2015 RATINGS of INDIANA

Transcription

1 2015 RATINGS of INDIANA Conservative.org TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the Chairman 2 IN Senate Vote Descriptions 5 ACU & ACUF Board Members 3 IN Senate Scores 7 Selecting the 3 IN House Vote Descriptions Winners & Losers 4 IN House Scores 11

2 LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN Dear Fellow Conservatives, I am pleased to present the American Conservative Union Foundation s ratings for the 2015 meeting of the Indiana General Assembly. Like our Congressional Ratings, our State Ratings reflect how elected officials view the role of government in an individual's life. The Indiana legislators with the strongest scores voted most consistently with the ideals articulated in the US Constitution: limited and transparent government, individual rights, personal responsibility, and a healthy culture. The 2014 election completed a political transformation that began in 2010 and resulted in voters of almost half the states, 23 in all, entrusting Republicans with the governorships as well as control of both chambers in the respective state, the biggest sweep since the first half of the 20th Century. By examining all our State Ratings (which cover a wide variety of issues) we can see which states have best used their Republican majorities to apply conservative principles, how others have struggled, and in yet other states, how conservatives have stood up against liberal majorities. I know that this guide will provide you with the most comprehensive evaluative tool to learn how your legislators measure up. 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 Larry Beasley Bob Beauprez Kimberly Bellissimo Morton Blackwell Ambassador John Bolton Al Cardenas Jose Cardenas Ron Christie Muriel Coleman ACU FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS Matt Schlapp Chairman Millie Hallow Vice Chairman Van Hipp, Jr. Treasurer Tim Goeglein Secretary Kimberly Bellissimo Jose Cardenas Amy Frederick Jonathan Garthwaite Charlie Gerow Colin Hanna Willes Lee Kellyanne Conway Tom DeLay John Eddy Luis Fortuno Amy Frederick Charlie Gerow Alan Gottlieb Van Hipp, Jr. James Lacy Carolyn Meadows Thomas Winter Michael Long Grover Norquist Becky Norton Dunlop Ron Robinson Ned Ryun Fred Smith, Jr. Matt Smith Lewis Uhler Ed Yevoli SELECTING THE VOTES ACU researched and selected a range of bills before the Indiana 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 Indiana s elected leaders best defend the principles of a free society: Life, Liberty and Property. To contact ACU, please call H Street NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC (202)

4 2015 WINNERS & LOSERS AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE EXCELLENCE < 10 COALITION OF THE RADICAL LEFT SENATE HOUSE SENATE HOUSE PETE MILLER JUDY Breaux Lawson SCHNEIDER OBER Rogers YODER WESCO Stoops Tallian AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE ACHIEVEMENT SENATE HOUSE HOUSE HOUSE BANKS BRAUN KOCH SMALTZ MESSMER BURTON LUCAS SMITH, M. SMITH CARBAUGH MAYFIELD SOLIDAY WALKER CULVER MILLER SPEEDY DeVON MORRIS STEUERWALD GUTWEIN NISLY TORR HAMM PRICE TRUITT HARMAN RHOADS VanNATTER HUSTON SCHAIBLEY ZENT 4

