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

Transcription

1 2017 RATINGS of ARKANSAS #ACURatings Conservative.org TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the Chairman... 2 ACU & ACUF Board Members... 3 Selecting the Winners & Losers... 4 AR Senate Statistics... 5 AR Senate Vote Descriptions... 6 AR Senate Scores... 9 AR House Statistics AR House Vote Descriptions AR House Scores... 15

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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas 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 1331 H Street NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC (202)

4 2017 WINNERS & LOSERS AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE EXCELLENCE <= 10 COALITION OF THE RADICAL LEFT SENATE HOUSE SENATE HOUSE HOUSE KING DOTSON n/a Fielding Love STANDRIDGE Flowers McGill AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE ACHIEVEMENT SENATE HESTER HOUSE BALLINGER FARRER GONZALES McCOLLUM MEEKS, D. HOUSE MILLER PILKINGTON RICHMOND SORVILLO WILLIAMS 4

5 ARKANSAS SENATE STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 56 REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 66 ARKANSAS SENATE CONSERVATIVE RATINGS DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 30 RED = REPUBLICANS BLUE = DEMOCRATS LOWEST REPUBLICAN HUTCHINSON 45 # OF STATE SENATORS HIGHEST DEMOCRAT TEAGUE ACU PERCENTAGE 5

6 ARKANSAS SENATE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS 1. HB 1032 Dismemberment Abortion Ban. This bill bans dismemberment abortion procedures, with the exception of preventing a serious health risk to the mother. The practice is defined as purposely dismembering a living unborn child in order to extract the fetus. The ACU Foundation s Center for Human Dignity engages heavily on these issues. ACU believes abortion is a human tragedy, supports restrictions on the practice, and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on January 26, 2017 by a vote of SB 133 Insurance Regulations. This bill overturns an Arkansas Supreme Court decision that disallowed the depreciation of labor costs in property insurance policies. As a result, insurance companies can now offer policies that depreciate all property costs, including labor. ACU supports expanding consumer choice via regulatory reform and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill February 8, 2017 by a vote of SB 123 Welfare Regulations. This bill makes permanent a pilot drug testing program begun in Under the program, state agencies administer a suspicion-based drugtesting program for those eligible for the federal welfare program known as TANF, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. ACU supports reasonable restrictions on welfare benefits and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 13, 2017 by a vote of SJR 8 Tort Reform. This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to cap attorney contingency fees at 1/3 of the net recovery in a civil action and limits the recovery amount to $500,000 (or three times the amount of compensatory damages, whichever is greater), among other provisions. ACU supports tort reform and supported this resolution. The Senate passed the resolution on February 16, 2017 by a vote of SB 148 Rights of the Unborn. This bill creates the offense of infanticide for physicians who fail to give proper medical treatment to an infant born alive, including infants birthed during an abortion procedure. The ACU Foundation s Center for Human Dignity engages heavily on these issues. ACU believes abortion is a human tragedy, supports restrictions on the practice, and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 16, 2017 by a vote of HB 1105 Wheat Promotion Fund. This bill appropriates just under half a million dollars for the Arkansas Wheat Promotion Fund that conducts research on growing wheat and promotes the industry. ACU opposes state agricultural subsidies for industries that already receive large federal subsidies and other benefits through U.S. Department of Agriculture programs and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 23, 2017 by a vote of SB 308 Charter Schools. This bill gives charter schools a right of access to unused or underutilized public school facilities. School districts are to price these facilities at no more than the fair market value for charter schools within the school district s boundaries. 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 the expansion of school choice, especially through the utilization of existing public facilities, and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 23, 2017 by a vote of SB 331 Economic Development Grants. This bill appropriates over $50 million for a wide variety of subsidy and grant programs administered by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, including a state version of the federal Community Development Block Grant Program for smaller communities. ACU opposes these programs, which benefit companies selected by the government and are often used to fund local politicians pet projects, and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 1, 2017 by a vote of SB 351 Cosmetology Licensing. This bill increases requirements on cosmetology instructors by requiring them to undergo an additional eight hours of training in a seminar or a continuing education course certified by the Department of Health. Instructors are already required to complete 600 hours of training and an examination in order to become licensed by the state. 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 2, 2017 by a vote of HJR 1016 Voter ID. This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to require a photo ID when voting in person and to include a photo ID when mailing an absentee ballot. ACU supports efforts to strengthen ballot integrity and reduce voter fraud and supported this amendment. The Senate passed the bill on March 7, 2017 by a vote of SB 499 Farmers Market Regulations. This bill requires produce vendors at a farmers market to post a sign stating where the produce is grown. ACU opposes these regulations, which have nothing to do with food safety and increase the cost of doing business, and opposed this bill. The Senate defeated the bill on March 8, 2017 by a vote of 11-6 (18 votes were needed for passage). 6

