2016 RATINGS of KANSAS

Transcription

1 2016 RATINGS of KANSAS #ACURatings Conservative.org TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the Chairman 2 KS Senate Vote Descriptions 5 ACU & ACUF Board Members 3 KS Senate Scores 6 Selecting the 3 KS House Vote Descriptions Winners & Losers 4 KS House Scores 9

2 LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN Dear Fellow Conservatives, We are pleased to present the American Conservative Union Foundation s ratings for the 2016 meeting of the Kansas Legislature. Like our Congressional Ratings, our State Ratings reflect how elected officials view the role of government in an individual's life. The Kansas legislators with the highest scores voted most consistently with the ideals articulated in the U.S. Constitution: limited and transparent government, individual rights, personal responsibility, and lasting cultural values. In 2015, ACU Foundation was proud to make history by being the first organization to rate every single state legislature across the full spectrum of issues, helping each voter understand how his or her state ranks among the rest. Ultimately, we are trying to help people understand what conservatism is and how it improves the lives of everyday Americans. Conservatism is the political philosophy that sovereignty resides in the person. We think that understanding this idea is essential if Americans are to successfully govern themselves again. Working with our policy centers and fellows, the ACU Foundation engages in deep policy analysis to help create our annual state scorecards. We have enhanced the vote descriptions this year to show this effort more clearly. By examining all 50 of our State Ratings, we can see which states have most effectively promoted conservative solutions and which have struggled. Our ratings also help identify legislators who have courageously fought against liberal majorities. We hope that this guide helps you learn how well, or poorly, your legislators work to preserve the values we share. Sincerely, Matt Schlapp Chairman American Conservative Union 2

3 ACU BOARD MEMBERS Matt Schlapp Chairman Charlie Gerow First Vice Chairman Carolyn D. Meadows Second Vice Chairman Bob Beauprez Treasuer Amy Frederick Secretary Thomas Winter Executive Committee Member Larry Beasley Kimberly Bellissimo Morton C. Blackwell John Bolton Jose Cardenas Ron Christie Muriel Coleman Kellyanne Conway Tom DeLay Becky Norton Dunlop ACU FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS John Eddy Luis Fortuno Alan M. Gotleib Van D. Hipp, Jr. Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser James V. Lacy Michael R. Long Ed McFadden Grover G. Norquist Ron Robinson Mike Rose Ned Ryun Peter Samuelson Sabrina Schaeffer Fred L. Smith, Jr. Matt Smith Ed Yevoli SELECTING THE VOTES ACU researched and selected a range of bills before the Kansas 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 Kansas 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 Amy Frederick Secretary Kimberly Bellissimo Jose Cardenas Jonathan Garthwaite Charlie Gerow Colin Hanna Niger Innes Willes Lee Carolyn D. Meadows Randy Neugebauer Thomas Winter 1331 H Street NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC (202)

4 2016 WINNERS & LOSERS AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE EXCELLENCE <= 10 COALITION OF THE RADICAL LEFT SENATE SENATE BAUMGARDNER OLSON PILCHER-COOK PYLE TYSON BARKER BARTON BRUCHMAN CARPENTER, B. CARPENTER, W. CLAEYS GROSSERODE HAWKINS HEDKE HILDABRAND HOFFMAN R LUNN MACHEERS MASON MAST McPHERSON MERRICK RYCKMAN, Jr. SCAPA SCHWARTZ SUELLENTROP SUTTON TODD Francisco Alcala Burroughs Curtis Frownfelter Highberger Kuether Ousley Ruiz Tietze Victors Ward Wilson Wolfe Moore CORBET HUEBERT OSTERMAN VICKREY DeGRAAF HUTCHINS PECK WEBER DOVE HUTTON POWELL WHITMER ESAU JONES, K. READ ESTES KAHRS RHOADES GARBER KELLEY RUBIN AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE ACHIEVEMENT SENATE MELCHER ANTHIMIDES JOHNSON PAULS THIMESCH O'DONNELL BRADFORD JONES, D. PROEHL WILLIAMS POWELL DAVIS KELLY RAHJES HEMSLEY KLEEB RYCKMAN, Sr. HIGHLAND O'BRIEN SEIWERT 4