5 INDIANA SENATE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS Wine Sales. This bill removes some restrictions on the ability of wine companies to directly sell wine to consumers. ACU supports reducing regulations that inhibit free market competition and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on January 27, 2015 by a vote of Horse Racing Subsidies. This bill mandates horse racing industry promotional activities be financed by various taxes, fees and general assembly appropriations and triples the per diem paid to members of the Indiana Horse Racing Commission, among other provisions. ACU opposes government subsidies and promotional mandates for any industry and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 3, 2015 by a vote of Firearm Regulations. This bill allows for the manufacture, sale and possession of a sawed-off shotgun while increasing the penalties for crimes committed with the firearm. ACU supports protecting our founder s belief in the Second Amendment and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 3, 2015 by a vote of Nursing Home Regulations. This bill bans the licensing of new nursing homes for three years. ACU opposes regulations that are primarily designed to restrict free market competition and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 3, 2015 by a vote of Ridesharing Regulations. This bill sets up an elaborate permit process and a $5,000 fee for ridesharing services such as Uber or Lyft. ACU opposes regulations that are primarily designed to stifle free market competition and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 9, 2015 by a vote of Labor Law. This bill prohibits dismissal of an employee who is subject to a protective order. ACU opposes laws that invite frivolous lawsuits that drive up the cost of doing business and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 16, 2015 by a vote of Voting Integrity. This bill strengthens residency requirements for college students from other states, indicating that residency will not be granted automatically for those who are temporarily residing in a precinct and creating voting rules for college students. ACU believes in the sanctity of the vote, supports efforts to prevent voter fraud and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 23, 2015 by a vote of Gun Manufacturers Lawsuit. This bill strengthens a law prohibiting liability lawsuits against gun manufacturers for actions using their product and denies attorney fee requests for a 16 year old lawsuit filed by the city of Gary against gun manufacturers. ACU supports protecting our founder s belief in the Second Amendment, opposes these frivolous lawsuits and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 23, 2015 by a vote of Abortion Based on Gender or Disability. This bill prohibits abortions based on the sex of the fetus or a diagnosis of disability. ACU views abortion as a human tragedy, supports efforts to restrict the practice and educate patients, and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 24, 2015 by a vote of Teacher Rights. This bill gives teachers the right to decide who would represent them in collective bargaining, whether it is the union or another professional employees organization of their choosing. ACU supports the strengthening of teacher rights and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 24, 2015 by a vote of Religious Freedom. This bill prevents state and local governments from substantially burdening a person s exercise of religion unless the government can prove it has a compelling interest and is doing so by the least restrictive method. ACU supports the free exercise of religion under the Constitution and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 24, 2015 by a vote of Aborted Fetuses Regulation. This bill gives a pregnant woman who has an abortion the right to determine the final disposition of the aborted fetus. ACU views abortion as a human tragedy and supports efforts to restrict the practice and educate patients, and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 24, 2015 by a vote of Land Annexation. This bill reduces from 65 to 51 percent the minimum ratio of homeowners needed to block a city from annexation of county land. ACU supports the strengthening of property rights and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 24, 2015 by a vote of

6 Unemployment Insurance Fraud. This bill takes steps to reduce unemployment insurance fraud by establishing procedures for withholding wages from those who have received an overpayment of unemployment insurance benefits. ACU supports efforts to combat fraud that raises the cost of doing business for everyone and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 23, 2015 by a vote of Amendment #6 to 1469 Minimum Wage. The Tallian amendment to a wage payment regulation bill raises the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour over three years. ACU opposes setting artificial wages that hurt those who need unemployment most, such as inexperienced workers and students and opposed this amendment. The Senate defeated the amendment on March 24, 2015 by a vote of Government Housing Programs. This bill prohibits localities from forcing property owners to participate in the federal Section 8 housing program that includes government subsidized housing vouchers. ACU supports strengthening property rights and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 9, 2015 by a vote of Stadium Subsidies. This bill creates a new taxing district in Marion County and imposes a 10 admissions tax to any event occurring there and any professional soccer event occurring anywhere to help finance a new soccer stadium in Indianapolis. ACU opposes government funding of projects with no independent study of future revenue and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 9, 2015 by a vote of Common Wage Regulation. This bill eliminates Indiana s prevailing wage regulations, known as the Common Wage Construction Law, modeled on the federal Davis-Bacon Act. ACU opposes these laws that set artificial wage rates and drive up the cost of construction projects and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 15, 2015 by a vote of Occupational Licensing Reform. This bill establishes a pilot program under which certain private certification programs will be recognized as state certified and, unlike traditional licensing, allows individuals to work in the occupation even if they are not certified. ACU supports efforts to eliminate most licensing laws that restrict competition and create unemployment and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 15, 2015 by a vote of SJR 19 Balanced Budget Amendment. This resolution amends the state constitution so that all expected expenses are included in the budget (including pension funding) so that the total amount of expense appropriations may not exceed estimated state revenue. ACU supports fiscal responsibility and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 29, 2015 by a vote of Failing Schools. This bill gives new powers to the State Board of Education. It reduces the timeline to deal with failing schools, those schools that receive a D or an F from Indiana Department of Education. ACU supports efforts to make schools accountable and supported this bill. The Senate passed the conference report on the bill on April 29, 2015 by a vote of Toll Road Restaurant Tax. This bill imposes a special food and beverage tax that applies only to restaurants on Indiana s toll roads. ACU opposes these discriminatory taxes and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 13, 2015 by a vote of

