2015 RATINGS of ALABAMA

Transcription

1 2015 RATINGS of ALABAMA Conservative.org TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the Chairman 2 AL Senate Vote Descriptions 5 ACU & ACUF Board Members 3 AL Senate Scores 7 Selecting the 3 AL House Vote Descriptions Winners & Losers 4 AL 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 Alabama Legislature. Like our Congressional Ratings, our State Ratings reflect how elected officials view the role of government in an individual's life. The Alabama 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 Alabama 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 Alabama 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 n/a n/a n/a n/a AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE ACHIEVEMENT SENATE HOUSE BLACKWELL HENRY HOLTZCLAW HOLMES, M. 4

5 ALABAMA SENATE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS 1. SB 45 Charter Schools. This bill authorizes charter schools in Alabama for the first time. The bill creates the Alabama Public Charter Commission to start the process. ACU supports expanding school choice and supported the bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 10, 2015 by a vote of SB 71 School Choice. This bill raises the cap on tax credits for donations to organizations that give scholarships for private schools from $25 million to $30 million per year. ACU supports the expansion of school choice and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 31, 2015 by a vote of SB 170 Union Subsidies. This bill imposes a new fee on nonresidential construction permits to be used to subsidize worker participation in union training programs for craft workers. ACU opposes this government subsidy of union programs that have historically been paid for by the unions themselves and that make construction projects more expensive for taxpayers and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 2, 2015 by a vote of HB 170 Massage Therapy Licensing. This bill extends the sunset date for the Alabama Board of Massage Therapy until ACU opposes the proliferation of license requirements that are primarily designed to reduce competition and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 28, 2015 by a vote of SB 365 Powdered Alcohol. This bill prohibits the sale or possession of powdered alcohol. ACU opposes the ban of a product deemed to be safe, opposes bills primarily designed to reduce competition, and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 30, 2015 by a vote of HB 1 Religious Freedom. This bill, known as the Student Religious Liberties Act, takes a number of steps to protect students rights of religious expression, including allowing religious expression in class assignments and requiring school districts to allow the freedom to organize religious groups and activities. ACU supports the constitutional protection of the right to the free exercise of religion and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 5, 2015 by a vote of SB 14 Concealed Carry. This bill allows individuals to keep a loaded firearm in their vehicles without a license from a local sheriff. ACU supports protecting our founder s belief in the Second Amendment and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 21, 2015 by a vote of SB 414 Balanced Budget Amendment. This bill authorizes Alabama to join a compact among the states to advance a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. ACU has long supported a balanced budget amendment and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 28, 2015 by a vote of HB 323 Voting Integrity. This bill gives the County Board of Registrars the authority to eliminate from the rolls those who are deceased or are no longer residents. ACU supports the integrity of the ballot and efforts to prevent voter fraud and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 3, 2015 by a vote of (Regular Barbers License. This bill exempts barbers from regulation by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology. ACU supports regulatory reform to reduce the burden of license regulations and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 4, 2015 by a vote of HB 47 Firearm Regulatory Reform. This bill makes a series of changes to Alabama s firearms laws that repeals duplicative pistol requirements, makes it harder for facilities where firearms are banned to ban them outside the building, and creates an avenue for those prohibited from owning a firearm to have their rights restored. ACU believes in protecting our founder s belief in the Second Amendment and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 4, 2015 by a vote of HB 135 Budget Bill. This bill reduces spending on government programs in order to make up for a $261 million budget shortfall rather than raise taxes. ACU supports this fiscally responsible approach and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 4, 2015 by a vote of HB 30 Education Trust Fund. This bill raids the Education Trust Fund, moving $80 million from the fund to the State General Fund to cover a budget shortfall. ACU opposes these budget gimmicks that break faith with the taxpayer and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on September 14, 2015 by a vote of HB 3 Cigarette Taxes. This bill increases the cigarette tax by 25 cents a pack. ACU opposes increasing taxes that burden low income people most, leads to an increased black market in cigarettes and is a declining source of revenue and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on September 15, 2015 by a vote of

6 15. HB 8 Prescription Tax. This bill imposes a temporary 15 cent tax for each pharmacy prescription. ACU opposes temporary taxes that in most cases are never allowed to expire and that increase the cost of health care and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on September 15, 2015 by a vote of HB 12 Nursing Home Taxes. This bill imposes a temporary tax of over $400 for each patient bed in every nursing home in Alabama. ACU opposes temporary taxes that in most cases are never allowed to expire and will ultimately be paid by the consumer of nursing home care and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on September 15, 2015 by a vote of

