ARKANSAS STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS GUIDE. Table of Contents

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1 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS GUIDE ARKANSAS The American Conservative Union is taking our highly touted Congressional Ratings program to State Legislatures for the third year in a row, grading members on their votes on key conservative issues. Last year, we graded State Legislators in fifteen critical states, including Colorado, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia. This year, we are expanding our ratings to twenty states. ACU first began rating members of Congress in Since then, our ratings system has become the most important conservative measuring stick in American politics -- the gold standard for voters seeking more information on their representatives records. Throughout the history of our conservative ratings program, the ACU has also become the go-to source for determining whether an elected official s philosophical rhetoric matches his or her record. Our guides provide a comprehensive analysis of the legislative landscape over the preceding year. This differentiates us from other useful guides which may emphasize single areas, like taxes, defense, or Table of Contents social policy. Our annual matrix covers issues running the gamut of legislative action, including domestic energy production, healthcare, government reform, climate change, border security, foreign policy, and social issues. These issues are carefully selected to ensure legislators are scored and rated on the bellwether conservative topics they voted on over the course of the year. This expansion of our Conservative Ratings program is part of Chairman Al Cardenas vision for building on successful ACU initiatives and taking the fight for conservative principles to the state and local levels. Eventually we will bring our ratings to all fifty states -- scoring every legislature in every state, every year. ACU Board Members A Letter From The Chairman How We Selected the Votes Conservative All-Stars AR House Vote Descriptions House Scores AR Senate Vote Descriptions Senate Scores American Conservative Union 1331 H St. NW, Suite 500, Washington DC (202) conservative.org

2 ACU Board Members Al Cardenas (Chairman) Thomas S. Winter (First Vice Chairman) Donald Devine (Second Vice Chairman) Becky Norton Dunlop (Treasurer) Jameson G. Campaigne, Jr. (Secretary) Joe Bast Jeffrey Bell Morton C. Blackwell Ambassador John Bolton Floyd Brown Muriel Coleman Dr. Larry Eastland Paul Erickson Carly Fiorina Charlie Gerow Alan M. Gottlieb Van D. Hipp, Jr. Asa Hutchinson David A. Keene Suhail A. Khan James V. Lacy Michael R. Long Honorable Serphin Maltese Carolyn D. Meadows Cleta Mitchell Joseph A. Morris Grover G. Norquist Ron Robinson Allen Roth Matt Schlapp Fred L. Smith, Jr. Lewis K. Uhler Kirby Wilbur ACU Foundation Board Members Carly Fiorina (Chairman) Van D. Hipp, Jr. (Treasurer) Carolyn D. Meadows (Secretary) Al Cardenas Amy Noone Frederick Tim Goeglein Millie Hallow Colin A. Hanna David Keene Robert Luddy Ambassador Roger F. Noriega Thomas S. Winter 2

3 November 15, 2013 Dear Fellow Conservative, On behalf of our Board of Directors, I am pleased to present the American Conservative Union s 2013 State Legislative Ratings for members of the Arkansas General Assembly. Since 1971, our Congressional ratings have become the gold standard in holding every member of Congress accountable for their voting record on the most important issues facing our nation. Last year we brought that same commitment to conservative ideals to the states, rating members in fifteen legislatures. I am pleased to report that this year we will score 20 states. This is part of the ACU plan to bring our ratings to all 50 states -- scoring every legislature in every state, every cycle. There could not be a more critical time for conservatives to evaluate America s leadership and hold them accountable for their actions. Our economy, our international standing, our very moral fiber are weaker because this administration has put us on a course to bigger government, less freedom, and an abandonment of traditional values. With our government expanding faster now than at any time in our country s history, the ACU intends to continue to play a major role in giving the American people the tools they need to make informed voting decisions at every level of government. While some may be disheartened by the results of November s elections, conservatives found themselves in a similar situation after President Obama first took office in the spring of The cause of conservatism dramatically reasserted itself in the 2010 elections, with conservative legislators winning an unprecedented number of elections nationwide. Because of this, our 2013 State Legislative Ratings are vital for voters to make informed choices on the future of our nation. We can come back even stronger in 2014, but only if we start our march toward victory now. Thank you for your continued support. I know that together we can ensure America s best days are still ahead. Sincerely, Al Cardenas, ACU Chairman Al Cardenas Chairman, the American Conservative Union 1331 H Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC Tel: (202) Fax: (202)