7 12. SB 284 Food and Wine Sales. This bill allows grocery stores and large retailers to sell all brands of wine, instead of just the wine of Arkansas companies that produce fewer than 250,000 gallons of wine per year. The bill also allows liquor stores to sell edible products that compliment alcoholic beverages, such as crackers and cheese. ACU supports expanding competition and consumer choice by allowing stores to sell and stock items of their choosing and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 8, 2017 by a vote of HB 1249 Concealed Carry. This bill allows concealed carry permit holders to receive an enhanced permit to carry firearms on public college and university campuses and other locations, such as restaurants where alcohol is served. ACU supports the founders belief in the Second Amendment and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 9, 2017 by a vote of SB 658 Payday Loans. This bill imposes greater price controls on loans by prohibiting fees that overcome the 17 annual interest rate limit for all loans. ACU opposes these artificial price controls that discriminate against short-term loans and limits the interest on a $100 loan for two weeks to 65 cents and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 13, 2017 by a vote of SB 236 State-Run Retirement Programs. This bill sets up a new state bureaucracy to administer a private retirement savings program for small businesses. ACU opposes government programs that use taxpayer funds to compete directly with private enterprise and opposed this bill. The Senate defeated the bill on March 16, 2017 by a vote of (18 votes are required for passage). 16. SB 695 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 March 16, 2017 by a vote of SB 522 State Health Plan Mandate. This bill extends to 2021 the requirement that state and public school employee health benefit plans include coverage for treatment of morbid obesity, such as gastric bypass surgery. ACU opposes these mandates, which drive up the cost of health care for taxpayers, and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 20, 2017 by a vote of HB 1405 Unemployment Insurance Reform. This bill makes a series of reforms to the state s unemployment insurance program, including capping the benefit at 16 weeks, down from 20 weeks, lowering unemployment insurance taxes by reducing the wage base from $12,000 to $10,000 and excluding weeks the employee is receiving severance pay. ACU supports reforms that are expected to save businesses about $50 million per year and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 20, 2017 by a vote of SB 601 Prevailing Wage Repeal. This bill repeals the state s prevailing wage law. ACU opposes these artificial wages modeled on the federal Davis-Bacon Act, which drive up the cost of construction projects, and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 21, 2017 by a vote of SB 727 Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform. This bill provides an individual the right to challenge the government seizure of their property through a pre-trial hearing. The state must show probable cause for the seizure of property, and the property must be returned if it is likely the final judgment will result in the return of the property, or if does not need to be held for evidentiary reasons. The ACU Foundation s Center for Criminal Justice Reform and Center for 21st Century Property Rights engage heavily on this issue. ACU opposes the seizure of property without a criminal conviction and therefore supported this bill as a step in the right direction. The Senate defeated the bill on March 27, 2017 by a vote of (18 votes were needed for passage). 21. SB 373 Government Transparency. This bill allows agencies to deny Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests on the basis of threatened litigation, defined as someone saying they might take legal action on some subject. ACU supports strengthening government transparency, opposed this attempt to weaken FOIA, and opposed this bill. The Senate defeated the bill on March 28, 2017 by a vote of HB 1740 Home School Bill of Rights. This bill provides that, should a home school student enroll in a public school, that student cannot be denied course credits earned, placement in the proper grade level, scholarships, or participation in extra-curricular activities solely on the basis of having been home-schooled. 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 strengthening the right of home school students to be recognized for their educational achievements and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 28, 2017 by a vote of