5 KANSAS SENATE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS 1. SB 65 Longbine Amendment Concealed Carry. The Longbine amendment to a bill easing restrictions on the concealed carry of a firearm in a public building postpones the right to concealed carry on college campuses from 2017 to ACU supports the founder s belief in the Second Amendment and opposed this amendment. The House defeated the amendment on February 11, 2016 by a vote of SB 457 Nursing Home Bed Tax Increase. This bill increases by 150 the nursing home bed tax as a way to obtain more federal Medicaid funds that would be funneled back into the nursing homes that have Medicaid patients. ACU opposes this scheme that drives up the cost of Medicaid at the cost of nursing homes for non-medicaid patients and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 17, 2016 by a vote of SB 338 Property Rights. This bill gives broad authority to local governments to seize property designated as blighted or abandoned and turn the property over to nonprofit housing rehabilitation groups without providing compensation to the property owner. ACU Foundation s Center for 21st Century Property Rights engages heavily on this issue and supports the protection of property rights and ACU opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 23, 2016 by a vote of SB 363 Licensing for Acupuncturists. This bill extends the licensing requirements for acupuncturists to include dry needling in addition to traditional acupuncture. Physical therapists, who practice dry needling as part of their manual therapy, will have to receive 1,350 hours of training to obtain a license. Research based on the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index shows that when entrepreneurship is suppressed, the resulting decline in economic growth leads to a reduction in family prosperity. ACU opposes the proliferation of licensing requirements for every occupation, opposes bills that are primarily designed to restrict competition, and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 22, 2016 by a vote of SB 469 Teacher Union Referendums. This bill requires that school employees vote to renew union representation in each school district every three years. The current requirement of a signed petition by 30 percent of all the district s school employees has resulted in some districts going decades without a vote. ACU supports strengthening worker rights and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 23, 2016 by a vote of SB 318 Renewable Energy Subsidies. This bill repeals the Kansas Electric Transmission Authority Act that provides taxpayer funds to facilitate renewable energy transmission. The bill also suspends all work by the state in response to the EPA power plant mandates until the federal court case against the mandates is resolved. ACU supports all forms of energy, believes government should not favor one form of energy over another, and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 28, 2016 by a vote of HB 2088 Property Tax Cap. This bill moves up the date for a property tax cap for local governments from 2018 to Under the bill, if a city or county s tax revenues are increased as a result of rising property values, the locality must reduce the tax rate or hold a referendum to obtain approval for additional spending. Research based on the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index shows that higher tax burdens suppress economic growth, which reduces family prosperity. ACU supports this fiscally responsible approach and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 29, 2016 by a vote of SB 128 Transparency in Judicial Selection. This bill allows the public to know what the nominating commission considers when selecting justices, requires the Governor to release the names of applicants for the Court of Appeals, and makes the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission subject to the Kansas Open Records and Meetings Act. ACU supports strengthening government transparency and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 1, 2016 by a vote of SB 248 Allocation of Federal Family Planning Funds. This bill puts into law an annual appropriation provision that sets the priorities for federal Title X family planning funds. The funds will go to full-service public entities and any additional monies must go to non-public entities such as hospitals or health centers that provide comprehensive care. Planned Parenthood does not qualify under this criteria. ACU opposes taxpayer funds being sent to organizations that perform abortions and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 1, 2016 by a vote of SB 366 Real Estate Price Controls. This bill prevents local governments from enacting rules that control the rental or purchase price for residential or commercial property and prevents mandated inspections of rental property without the owner s consent. ACU supports a free market in real estate and strengthening of property rights and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 1, 2016 by a vote of SB 402 Welfare Reform. This bill reduces the total amount of time any individual can receive welfare benefits under the federal Targeted Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program from three years to two years with a one year extension for hardship cases. The bill also tightens work rule requirements and allows the state to cross-check lottery winners with welfare beneficiaries to determine eligibility. Research based on the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index shows that an overreliance on welfare diminishes recipients employment prospects, keeping families out of the workforce and unable to prosper. ACU supports reasonable restrictions on welfare benefits and efforts to prevent fraud and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 1, 2016 by a vote of HB 2502 Concealed Carry. This bill expands the right of local government employees to carry a concealed firearm while on duty by allowing them to carry the firearm when they travel for work. ACU supports the founders belief in the Second Amendment and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 1, 2016 by a vote of