4 How We Selected the Votes 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS GUIDE ARKANSAS The American Conservative Union is taking our highly touted Congressional Ratings program to State Legislatures for the third year in a row, grading members on their votes on key conservative issues. Last year, we graded State Legislators in fifteen critical states, including Colorado, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia. This year, we are expanding our ratings to twenty states. ACU first began rating members of Congress in Since then, our ratings system has become the most important conservative measuring stick in American politics- the gold standard for voters seeking more information on their representatives records. This expansion of our Conservative Ratings program is part of Chairman Al Cardenas vision for building on successful ACU initiatives and taking the fight for conservative principles to the state and local levels. This is part of the ACU five-year plan to bring our ratings to all fifty states- scoring every legislature in every state, every year. Conservative All-Stars of the Arkansas General Assembly Defenders of Liberty ACU Defenders of Liberty are those members of the Arkansas General Assembly who scored 100 percent on the ACU 2013 State Legislative Rating and cast a vote for each adjudicated vote. Arkansas Senate: Bledsoe Hendren Hester King Arkansas House of Representatives: Bell Dotson C. Douglas Hammer Harris Hobbs Jean D. Meeks S. Meeks Miller Westerman Womack 4

5 ACU Conservatives ACU Conservatives are those members of the Arkansas General Assembly who scored 80 percent or higher on the ACU 2013 State Legislative Ratings. Arkansas Senate: Clark English Hickey Irvin Sanders Stubblefield Williams Arkansas House of Representatives: Alexander Ballinger Barnett Branscum Cozart Dale Deffenbaugh Farrer Fite Gossage Hickerson Kerr Payton Rice True Liberals of the Natural State True Liberals of the Natural State are those members of the Arkansas General Assembly who scored 0 percent on the ACU 2013 State Legislative Ratings. Arkansas Senate: Chesterfield Elliott Lindsey Arkansas House of Representatives: C. Armstrong E. Armstrong Broadaway Hodges Julian Leding McCrary McElroy McGill Murdock Nickels Perry Sabin Walker Word 5

6 Arkansas House Vote Descriptions 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS GUIDE ARKANSAS 1. HB 1041 Spending Cap. This bill would cap state spending by restricting increases to the state s average growth rate of disposable income. ACU supports these restraints on the growth of government and supported this bill. The House voted in favor of the bill on March 5, 2013 by a vote of but the bill did not receive the 51 votes required to pass. 2. SB 820 Government Subsidies. The companion bill to HB 1870 would declare an emergency to authorize general obligation bonds under amendment 82 to the Arkansas Constitution. ACU opposes these programs and opposed this bill. The bill passed the House on April 8, 2013 by a vote of SB 896 Second Amendment Rights. This bill removes the prohibition on concealed handgun carry license holders from carrying a concealed firearm on church property even if there also is a private school on the property. ACU supports strengthening Second Amendment rights and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on April 12, 2013 by a vote of HB 1243 Second Amendment Rights. This bill would allow faculty and staff (but not students) to carry concealed weapons on campus. ACU supports these measures to improve self-defense and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on February 25, 2013 by a vote of HB 1037 Abortion. This bill prohibits abortion after 20 weeks from conception with exceptions for rape or incest. ACU supports restrictions on abortion and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on February 4, 2013 by a vote of SB 134 Abortion. This bill bans abortions involving fetuses 12 weeks or older that have heartbeats unless there is a medical emergency and requires an ultrasound for expectant mothers before they attempt an abortion. ACU supports these restrictions and supported this bill. The House voted to override the Governor s veto on March 6, 2013 by a vote of HB 1143 Obamacare Implementation. This bill would implement the Obamacare Medicaid expansion program by using Obamacare funds to subsidize private insurance bought on the Obamacare exchanges. ACU opposes proposals that obligate the state to tens of millions of dollars in future funding and opposed this bill. The bill passed the House on April 11, 2013 by a vote of HB 1219 Obamacare Implementation. This bill, a companion measure to HB 1143, authorizes the state to use federal funds for the Obamacare Medicaid expansion program. ACU opposes this government expansion and opposed the bill. The bill passed the House on April 16, 2013 by a vote of SB 2 Voting Integrity. This bill require current photo identification when voting at the polls. The bill makes exceptions for nursing home residents or other facilities that provide long term care. ACU supports protecting the integrity of the ballot to prevent voter fraud and supported this bill. The House voted to override the Governor s veto on April 1, 2013 by a vote of