8 23. SB 688 Corporate Subsidies. This bill gives $11 million in tax benefits to Big River Steel Company for expansion projects. ACU opposes further corporate subsidies to a company that received $125 million in taxpayer-financed bonds in 2013, especially at a time when the legislature turned down the expansion of other programs, such as school choice, due to shortage of available funds and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 29, 2017 by a vote of HB 1625 Employer Mandate. This bill requires employers with five or more employees to provide a monthly pay stub for every full time employee that lists total hours worked, gross and net wages, along with overtime pay and itemized deductions. ACU opposes these mandates, which drive up the cost of business, and opposed this bill. The Senate defeated the bill on March 30, 2017 by a vote of (18 votes were needed for passage). 25. HB 2218 Government Contract Set-Asides. This bill expands the current state contract set-asides. In addition to the current 10 set-aside for minority business enterprises there will be a 5 set-aside for women owned business enterprises. Furthermore, competitive bidding requirements will be eliminated for businesses eligible for set-asides. ACU opposes set-aside programs that are rife with abuse and permit companies to game the system at the expense of the public, and drive up costs through the reduction of competitive bidding, and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 30, 2017 by a vote of HB 1742 Tort Reform. This bill reforms the rules for government class action lawsuits so that individuals will have to show they suffered actual financial loss in order to be part of the lawsuit and narrows the discretion now given to the courts to certify class action suits. ACU supports efforts to reform our tort system, and reduce frivolous lawsuits that drive up the cost of doing business, and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 30, 2017 by a vote of HB 2240 Direct Primary Health Care. This bill exempts direct primary care agreements between a doctor and a patient from insurance regulations. These agreements, also known as medical retainer agreements, allow access to routine medical services for a monthly fee. ACU supports a free market in health care and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 30, 2017 by a vote of SB 3 (Special Session) Medicaid Reform. This bill requires the state to seek a federal waiver to return the income cap on eligibility for Medicaid to 100 of the federal poverty level. Under Obamacare, the cap was raised to 138 of the federal poverty level. The bill also seeks to impose a work requirement for able-bodies adults similar to that under the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. ACU supports the complete repeal of Obamacare and supported this bill as a step in the right direction. The Senate passed the bill on May 3, 2017 by a vote of

9 ARKANSAS SENATE SCORES ARKANSAS SENATE VOTE DETAIL Party District HB 1032 SB 133 SB 123 SJR 8 SB 148 HB 1105 SB 308 SB 331 SB 351 HJR 1016 SB 499 SB 284 HB 1249 SB 658 BLEDSOE R 3 + X X Bond D n/a 21 CALDWELL R X - X + E E E + X + - X Cheatham D X X X + X X X Chesterfield D 30 - X X CLARK R 13 + E X X COLLINS-SMITH R X X COOPER R 21 X X X DISMANG R X + + X X X X X EADS R X X Elliott D ENGLISH R X X X + - X FILES R 8 X + X X FLIPPO R X X + - X Flowers D X GARNER R 27 + X X n/a 73 HENDREN R HESTER R E - + X X HICKEY R HUTCHINSON R X X - - X X + + X X Ingram D X X - X X IRVIN R X + + X - + X X JOHNSON R 20 + X X + - X + X X KING R 5 X + + E E X + X X E E - + X X X X X - X X n/a Lindsey D X X X Maloch D 12 + X E - X X X RAPERT R E + X X RICE R X X X X - X X + - X SB 236 SB 695 SB 522 HB 1405 SB 601 SB 727 SB 373 HB 1740 SB 688 HB 1625 HB 2218 HB 1742 HB 2240 SB 3 (Special Session) ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 9