7 ALABAMA SENATE SCORES ALABAMA SENATE STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 55 REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 62 LOWEST REPUBLICAN CHAMBLISS 36 DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 35 HIGHEST DEMOCRAT SINGLETON 58 ALABAMA SENATE VOTE DETAIL Party District SB 45 SB 71 SB 170 HB 170 SB 365 HB 1 SB 14 SB 414 HB 323 HB 47 HB 135 ALBRITTON R X n/a 60 ALLEN R Beasley D X BLACKWELL R 15 + X X X - X + + X BREWBAKER R 25 X + - X X X X X 7 10 n/a 77 n/a BUSSMAN R X X CHAMBLISS R X X n/a 36 Coleman D E X X X DIAL R X X Dunn D X - X Figures D X X GLOVER R X + X + X HIGHTOWER R X n/a 73 HOLLEY R HOLTZCLAW R X X X X LIVINGSTON R n/a 56 HB 30 HB 3 HB 8 HB 12 ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 7

8 ALABAMA SENATE VOTE DETAIL Party District SB 45 SB 71 SB 170 HB 170 SB 365 HB 1 SB 14 SB 414 HB 323 HB 47 HB 135 MARSH R X - + X X McCLENDON R n/a 50 MELSON R X X X n/a 62 ORR R PITTMAN R X X X - X REED R Ross D X - - X Sanders D X - X X X - X X n/a 8 n/a SANFORD R X X SCOFIELD R X + X SHELLNUT R X X n/a 64 Singleton D X - - X + X + X Smith I X X Smitherman D X X STUTTS R X X n/a 64 WAGGONER R WARD R X + X - + X X X X 4 10 n/a 69 n/a WHATLEY R X X X WILLIAMS R Legislator did not vote on enough of the selected bills and as a result the 2015 percentage and lifetime average was not rated. HB 30 HB 3 HB 8 HB 12 ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 8

9 ALABAMA HOUSE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS 1. HB 1 Religious Freedom. This bill, known as the Student Religious Liberties Act, takes a number of steps to protect students rights of religious expression, including allowing religious expression in class assignments and requiring school districts to allow the freedom to organize religious groups and activities. ACU supports the constitutional protection of the right to the free exercise of religion and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 11, 2015 by a vote of SB 45 Charter Schools. This bill authorizes charter schools in Alabama for the first time. The bill creates the Alabama Public Charter Commission to start the process. ACU supports expanding school choice and supported the bill. The House passed the bill on March 18, 2015 by a vote of HB 170 Massage Therapy Licensing. This bill extends the sunset date for the Alabama Board of Massage Therapy until ACU opposes the proliferation of license requirements that are primarily designed to reduce competition and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 2, 2015 by a vote of HB 323 Voting Integrity. This bill gives the County Board of Registrars the authority to eliminate from the rolls those who are deceased or are no longer residents. ACU supports the integrity of the ballot and efforts to prevent voter fraud and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on April 21, 2015 by a vote of HB 160 Short-Term Loans. This bill fixes the price of any loan at no more than 10 percent on an annual basis, and is designed to have the effect of eliminating shortterm loans in Alabama. For example, the interest on a one month loan of $100 would be 83 cents. ACU opposes this interference in a free market and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on April 23, 2015 by a vote of HB 47 Firearm Regulatory Reform. This bill makes a series of changes to Alabama s firearms laws that repeals duplicative pistol requirements, makes it harder for facilities where firearms are banned to ban them outside the building, and creates an avenue for those prohibited from owning a firearm to have their rights restored. ACU believes in protecting our founder s belief in the Second Amendment and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on May 12, 2015 by a vote of HB 135 Budget Bill. This bill reduces spending on government programs in order to make up for a $261 million budget shortfall rather than raise taxes. ACU supports this fiscally responsible approach and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on May 19, 2015 by a vote of (Regular Barbers License. This bill exempts barbers from regulation by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology. ACU supports regulatory reform to reduce the burden of license regulations and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on May 26, 2015 by a vote of HB 527 Abortion Clinics. This bill authorizes the Alabama Department of Public Health to refuse a health center license to an abortion clinic located within 2,000 feet of the property or campus of a public school. 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 May 26, 2015 by a vote of SB 71 School Choice. This bill raises the cap on tax credits for donations to organizations that give scholarships for private schools from $25 million to $30 million per year. ACU supports the expansion of school choice and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on May 28, 2015 by a vote of SB 170 Union Subsidies. This bill imposes a new fee on nonresidential construction permits to be used to subsidize worker participation in union training programs for craft workers. ACU opposes this government subsidy of union programs that have historically been paid for by the unions themselves and that make construction projects more expensive for taxpayers and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on May 28, 2015 by a vote of SB 365 Powdered Alcohol. This bill prohibits the sale or possession of powdered alcohol. ACU opposes the ban of a product deemed to be safe, opposes bills primarily designed to reduce competition, and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on June 2, 2015 by a vote of Auto Title Fees. This bill nearly doubles the fee on auto titles from $15 to $28. ACU opposes this fee increase as part of a series of major tax increases to pay for a budget deficit rather than finding ways to reduce spending and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on September 10, 2015 by a vote of HB 3 Cigarette Taxes. This bill increases the cigarette tax by 25 cents a pack. ACU opposes increasing taxes that burden low income people most, leads to an increased black market in cigarettes and is a declining source of revenue and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on September 10, 2015 by a vote of