7 ARKANSAS 2013 HOUSE VOTES HB 1041 SB820 SB896 HB1243 HB1037 SB134 HB1143 HB1219 SB2 ACU Votes Votes Cast ACU % Representative Name Party ALEXANDER R X % ALTES R % Armstrong, C. D - - X P X P % Armstrong, E. D % B. Wilkins D - - X X % Baine D - - X + + X % BAIRD R + X % BALLINGER R + P % Baltz D % BARNETT R % BELL R % BIVIANO R % BRAGG R % BRANSCUM R + X % Broadaway D - - X X % BURRIS R + X % CARNINE R + - X X % Catlett D % CLEMMER R % COLLINS R + X % Copenhaver D - - X % COZART R % DALE R % DAVIS R % DEFFENBAUGH R % Dickinson D X % DOTSON R % DOUGLAS, C. R + + X % DOUGLAS, D. R + - X % Edwards D X % EUBANKS R % + in favor of the ACU position; - in opposition to the ACU position; (+) announcement in favor of the ACU position; (-) announcement in opposition to the ACU position; X did not vote; I Ineligible to vote; E Excused absence; P voted present 7

8 ARKANSAS 2013 HOUSE VOTES HB 1041 SB820 SB896 HB1243 HB1037 SB134 HB1143 HB1219 SB2 ACU Votes Votes Cast ACU % Representative Name Party FARRER R % Ferguson D X % Fielding D - - X % FITE R % GILLAM R % GOSSAGE R % H. Wilkins, IV D X - E % HAMMER R + X % HARRIS R % Hawthorne D X % HICKERSON R + X + X % Hillman D - - X % HOBBS R % Hodges D - - X X % Holcomb D - - X % HOPPER R P P % HOUSE R + X % HUTCHISON R % JEAN R + X % Jett D - - X + + X % Julian D % KERR R + X X % Kizzia D % Lampkin D - - X % LEA R % Leding D % Lenderman D X % LINCK R % Love D % LOWERY R + X % Magie D - - X X % + in favor of the ACU position; - in opposition to the ACU position; (+) announcement in favor of the ACU position; (-) announcement in opposition to the ACU position; X did not vote; I Ineligible to vote; E Excused absence; P voted present 8

9 ARKANSAS 2013 HOUSE VOTES HB 1041 SB820 SB896 HB1243 HB1037 SB134 HB1143 HB1219 SB2 ACU Votes Votes Cast ACU % Representative Name Party MALONE R % MAYBERRY R % McCrary D - - X - X % McElroy D - - X X % McGill D - - X X % McLean D - - X + + X - - X % MEEKS, D. R % MEEKS, S. R % MILLER R % Murdock D X % NEAL R + X % Nickels D X % Overbey D X - X % PAYTON R + X X % Perry D - - X - - X % Ratliff D % RICE R % Richey D - - X % Sabin D - - X % SCOTT R + - X % SHEPHERD R % SLINKARD R X % Smith I - - X X + X % Steel D - X X X % Talley D % Thompson, T. D - - X % Vines D - - X + + X % Wagner D - - X + + X % Walker D X X % Wardlaw D - - x X % WESTERMAN R + X % Whitaker D - X % + in favor of the ACU position; - in opposition to the ACU position; (+) announcement in favor of the ACU position; (-) announcement in opposition to the ACU position; X did not vote; I Ineligible to vote; E Excused absence; P voted present 9

10 ARKANSAS 2013 HOUSE VOTES HB 1041 SB820 SB896 HB1243 HB1037 SB134 HB1143 HB1219 SB2 ACU Votes Votes Cast ACU % Representative Name Party Williams, D. D X % WOMACK R % Word D - - X X % Wren D % Wright D - X + X % + in favor of the ACU position; - in opposition to the ACU position; (+) announcement in favor of the ACU position; (-) announcement in opposition to the ACU position; X did not vote; I Ineligible to vote; E Excused absence; P voted present 10