10 ARKANSAS SENATE VOTE DETAIL Party District HB 1032 SB 133 SB 123 SJR 8 SB 148 HB 1105 SB 308 SB 331 SB 351 HJR 1016 SB 499 SB 284 HB 1249 SB 658 SAMPLE R 14 + X SANDERS R X X X X X + - X - X STANDRIDGE R 16 X X X - - X X X + - X + X + + X X + - X n/a n/a n/a STUBBLEFIELD R X E + X + X - X X Teague D 10 + X X X WALLACE R X WILLIAMS R X 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. SB 236 SB 695 SB 522 HB 1405 SB 601 SB 727 SB 373 HB 1740 SB 688 HB 1625 HB 2218 HB 1742 HB 2240 SB 3 (Special Session) ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 10

11 ARKANSAS HOUSE STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 58 REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 70 ARKANSAS HOUSE CONSERVATIVE RATINGS DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 25 RED = REPUBLICANS BLUE = DEMOCRATS 50 LOWEST REPUBLICAN DELLA ROSA 43 HIGHEST DEMOCRAT # OF STATE REPS HILLMAN ACU PERCENTAGE

12 ARKANSAS HOUSE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS 1. HB 1032 Dismemberment Abortion Ban. This bill bans dismemberment abortion procedures, with the exception of preventing a serious health risk to the mother. The practice is defined as purposely dismembering a living unborn child in order to extract the fetus. The ACU Foundation s Center for Human Dignity engages heavily on these issues. ACU believes abortion is a human tragedy, supports restrictions on the practice, and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on January 23, 2017 by a vote of HB 1161 State Earned Income Tax Credit. This bill sets up a state-based refundable Earned Income Tax Credit in addition to the federal program. ACU opposes the expansion of a program that the U.S. Treasury Department has found to be rife with fraud and opposed this bill. The House defeated the bill on January 24, 2017 by a vote of HB 1249 Concealed Carry. This bill allows concealed carry permit holders to receive an enhanced permit to carry firearms on public college and university campuses and other locations, such as restaurants where alcohol is served. ACU supports the founders belief in the Second Amendment and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 2, 2017 by a vote of HB 1405 Unemployment Insurance Reform. This bill makes a series of reforms to the state s unemployment insurance program, including capping the benefit at 16 weeks, down from 20 weeks, lowering unemployment insurance taxes by reducing the wage base from $12,000 to $10,000, and excluding weeks the employee is receiving severance pay. ACU supports reforms that are expected to save businesses about $50 million per year and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 15, 2017 by a vote of HB 1105 Wheat Promotion Fund. This bill appropriates just under half a million dollars for the Arkansas Wheat Promotion Fund that conducts research on growing wheat and promotes the industry. ACU opposes state agricultural subsidies for industries that already receive large federal subsidies and other benefits through U.S. Department of Agriculture programs and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on February 22, 2017 by a vote of SB 123 Welfare Regulations. This bill makes permanent a pilot drug testing program begun in Under the program, state agencies administer a suspicion-based drugtesting program for those eligible for the federal welfare program known as TANF, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. ACU supports reasonable restrictions on welfare benefits and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 22, 2017 by a vote of HJR 1016 Voter ID. This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to require a photo ID when voting in person and to include a photo ID when mailing an absentee ballot. ACU supports efforts to strengthen ballot integrity and reduce voter fraud and supported this amendment. The House passed the resolution on February 23, 2017 by a vote of SB 133 Insurance Regulations. This bill overturns an Arkansas Supreme Court decision that disallowed the depreciation of labor costs in property insurance policies. As a result, insurance companies can now offer policies that depreciate all property costs, including labor. ACU supports expanding consumer choice via regulatory reform and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 24, 2017 by a vote of SJR 8 Tort Reform. This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to cap attorney contingency fees at 1/3 of the net recovery in a civil action and limits the recovery amount to $500,000 (or three times the amount of compensatory damages, whichever is greater), among other provisions. ACU supports tort reform and supported this bill. The House passed the resolution on February 27, 2017 by a vote of SB 148 Rights of the Unborn. This bill creates the offense of infanticide for physicians who fail to give proper medical treatment to an infant born alive, including infants birthed during an abortion procedure. The ACU Foundation s Center for Human Dignity engages heavily on these issues. ACU believes abortion is a human tragedy, supports restrictions on the practice, and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 27, 2017 by a vote of SB 284 Food and Wine Sales. This bill allows grocery stores and large retailers to sell all brands of wine, instead of just the wine of Arkansas companies that produce fewer than 250,000 gallons of wine per year. The bill also allows liquor stores to sell edible products that compliment alcoholic beverages, such as crackers and cheese. ACU supports expanding competition and consumer choice by allowing stores to sell and stock items of their choosing and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 1, 2017 by a vote of SB 331 Economic Development Grants. This bill appropriates over $50 million for a wide variety of subsidy and grant programs administered by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, including a state version of the federal Community Development Block Grant Program for smaller communities. ACU opposes these programs, which benefit companies selected by the government and are often used to fund local politicians pet projects, and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 6, 2017 by a vote of