6 KANSAS SENATE SCORES KANSAS SENATE STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 63 REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 72 LOWEST REPUBLICAN SCHMIDT 33 DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 28 HIGHEST DEMOCRAT HALEY SPARKS KANSAS SENATE VOTE DETAIL 6 Party District SB 65 Longbine Amd. SB 457 SB 338 SB 363 SB 469 SB 318 HB 2088 SB 128 SB 248 SB 366 SB 402 HB 2502 ACU ABRAMS R E E ARPKE R BAUMGARDNER R BOWERS R BRUCE R DENNING R DONOVAN R 27 X Faust-Goudeau D FITZGERALD R Francisco D X Haley D 4 X Hawk D Hensley D Holland D X HOLMES R Kelly D KERSCHEN R KING R KNOX R Cast LIFETIME AVG

7 KANSAS SENATE VOTE DETAIL Party District SB 65 Longbine Amd. SB 457 SB 338 SB 363 SB 469 SB 318 HB 2088 SB 128 SB 248 SB 366 SB 402 HB 2502 ACU LaTURNER R LONGBINE R LOVE R LYNN R MASTERSON R McGINN R 31 E X MELCHER R 11 + E O'DONNELL R OLSON R OSTMEYER R PETERSEN R Pettey D PILCHER-COOK R POWELL R PYLE R SCHMIDT R SMITH R TYSON R WAGLE R WILBORN R WOLF R X Cast LIFETIME AVG 7

8 KANSAS VOTE DESCRIPTIONS 1. SB 188 School District Accountability. This bill requires school districts to post on their website expenditures and salaries of its top employees. This includes a breakdown of expenses for association dues and travel and a breakdown of taxpayer dollars spent on pupil instruction. ACU supports these reforms that strengthen taxpayer accountability and supported this bill. The House defeated the bill on February 5, 2016 by a vote of SB 175 Religious Liberty. This bill prohibits postsecondary schools from taking adverse action against a religious student association if the association rejects members who don t adhere to the association s sincere religious belief. ACU supports the First Amendment right to freely practice one s religion and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 16, 2016 by a vote of HB 2471 Hair Cutting Licenses. This bill allows the Board of Cosmetology to impose a $1,000 fine for anyone caught hair cutting without a hair cutting license. It also adds a requirement that barbers undergo 1,500 hours of instruction to graduate from barber colleges. Research based on the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index shows that when entrepreneurship is suppressed, the resulting decline in economic growth leads to a reduction in family prosperity. ACU opposes the proliferation of licenses for every occupation, opposes bills that are primarily designed to restrict competition, and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 22, 2016 by a vote of HB 2724 Calculation of Retirement Benefits for State Employees. This bill requires public school districts to document vacation and sick leave on employees for the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System. The bill also prevents payments to retirement plans (409A and 457F nonqualified deferred compensation) from being used to calculate final salaries to obtain benefits. ACU supports taxpayer accountability and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 22, 2016 by a vote of SB 338 Property Rights. This bill gives broad authority to local governments to seize property designated as blighted or abandoned and turn the property over to nonprofit housing rehabilitation groups without providing compensation to the property owner. ACU Foundation s Center for 21st Century Property Rights engages heavily on this issue and supports the protection of property rights and ACU opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 23, 2016 by a vote of but it was vetoed by the Governor. 6. SB 318 Renewable Energy Subsidies. This bill repeals the Kansas Electric Transmission Authority Act that provides taxpayer funds to facilitate renewable energy transmission. The bill also suspends all work by the state in response to the EPA power plant mandates until the federal court case against the mandates is resolved. ACU supports all forms of energy, believes government should not favor one form of energy over another, and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 24, 2016 by a vote of HB 2088 Property Tax Cap. This bill moves up the date for a property tax cap for local governments from 2018 to Under the bill, if a city or county s tax revenues are increased as a result of rising property values, the locality must reduce the tax rate or hold a referendum to obtain approval for additional spending. Research based on the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index shows that higher tax burdens suppress economic growth, which reduces family prosperity. ACU supports this fiscally responsible approach and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on April 29, 2016 by a vote of SB 128 Transparency in Judicial Selection. This bill allows the public to know what the nominating commission considers when selecting justices, requires the Governor to release the names of applicants for the Court of Appeals, and makes the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission subject to the Kansas Open Records and Meetings Act. ACU supports strengthening government transparency and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on April 30, 2016 by a vote of SB 366 Real Estate Price Controls. This bill prevents local governments from enacting rules that control the rental or purchase price for residential or commercial property and prevents mandated inspections of rental property without the owner s consent. ACU supports a free market in real estate and strengthening of property rights and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on April 30, 2016 by a vote of SB 248 Allocation of Federal Family Planning Funds. This bill puts into law an annual appropriation provision that sets the priorities for federal Title X family planning funds. The funds will go to full-service public entities and any additional monies must go to non-public entities that are hospitals or health centers that provide comprehensive care. Planned Parenthood does not qualify under this criteria. ACU opposes taxpayer funds being sent to organizations that perform abortions and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on May 1, 2016 by a vote of SB 402 Welfare Reform. This bill reduces the total amount of time any individual can receive welfare benefits under the federal Targeted Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program from three years to two years with a one year extension for hardship cases. The bill also tightens work rule requirements and allows the state to cross check lottery winners with welfare beneficiaries to determine eligibility. Research based on the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index shows that an overreliance on welfare diminishes recipients employment prospects, keeping families out of the workforce and unable to prosper. ACU supports reasonable restrictions on welfare benefits and efforts to prevent fraud and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on May 1, 2016 by a vote of HB 2502 Concealed Carry. This bill expands the right of local government employees to carry a concealed firearm while on duty by allowing them to carry the firearm when they travel for work. ACU supports the founders belief in the Second Amendment and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on May 1, 2016 by a vote of