11 Arkansas Senate Vote Descriptions 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS GUIDE ARKANSAS 1. SB 875 Unemployment Insurance Reform. This bill reduces the maximum weekly unemployment benefits from $451 to $325, more in line with surrounding states, to help pay off $200 million in payments owed to the federal government. ACU supports measures to promote sound fiscal policy and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on April 8, 2013 by a vote of SB 818 Taxpayer Funding of Abortion. This bill bars state grants to any entity that performs abortions, gives abortion referrals or is an affiliate of those entities. ACU opposes taxpayer funding of abortion and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on April 9, 2013 by a vote of SB 367 Property Rights. This bill would compensate private property owners for government regulations that reduce the fair market value of their property. ACU supports strengthening property rights and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on March 12, 2013 by a vote of SB 820 Government Subsidies. The companion bill to HB 1870 would declare an emergency to authorize general obligation bonds under Amendment 82 to the Arkansas Constitution. ACU opposes these programs and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on April 8, 2013 by a vote of SB 896 Second Amendment Rights. This bill removes the prohibition on concealed handgun carry license holders from carrying a concealed firearm on church property even if there also is a private school on the property. ACU supports strengthening Second Amendment rights and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on March 21, 2013 by a vote of HB 1243 Second Amendment Rights. This bill would allow faculty and staff (but not students) to carry concealed weapons on campus. ACU supports these measures to improve self-defense and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on February 25, 2013 by a vote of HB 1037 Abortion. This bill prohibits abortion after 20 weeks from conception with exceptions for rape or incest. ACU supports restrictions on abortion and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on February 1, 2013 by a vote of SB 134 Abortion. This bill bans abortions involving fetuses 12 weeks or older that have heartbeats unless there is a medical emergency and requires an ultrasound for expectant mothers before they attempt an abortion. ACU supports these restrictions and supported this bill. The Senate voted to override the Governor s veto on March 5, 2013 by a vote of HB 1143 Obamacare Implementation. This bill would implement the Obamacare Medicaid expansion program by using Obamacare funds to subsidize private insurance bought on the Obamacare exchanges. ACU opposes proposals that obligate the state to tens of millions of dollars in future funding and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on April 16, 2013 by a vote of

12 10. HB 1219 Obamacare Implementation. This bill, a companion measure to HB 1143, authorizes the state to use federal funds for the Obamacare Medicaid expansion program. ACU opposes this government expansion and opposed the bill. The bill passed the Senate on April 17, 2013 by a vote of SB 2 Voting Integrity. This bill require current photo identification when voting at the polls. The bill makes exceptions for nursing home residents or other facilities that provide long term care. ACU supports protecting the integrity of the ballot to prevent voter fraud and supported this bill. The Senate voted to override the Governor s veto on March 27, 2013 by a vote of

13 ARKANSAS 2013 SENATE VOTES SB875 SB818 SB367 SB820 SB896 HB1243 HB1037 SB134 HB1143 HB1219 SB2 ACU Votes Votes Cast ACU % Senator Name Party BLEDSOE R % Bookout D - X X % Burnett D - - X X X % CALDWELL R + X % Cheatham D X % Chesterfield D X % CLARK R % DISMANG R % Elliott D % ENGLISH R % FILES R X % Flowers D % HENDREN R % HESTER R % HICKEY R X % HOLLAND R + + X % HUTCHINSON R + X % Ingram D X % IRVIN R X % Johnson D % KEY R % KING R % LAMOUREUX R % Lindsey D X % Maloch D - X % Pierce D X % RAPERT R + + X % SAMPLE R X X % SANDERS R % STUBBLEFIELD R % Teague D X X % + in favor of the ACU position; - in opposition to the ACU position; (+) announcement in favor of the ACU position; (-) announcement in opposition to the ACU position; X did not vote; I Ineligible to vote; E Excused absence; P voted present 13

14 ARKANSAS 2013 SENATE VOTES SB875 SB818 SB367 SB820 SB896 HB1243 HB1037 SB134 HB1143 HB1219 SB2 ACU Votes Votes Cast ACU % Senator Name Party Thompson, R. D X X % WILLIAMS R % WOODS R % Wyatt D % + in favor of the ACU position; - in opposition to the ACU position; (+) announcement in favor of the ACU position; (-) announcement in opposition to the ACU position; X did not vote; I Ineligible to vote; E Excused absence; P voted present 14

15 2013

16 The American Conservative Union The American Conservative Union (ACU) is America s oldest and largest grassroots conservative organization. Founded in 1964, ACU represents the views of Americans who are concerned with economic growth through lower taxes and reduced government spending and the issues of liberty, personal responsibility, traditional values, and national security. As America s conservative voice, ACU is the leading entity in providing conservative positions on issues to Congress, White House Administration Officials, State Governments, the media, political candidates and the public. The ACU s marquee initiatives include the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and the annual Ratings of Congress guide. Under the leadership of ACU Chairman Al Cardenas, the organization remains the standard bearer of conservatism in America. Chairman Cardenas is dedicated to growing the national conservative movement through the expansion of ACU programs, unprecedented outreach and advocacy especially to young, emerging activists and an extended reach into local and state issues. Among these inaugural efforts are the expansion of conservative rating to State Legislatures and a first-ever series of regional CPAC s in states across the country, building on the legacy of the annual national CPAC event in our Nation s Capital. For more information on the American Conservative Union, please visit our website at Contact Us 1331 H Street, NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC Phone: (202) conservative.org