13 13. SB 308 Charter Schools. This bill gives charter schools a right of access to unused or underutilized public school facilities. School districts are to price these facilities at no more than the fair market value for charter schools within the school district s boundaries. 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 the expansion of school choice, especially through the utilization of existing public facilities, and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 9, 2017 by a vote of HB 1222 Education Savings Accounts. This bill creates an Education Savings Account Program. Families chosen by lottery are given $6,600, funded through taxdeductible private donations, which can be used for private schools, homeschooling, or a private online program. 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 the expansion of school choice and supported this bill. The House defeated the bill on March 16, 2017 by a vote of HB 2240 Direct Primary Health Care. This bill exempts direct primary care agreements between a doctor and a patient from insurance regulations. These agreements, also known as medical retainer agreements, allow access to routine medical services for a monthly fee. ACU supports a free market in health care and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 17, 2017 by a vote of SB 373 Government Transparency. This bill allows agencies to deny Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests on the basis of threatened litigation, defined as someone saying they might take legal action on some subject. ACU supports strengthening government transparency, opposed this attempt to weaken FIOA, and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 20, 2017 by a vote of HB 1740 Home School Bill of Rights. This bill provides that, should a home school student enroll in a public school, that student cannot be denied course credits earned, placement in the proper grade level, scholarships, or participation in extra-curricular activities solely on the basis of having been home-schooled. 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 strengthening the right of home school students to be recognized for their educational achievements and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 20, 2017 by a vote of HB 1725 Government Reform. This bill consolidates numerous independent boards and agencies, such as the Arkansas State Plant Board and the Abandoned Pesticide Advisory Board, and places them in the state Department of Agriculture. ACU supports government reform that reduces the size of government and saves taxpayer funds and supported this bill. The House defeated the bill on March 20, 2017 by a vote of (51 votes were required for passage). 19. HB 1742 Tort Reform. This bill reforms the rules for government class action lawsuits so that individuals will have to show they suffered actual financial loss in order to be part of the lawsuit and narrows the discretion now given to the courts to certify class action suits. ACU supports efforts to reform our tort system, and reduce frivolous lawsuits that drive up the cost of doing business, and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 21, 2017 by a vote of HB 1953 Worker Compensation Reform. This bill seeks to correct some court decisions that expanded worker compensation coverage beyond the original law. This includes placing the responsibility for payment on a third party if the third party caused the injury, rather than the employer. The bill also prevents an automatic finding of a work-related injury of muscle spasms just because someone has been prescribed a muscle relaxer. Furthermore, it tightens the rules covering payment for a temporary total disability. ACU supports worker compensation reforms that restrict payments to true work-related injuries and supported this bill. The House defeated the bill on March 22, 2017 by a vote of HB 1625 Employer Mandate. This bill requires employers with five or more employees to provide a monthly pay stub for every full time employee that lists total hours worked, gross and net wages, along with overtime pay and itemized deductions. ACU opposes these mandates, which drive up the cost of business, and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 27, 2017 by a vote of HB 2218 Government Contract Set-Asides. This bill expands the current state contract set-asides. In addition to the current 10 set-aside for minority business enterprises there will be a 5 set-aside for women owned business enterprises. Furthermore, competitive bidding requirements will be eliminated for businesses eligible for set-asides. ACU opposes set-aside programs that are rife with abuse and permit companies to game the system at the expense of the public, and drive up costs through the reduction of competitive bidding, and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 27, 2017 by a vote of

