right direction. The House passed the bill on February 1, 2017 by a vote of Air Service Subsidy. This bill expands upon an existing program that subsidizes airline flights to small towns with few passengers. Under the bill, flights that only run on a seasonal basis are now also eligible for grants. ACU opposes this interference in the marketplace which results in taxpayer funds being misallocated toward wasteful and economically infeasible projects and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on February 1, 2017 by a vote of Government Employment Regulatory Reform. This bill provides state agencies with more flexibility in the hiring process by providing a three year exemption from personnel board requirements. This change will make it easier to fire unproductive workers, and allows personnel to more easily be reassigned in order to reduce costs and improve efficiency. In addition, government agencies will now have to track and submit salary increases. ACU supports efforts to streamline government, reduce costs, and increase transparency and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 2, 2017 by a vote of High-Performing School Regulations. This bill eases bureaucratic regulations on high performing A and B rated schools and gives these schools the ability to implement innovative education programs and provide incentives to their teachers. 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 efforts to improve education by reducing unnecessary regulations and rewarding school excellence and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 6, 2017 by a vote of Teacher Evaluation Reform. This bill eliminates the statewide teacher evaluation system. Instead, local school districts will be able to adopt their own system which they will then submit for approval to the state Board of Education. ACU supports the strengthening of local and parental control over schools and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 7, 2017 by a vote of Medical Malpractice Reform. This bill places a limit on the amount of medical and healthcare expenses that are admissible in court. The amount is limited to what was actually paid, or any other amounts that will be required to be paid by the injured party. ACU supports medical malpractice reform as a way to help reduce healthcare costs and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 7, 2017 by a vote of Landlord Property Rights. This bill clarifies and simplifies the laws covering the eviction of tenants for non-payment of rent. The ACU Foundation s Center for 21st Century Property Rights engages heavily on this issue. ACU supports strengthening property rights and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 9, 2017 by a vote of Corporate Subsidies. This bill extends the life of the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation until the year The corporation provides bonds and tax credits to government favored companies that locate or expand in certain areas approved by the state. ACU opposes this interference in the free market which forces higher tax burdens on individuals and companies not favored by the government and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 1, 2017 by a vote of Hospice Moratorium. This bill extends a moratorium on new hospice facilities until While the bill does provide an exception for up to 5 new facilities, the facilities must be able to provide "unique or otherwise unavailable services" to patients under the age of 18, and the applicants must show good cause as to why they are needed. ACU opposes this government moratorium that drives up the cost of medical care and is primarily designed to restrict competition and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 6, 2017 by a vote of Sanctuary Cities. This bill prevents local governments and universities from enacting laws or policies that prohibit the enforcement of immigration laws or cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The bill also permits authorities to verify an individual's immigration status, and prevents local governments or agencies from giving legal status to someone in the country illegally. ACU supports the enforcement of federal immigration laws and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 7, 2017 by a vote of