9 KANSAS SCORES KANSAS STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 62 REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 77 LOWEST REPUBLICANS BOLLIER, CLAYTON, GALLAGHER, ROOKER 17 DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 13 HIGHEST DEMOCRAT HENRY 42 KANSAS VOTE DETAIL Party District SB 188 SB 175 HB 2471 HB 2724 SB 338 SB 318 HB 2088 SB 128 SB 366 SB 248 SB 402 HB 2502 Alcala D ALFORD R ANTHIMIDES R Ballard D BARKER R BARTON R BECKER R BILLINGER R BOLDRA R BOLLIER R BRADFORD R BRUCHMAN R Burroughs D CAMPBELL R Carlin D Carmichael D CARPENTER, B. R CARPENTER, W. R CLAEYS R CLARK R ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 9

10 KANSAS VOTE DETAIL Party District SB 188 SB 175 HB 2471 HB 2724 SB 338 SB 318 HB 2088 SB 128 SB 366 SB 248 SB 402 HB 2502 CLAYTON R CONCANNON R X CORBET R Curtis D DAVIS R DeGRAAF R DIERKS R DOLL R DOVE R EDMONDS R X X X X X X 3 6 n/a ESAU R ESTES R EWY R X X X X X X 3 6 n/a FINCH R Finney D FRANCIS R Frownfelter D 37 - X GALLAGHER R GARBER R GOICO R X + X X X X + X 5 6 n/a GONZALEZ R GROSSERODE R HAWKINS R HEDKE R Helgerson D n/a 25 HEMSLEY R Henderson D Henry D HIBBARD R Highberger D HIGHLAND R HILDABRAND R HILL R HINEMAN R HOFFMAN R R R X ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 10

11 KANSAS VOTE DETAIL Party District SB 188 SB 175 HB 2471 HB 2724 SB 338 SB 318 HB 2088 SB 128 SB 366 SB 248 SB 402 HB 2502 Houston D HUEBERT R HUTCHINS R HUTTON R JENNINGS R JOHNSON R JONES, D. R JONES, K. R KAHRS R KELLEY R X + X + + X KELLY R KIEGERL R 121 X X KLEEB R Kuether D LEWIS R LUNN R Lusk D Lusker D MACHEERS R MASON R MAST R McPHERSON R MERRICK R MOXLEY R O'BRIEN R OSTERMAN R Ousley D PATTON R PAULS R PECK R 12 X X PHILLIPS R POWELL R 30 X PROEHL R RAHJES R n/a 83 READ R RHOADES R 72 X ROOKER R ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 11

12 KANSAS VOTE DETAIL Party District SB 188 SB 175 HB 2471 HB 2724 SB 338 SB 318 HB 2088 SB 128 SB 366 SB 248 SB 402 HB 2502 RUBIN R X Ruiz D X RYCKMAN, Jr. R RYCKMAN, Sr. R Sawyer D n/a 8 SCAPA R SCHROEDER R X X X SCHWAB R SCHWARTZ R Scott D n/a 25 SEIWERT R 101 X SLOAN R SMITH R SUELLENTROP R 91 X SUTTON R SWANSON R THIMESCH R THOMPSON R Tietze D TODD R Trimmer D VICKREY R Victors D X Ward D WAYMASTER R WEBER R n/a 92 Whipple D WHITMER R WILLIAMS R X Wilson D Winn D Wolfe Moore D Legislator did not vote on enough of the selected bills and as a result the 2016 percentage was not rated. ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG 12