10 15. HB 30 Education Trust Fund. This bill raids the Education Trust Fund, moving $80 million from the fund to the State General Fund to cover a budget shortfall. ACU opposes these budget gimmicks that break faith with the taxpayer and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on September 10, 2015 by a vote of HB 15 Motor Vehicle Tax. This bill increases the motor vehicle rental tax by 25 percent. ACU opposes this tax increase along with a series of major tax increases to pay for a budget deficit rather than finding ways to reduce spending and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on September 10, 2015 by a vote of HB 8 Prescription Tax. This bill imposes a temporary 15 cent tax for each pharmacy prescription. ACU opposes temporary taxes that in most cases are never allowed to expire and that increase the cost of health care and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on September 10, 2015 by a vote of HB 12 Nursing Home Taxes. This bill imposes a temporary tax of over $400 for each patient bed in every nursing home in Alabama. ACU opposes temporary taxes that in most cases are never allowed to expire and will ultimately be paid by the consumer of nursing home care and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on September10, 2015 by a vote of

11 ALABAMA HOUSE SCORES ALABAMA HOUSE STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 48 REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 48 LOWEST REPUBLICAN SHEDD 29 DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 46 HIGHEST DEMOCRAT LINDSEY 61 ALABAMA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District HB 1 SB 45 HB 170 HB 323 HB 160 HB 47 HB 135 (Regular HB 527 SB 71 SB 170 SB 365 AINSWORTH R X n/a 71 Alexander D 56 X X + X n/a 53 BAKER R BALL R Bandy D 83 X X n/a 56 BECKMAN R Beech D 65 X X X X Black D BOOTHE R Boyd D X Bracy D BROWN R Buskey D 99 X - - X X BUTLER R X n/a 47 CARNS R CHESTEEN R Clarke D 97 X X n/a 50 HB 3 HB 30 HB 8 HB 12 HB 15 ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 11

12 ALABAMA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District HB 1 SB 45 HB 170 HB 323 HB 160 HB 47 HB 135 (Regular HB 527 SB 71 SB 170 SB 365 CLOUSE R Coleman D X X X X COLLINS R Daniels D X X - - X n/a 53 DAVIS R DRAKE R Drummond D 103 X n/a 47 England D FARLEY R FAULKNER R X - - X X X n/a 50 FAUST R FINCHER R Ford D Forte D X FRIDY R X n/a 53 GARRETT R X - X n/a 56 GASTON R Givan D X X X X GREER R X Grimsley D 85 X X - X Hall D 19 X HAMMON R X - X X HANES R n/a 61 HARBISON R X X n/a 50 HARPER R HENRY R X HILL, J. R X n/a 47 HILL, M. R Holmes, A. D 78 - X - - X X HOLMES, M. R X X n/a 81 Howard D 72 X - X X X X HB 3 HB 30 HB 8 HB 12 HB 15 ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 12

13 ALABAMA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District HB 1 SB 45 HB 170 HB 323 HB 160 HB 47 HB 135 (Regular HB 527 SB 71 SB 170 SB 365 HUBBARD R HURST R INGRAM R X n/a 41 Jackson D X X JOHNSON, K. R X JOHNSON, R. R JONES R X X X Knight D X X Lawrence D X n/a 53 LEDBETTER R 24 + X X n/a 44 LEE R Lindsey D MARTIN R 42 X X X X X n/a 31 McCampbell D 71 X X X X X McClammy D X X McCUTCHEON R McMILLAN R X + - X + X Melton D 67 X MILLICAN R MOONEY R X n/a 71 MOORE, B. R X Moore, M. D Morrow D 18 X - - X - X - + X NORDGREN R PATTERSON R X PETTUS R n/a 44 POLIZOS R 74 + X n/a 41 POOLE R X PRINGLE R X X n/a 44 RICH R Robinson D X - X X X X HB 3 HB 30 HB 8 HB 12 HB 15 ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 13

14 ALABAMA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL Party District HB 1 SB 45 HB 170 HB 323 HB 160 HB 47 HB 135 (Regular HB 527 SB 71 SB 170 SB 365 Rogers D X X X - X X ROWE R n/a 44 SANDERFORD R X X Scott D X - X X X X SELLS R X n/a 41 SESSIONS R SHEDD R X n/a 29 SHIVER R SOUTH R n/a 44 STANDRIDGE R X X n/a 56 Todd D X X X TREADAWAY R TUGGLE R VANCE R X WADSWORTH R n/a 56 Warren D 82 X X X WEAVER R WHORTON, I. R n/a 56 WHORTON, R. R X n/a 65 WILCOX R X X n/a 63 WILLIAMS, D. R 5 + X - X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 1 2 n/a 92 n/a WILLIAMS, J. D. R WILLIAMS, J. W. R n/a 44 WILLIAMS, P. R X X WINGO R n/a 44 WOOD R X Legislator did not vote on enough of the selected bills and as a result the 2015 percentage and lifetime average was not rated. HB 3 HB 30 HB 8 HB 12 HB 15 ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 14