14 23. HB 2159 Occupational Licensing Reform. This bill creates an Occupational Regulation Oversight Committee to review 10 regulated occupations each year. After reviewing all the licenses, rules, and regulations governing those occupations, the committee will provide to the governor, the House, and the Senate a report on whether current law is unreasonable and how the laws restrict an individual from engaging in a lawful occupation. 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 license requirements, which are primarily designed to restrict competition, and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 27, 2017 by a vote of SB 351 Cosmetology Licensing. This bill increases requirements on cosmetology instructors by requiring them to undergo an additional eight hours of training in a seminar or a continuing education course certified by the Department of Health. Instructors are already required to complete 600 hours of training and an examination in order to become licensed by the state. 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 29, 2017 by a vote of SB 522 State Health Plan Mandate. This bill extends to 2021 the requirement that state and public school employee health benefit plans include coverage for treatment of morbid obesity, such as gastric bypass surgery. ACU opposes these mandates, which drive up the cost of health care for taxpayers, and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 29, 2017 by a vote of SB 695 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 House passed the bill on March 29, 2017 by a vote of SB 601 Prevailing Wage Repeal. This bill repeals the state s prevailing wage law. ACU opposes these artificial wages modeled on the federal Davis-Bacon Act, which drive up the cost of construction projects, and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 30, 2017 by a vote of SB 688 Corporate Subsidies. This bill gives $11 million in tax benefits to Big River Steel Company for expansion projects. ACU opposes further corporate subsidies to a company that received $125 million in taxpayer-financed bonds in 2013, especially at a time when the legislature turned down the expansion of other programs, such as school choice, due to shortage of available funds and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 31, 2017 by a vote of HB 1003 (Special Session) Medicaid Expansion. This bill requires the state to seek a federal waiver to return the income cap on eligibility for Medicaid to 100 of the federal poverty level. Under Obamacare, the cap was raised to 138 of the federal poverty level. The bill also seeks to impose a work requirement for able-bodies adults similar to that under the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. ACU supports the complete repeal of Obamacare and supported this bill as a step in the right direction. The House passed the bill on May 3, 2017 by a vote of SB 658 Payday Loans. This bill imposes greater price controls on loans by prohibiting fees that overcome the 17 annual interest rate limit for all loans. ACU opposes these artificial price controls that discriminate against short-term loans and limits the interest on a $100 loan for two weeks to 65 cents and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 29, 2017 by a vote of

15 ARKANSAS HOUSE SCORES ARKANSAS HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District HB 1032 HB 1161 HB 1249 HB 1405 HB 1105 SB 123 HJR 1016 SB 133 SJR 8 SB 148 SB 284 SB 331 SB 308 HB 1222 HB 2240 SB 373 Allen D 30 X X X X - - X X - - X n/a 13 Armstrong D 37 X - X X X X X X X - - X X - X 4 19 n/a n/a 0 BALLINGER R X X X + X Baltz D X BARKER R X + + X n/a 75 BECK R X + X BENTLEY R X Blake D X - X X + X - X - - X X BOYD R BRAGG R BRANSCUM R X X + + X - X X X - - X X BROWN R Burch D 9 X X n/a 32 CAPP R X - - X + + X n/a 59 CAVENAUGH R X - + X X n/a 67 COLEMAN R X + - X X - X n/a 69 COLLINS R X X X X COZART R X X DALBY R X X X X n/a 50 DAVIS R X X + X X X X DEFFENBAUGH R 79 + X X X X X + X + - X DELLA ROSA R DOTSON R X X X X X + X - X DOUGLAS, C. R X X + + X + X X X - X X X X DOUGLAS, D. R X X X DROWN R X X - + X + X X - X + X X + X EAVES R X X X + X X X X X + X X X n/a EUBANKS R X X X X + - X HB 1740 HB 1725 HB 1742 HB 1953 HB 1625 HB 2218 HB 2159 SB 351 SB 522 SB 658 SB 695 SB 601 SB 688 HB 1003 (Special Session) ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 15