12 Craft Brewery Regulations. This bill permits small craft breweries to sell light wine and beer directly to customers. However, the bill establishes a number of restrictions, including limits on the price and amount that can be sold to a single customer. In addition, the light wine or beer must be produced on the premises and sales cannot total more than 1,500 barrels or 10 percent of a breweries annual production. ACU supports the right of brewery owners to sell their products as they see fit and supported this bill as a step in the right direction. The House passed the bill on March 7, 2017 by a vote of Right to Advertise. This bill removes a provision in state law that prohibits advertisements for alcoholic beverages in localities that are legally dry. ACU considers the right to advertise a First Amendment issue and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 8, 2017 by a vote of Tax Extension. This bill extends the town of Byhalia s hotel and motel tax until the year 2021, with the revenue being used to promote tourism. Furthermore, the bill allows the town to keep the revenue it unlawfully collected after the tax expired in July of ACU opposes this retroactive tax that enriches certain companies and industries at the expense of others and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 14, 2017 by a vote of Board of Cosmetology Extension. This bill extends the board of cosmetology to 2021 and now mandates that education requirements for licenses be met at a licensed school, rather than one that is just accredited. When entrepreneurship is suppressed, the resulting decline in economic growth leads to a reduction in family prosperity, as illustrated by the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index. ACU opposes the proliferation of licensing requirements that are primarily designed to restrict competition and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 15, 2017 by a vote of Government Television Funding. This bill appropriates nearly $4 million in Fiscal Year 2018 to the state Educational Television Authority, which provides government television and radio programs. ACU does not believe it is the proper role of government to compete with the private sector within the broadcasting business and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 27, 2016 by a vote of Medicaid Fraud. This bill makes a series of improvements to strengthen the state s ability to detect fraud in Medicaid eligibility. Under the bill, a system would be established that identifies those who are ineligible for benefits such as non-mississippi residents and the deceased. An overreliance on welfare diminishes recipients employment prospects, keeping families out of the workforce and unable to prosper, as illustrated by the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index. ACU supports efforts to reform a program rife with waste and fraud and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 28, 2017 by a vote of Competitive Bidding. This bill strengthens the competitive bidding process for government purchases. Some of these changes include the ability for bids to be submitted electronically, a reduction in the amount of sole source bids, and the allowance of reverse auctions for some projects. ACU supports the strengthening of competitive bidding regulations, which reduce government costs and spending, and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 28, 2017 by a vote of Reducing Asbestos Fraud. This bill helps reduce fraud in asbestos claims by preventing a plaintiff from being compensated for the exact same injury multiple times. The bill also increases transparency by providing defendants the right of discovery, as well as enhances the ability of courts to oversee asbestos cases. ACU supports this type of common sense tort reform and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 28, 2017 by a vote of Occupational Licensing Reform. This bill creates the Occupational Licensing Review Commission to review regulations proposed by the state s occupational licensing boards. In addition, the policies a board drafts must promote competition and use the least restrictive regulation necessary to protect consumers public health and safety. Expanding entrepreneurship promotes economic growth, which leads to greater family prosperity, as illustrated by the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index. ACU opposes the proliferation of licensing requirements that raise consumer costs and are primarily designed to restrict competition, and supported this bill as a step in the right direction. The House passed the bill on March 28, 2017 by a vote of

13 MISSISSIPPI HOUSE SCORES MISSISSIPPI HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District AGUIRRE R Anderson D X ARNOLD R Bailey D Bain D X BAKER R X X Banks D Baria D X BARKER R X X BARNETT R BARTON R BECKETT R Bell, C. D BELL, D. R BENNETT R Blackmon D BOMGAR R BOUNDS R BOYD R X BROWN R X X Burnett D BUY R X + X BYRD R Calhoun D CARPENTER R CHISM R Clark D X Clarke D X Cockerham D 96 X X 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 MISSISSIPPI HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District CORLEY R n/a 65 CRAWFORD R X CRISWELL R CURRIE R X X DELANO R X DENNY R X Denton D Dixon D 63 X X Dortch D Ellis D X X EUBANKS R X EURE R Evans, B. D X X - X Evans, M. D X Faulkner D FORMBY R FOSTER R Gibbs, D. D X - - X - X - X n/a 13 Gibbs, K. D GIPSON R GUICE R GUNN R HALE R HANEY R X X HENLEY R X Hines D X Holland D X Holloway D HOOD R X HOPKINS R Horan D X 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

15 MISSISSIPPI HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District HORNE R HUDDLESTON, M. R Huddleston, R. D X Hudson D n/a 25 Hughes D Jackson D X + - X X X JOHNSON, C. R X + X X Johnson, R. D X X - + X Karriem D KINKADE R LADNER R X X LAMAR R X MANGOLD R MASSENGILL R X MCLEOD R X MCNEAL R X X METTETAL R X Mickens D X Middleton D Miles D X MIMS R X MONSOUR R MOORE R X X X X X X MORGAN R Myers D X X X X X X X X X X X X X 0 7 n/a OLIVER R X Paden D X PATTERSON R Perkins D X PIGOTT R POWELL 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. 15

16 MISSISSIPPI HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District READ R Reynolds D ROBERSON R ROGERS, M. R ROGERS, R. R RUSHING R X X - X X SANFORD R 90 X X - + X SCOGGIN R n/a 75 Scott D X X SHIRLEY R SMITH R SNOWDEN R X + X STAPLES R X STEVERSON R Straughter D Sullivan D Sykes D Thomas D TOUCHSTONE R TULLOS R X X TURNER R X Walker D Watson D WEATHERY R WHITE R Williams-Barnes D X - - X X WILLIS R WILSON R Wooten D Young D X ZUBER 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. 16