7 INDIANA SENATE SCORES INDIANA SENATE STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 61 REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 72 LOWEST REPUBLICAN BECKER 41 DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 15 HIGHEST DEMOCRAT ARNOLD 32 INDIANA SENATE VOTE DETAIL Party District ALTING R Arnold D BANKS R E X X n/a 84 BASSLER R n/a 59 BECKER R BOOTS R BRAY R Breaux D Broden D BROWN R n/a 73 BUCK R CHARBONNEAU R CRIDER R DELPH R E ECKERTY R FORD R n/a 59 GLICK R GROOMS R Amend # SJR ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 7

8 INDIANA SENATE VOTE DETAIL Party District HEAD R HERSHMAN R HOLDMAN R X HOUCHIN R n/a 73 KENLEY R KRUSE R Lanane D LEISING R LONG R X MERRITT R MESSMER R X n/a 81 MILLER, PATRICIA R MILLER, PETE R MISHLER R Mrvan D E E NIEMEYER R n/a 68 PERFECT R n/a 77 RAATZ R n/a 77 Randolph D X X Rogers D X SCHNEIDER R SMITH R STEELE R Stoops D Tallian D Taylor D TOMES R WALKER R WALTZ R YODER R YOUNG R ZAKAS R Amend # SJR ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 8

9 INDIANA HOUSE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS Unemployment Insurance Fraud. This bill takes steps to reduce unemployment insurance fraud by establishing procedures for withholding wages from those who have received an overpayment of unemployment insurance benefits. ACU supports efforts to combat fraud that raises the cost of doing business for everyone and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 10, 2015 by a vote of Government Housing Programs. This bill prohibits localities from forcing property owners to participate in the federal Section 8 housing program that includes government subsidized housing vouchers. ACU supports strengthening property rights and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 12, 2015 by a vote of Occupational Licensing Reform. This bill establishes a pilot program under which certain private certification programs will be recognized as state certified and, unlike traditional licensing, allows individuals to work in the occupation even if they are not certified. ACU supports efforts to eliminate most licensing laws that restrict competition and create unemployment and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 17, 2015 by a vote of Common Wage Regulation. This bill eliminates Indiana s prevailing wage regulations, known as the Common Wage Construction Law, modeled on the federal Davis-Bacon Act. ACU opposes these laws that set artificial wage rates and drive up the cost of construction projects and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 23, 2015 by a vote of Toll Road Restaurant Tax. This bill imposes a special food and beverage tax that applies only to restaurants on Indiana s toll roads. ACU opposes these discriminatory taxes and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on February 23, 2015 by a vote of Stadium Subsidies. This bill creates a new taxing district in Marion County and imposes a 10 admissions tax to any event occurring there and any professional soccer event occurring anywhere to help finance a new soccer stadium in Indianapolis. ACU opposes government funding of projects with no independent study of future revenue and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on February 25, 2015 by a vote of Nursing Home Regulations. This bill bans the licensing of new nursing homes for three years. ACU opposes regulations that are primarily designed to restrict free market competition and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 17, 2015 by a vote of Religious Freedom. This bill prevents state and local governments from substantially burdening a person s exercise of religion unless the government can prove it has a compelling interest and is doing so by the least restrictive method. ACU supports the free exercise of religion under the Constitution and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 23, 2015 by a vote of Firearm Regulations. This bill allows for the manufacture, sale and possession of a sawed-off shotgun while increasing the penalties for crimes committed with the firearm. ACU supports protecting our founder s belief in the Second Amendment and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 24, 2015 by a vote of Gun Manufacturers Lawsuit. This bill strengthens a law prohibiting liability lawsuits against gun manufacturers for actions using their product and denies attorney fee requests for a 16 year old lawsuit filed by the city of Gary against gun manufacturers. ACU supports protecting our founder s belief in the Second Amendment, opposes these frivolous lawsuits and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on April 14, 2015 by a vote of Land Annexation. This bill reduces from 65 to 51 percent the minimum ratio of homeowners needed to block a city from annexation of county land. ACU supports the strengthening of property rights and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on April 14, 2015 by a vote of SJR 19 Balanced Budget Amendment. This resolution amends the state constitution so that all expected expenses are included in the budget (including pension funding) so that the total amount of expense appropriations may not exceed estimated state revenue. ACU supports fiscal responsibility and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on April 15, 2015 by a vote of Wine Sales. This bill removes some restrictions on the ability of wine companies to directly sell wine to consumers. ACU supports reducing regulations that inhibit free market competition and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on April 15, 2015 by a vote of