16 ARKANSAS HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District HB 1032 HB 1161 HB 1249 HB 1405 HB 1105 SB 123 HJR 1016 SB 133 SJR 8 SB 148 SB 284 SB 331 SB 308 HB 1222 HB 2240 SB 373 FARRER R X + X X X n/a 85 Ferguson, D. D X X X Ferguson, K. D 16 X X X X X X + X X X X - X X - - X - X n/a n/a n/a Fielding D 5 X X - X X X + - X - - X - - X X n/a 11 FITE, C. R 80 X + + X FITE, L. R X X X X Flowers D X X - X - - X X + X X - - X FORTNER R X n/a 66 GATES R X + + X X + X X X GAZAWAY R 57 + X X X - - X X X X - - X - X X X X n/a n/a n/a GILLAM R 45 X X X X X X X X X X + X X X X X X X + X X X X X X X X X X n/a n/a 67 GONZALES R X + + X X GRAY, M. R X X Gray, M. J. D X X - - X X + X X X - X X HAMMER R X X HENDERSON R X X X X + X HENDREN R X X X Hillman D X X X - X X X HODGES, G. R Hodges, M. D 55 X X - X - X X X X X X n/a 7 HOLCOMB R X - X X X X HOLLOWELL R X + X X X X X X n/a 74 HOUSE R X X X X X JEAN R 2 + X X X X + X - X X X X Jett D X X + X X X Johnson D 42 X - - X - X X X X X - - X - X X LADYMAN R X + X X Leding D 86 X X - + X + + X X - - X X LEMONS R X X + X X - X + X HB 1740 HB 1725 HB 1742 HB 1953 HB 1625 HB 2218 HB 2159 SB 351 SB 522 SB 658 SB 695 SB 601 SB 688 HB 1003 (Special Session) ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 16

17 ARKANSAS HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District HB 1032 HB 1161 HB 1249 HB 1405 HB 1105 SB 123 HJR 1016 SB 133 SJR 8 SB 148 SB 284 SB 331 SB 308 HB 1222 HB 2240 SB 373 Love D X - X X X X - - X X X n/a 10 LOWERY R X LUNDSTRUM R X LYNCH R X X X X n/a 62 MADDOX R X X X + X n/a 65 Magie D X X MAYBERRY R X X X - X X + X McCOLLUM R X X X n/a 85 McElroy D McGill D 78 X X X X X - X - - X X n/a 5 MCNAIR R X X X X X X MEEKS, D. R X X + + X X MEEKS, S. R X X MILLER R X X X + X X - X + X X Murdock D 48 X X X - X - X X X X X - X - - X X - - X - X X 1 15 n/a Nicks D X - X X X PAYTON R X X + + X PENZO R 88 + X X - X n/a 67 PETTY R PILKINGTON R X X X n/a 89 PITSCH R X X Richey D X X X X X X RICHMOND R X X + X X X RUSHING R X X X + X X RYE R X n/a 59 Sabin D X - X - + X X X SHEPHERD R X SMITH R SORVILLO R X + X X X X HB 1740 HB 1725 HB 1742 HB 1953 HB 1625 HB 2218 HB 2159 SB 351 SB 522 SB 658 SB 695 SB 601 SB 688 HB 1003 (Special Session) ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 17

18 ARKANSAS HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District HB 1032 HB 1161 HB 1249 HB 1405 HB 1105 SB 123 HJR 1016 SB 133 SJR 8 SB 148 SB 284 SB 331 SB 308 HB 1222 HB 2240 SB 373 SPEAKS R STURCH R X X X - X X SULLIVAN R X X X TOSH R X X Tucker D X X VAUGHT R 4 + X + X - X X X - X X + X + X X - - X n/a Walker D X X X Wardlaw D X + + X WARREN R X n/a 59 WATSON R X n/a 59 Whitaker D X X X WILLIAMS R X + + X X + X X X + - X + X X n/a 81 WING R X + X X + X X X X n/a 70 WOMACK R X X X X X X 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. HB 1740 HB 1725 HB 1742 HB 1953 HB 1625 HB 2218 HB 2159 SB 351 SB 522 SB 658 SB 695 SB 601 SB 688 HB 1003 (Special Session) ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 18