10 Horse Racing Subsidies. This bill mandates horse racing industry promotional activities be financed by various taxes, fees and general assembly appropriations and triples the per diem paid to members of the Indiana Horse Racing Commission, among other provisions. ACU opposes government subsidies and promotional mandates for any industry and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 15, 2015 by a vote of Aborted Fetuses Regulation. This bill gives a pregnant woman who has an abortion the right to determine the final disposition of the aborted fetus. ACU views abortion as a human tragedy and supports efforts to restrict the practice and educate patients, and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on April 15, 2015 by a vote of Voting Integrity. This bill strengthens residency requirements for college students from other states, indicating that residency will not be granted automatically for those who are temporarily residing in a precinct and creating voting rules for college students. ACU believes in the sanctity of the vote, supports efforts to prevent voter fraud and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on April 15, 2015 by a vote of Failing Schools. This bill gives new powers to the State Board of Education. It reduces the timeline to deal with failing schools, those schools that receive a D or an F from Indiana Department of Education. ACU supports efforts to make schools accountable and supported this bill. The House passed the conference report on the bill on April 29, 2015 by a vote of

11 INDIANA HOUSE SCORES INDIANA HOUSE STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 65 REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 78 LOWEST REPUBLICAN SAUNDERS 59 DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 33 HIGHEST DEMOCRAT STEMLER 67 INDIANA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District SJR ARNOLD R Austin D E AYLESWORTH R n/a 65 BACON R BAIRD R Bartlett D Bauer D X X BEHNING R BEUMER R BORDERS R n/a 71 BOSMA R 88 X X X + X X X X + X X + X n/a 100 n/a BRAUN R Brown, C. D BROWN, T. R BURTON R E CARBAUGH R CHERRY R E ACU Cast * LIFETIME AVG 11

12 INDIANA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District SJR CLERE R COOK R n/a 76 COX R 85 + E CULVER R DAVISSON R DeLaney D DERMODY R 20 + E DeVON R Dvorak D E E EBERHART R Errington D FINE R E n/a 69 Forestal D 100 X X FRIEND R E E FRIZZELL R E FRYE R GiaQuinta D Goodin D GUTWEIN R E Hale D X X HAMM R HARMAN R Harris, D. D 2 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X n/a n/a n/a Harris, E. D E E E E X X X X X X X X X X 0 3 n/a 9 n/a HEATON R HUSTON R E E JUDY R n/a 94 KARICKHOFF R Kersey D KIRCHHOFER R Klinker D KOCH R E ACU Cast * LIFETIME AVG 12

13 INDIANA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District SJR Lawson D LEHE R 25 X LEHMAN R E LEONARD R LUCAS R Macer D E - + X E + + X X MAHAN R MAYFIELD R McMILLIN R E McNAMARA R MILLER R n/a 88 Moed D 97 X MORRIS R 84 E MORRISON R Moseley D NEGELE R E Niezgodski D NISLY R n/a 82 OBER R OLTHOFF R n/a 71 Pelath D Pierce D E Porter D E E PRICE R Pryor D RHOADS R RICHARDSON R Riecken D SAUNDERS R SCHAIBLEY R n/a 82 Shackleford D SLAGER R ACU Cast * LIFETIME AVG 13

14 INDIANA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District SJR SMALTZ R SMITH, M. R Smith, V. D SOLIDAY R E SPEEDY R X E Stemler D 71 E + E E - + X E STEUERWALD R E E SULLIVAN R Summers D 99 E - X THOMPSON R TORR R E TRUITT R UBELHOR R VanNATTER R WASURNE R E WESCO R WOLKINS R E E E E E E E 8 10 n/a 82 n/a Wright D n/a 47 ZENT R ZIEMKE R Legislator did not vote on enough of the selected bills and as a result the 2015 percentage and lifetime average was not rated ACU Cast * LIFETIME AVG 14