2014 RATINGS of VIRGINIA

Transcription

1 2014 RATINGS of VIRGINIA Conservative.org TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the Chairman 2 VA Senate Vote Descriptions 5 ACU & ACUF Board Members 3 VA Senate Scores 6 How We Selected the 3 VA House Vote Descriptions Winners & Losers 4 VA House Scores 9

2 LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN Dear Fellow Conservatives, On behalf of our entire Board of Directors, I am pleased to present the American Conservative Union s 2014 Rating of the Virginia State Legislature. Though our State Ratings program is newer than our 44-year old Federal Ratings program, it is quickly evolving into a comprehensive evaluative tool that uses principles of conservatism to rate the voting record of state legislators. Our pledge is to rate every state for each session so that every citizen in the nation knows how his or her state officials vote. Our scoring focuses on the full array of policy issues, including taxes, budgets, religious freedom, 2nd Amendment, government regulation, life, and education. Though Reagan s presidential term ended years ago, his legacy and philosophy live on, continuing to guide modern day conservatives. While we take note how conservatives in State Legislatures cast their votes when choosing legislation to score, we at the ACU are ultimately guided by the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the principles of free markets that articulate the inviolate principles of Life, Liberty, and Property. The goal of our ratings is to educate voters about how the liberal agenda is out of sync with mainstream Americans desire for common sense legislation. It serves also to highlight and educate all Americans about how conservative solutions produce better results. As part of that educational initiative, we are proud to include Virginia in the 2014 ratings. 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 Van Hipp, Jr. Treasurer Tim Goeglein Secretary Joe Bast Bob Beauprez Morton Blackwell Ambassador John Bolton Al Cardenas Ron Christie Muriel Coleman Kellyanne Conway ACU FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS Jose Cardenas Kimberly Bellissimo Amy Frederick Jonathan Garthwaite Tom DeLay Becky Norton Dunlop John Eddy Luis Fortuno Amy Frederick Charlie Gerow Alan Gottlieb Van Hipp, Jr. James Lacy Charlie Gerow Millie Hallow Colin Hanna Willes Lee Michael Long Grover Norquist Anne Northup Ron Robinson Ned Ryun Fred Smith, Jr. Lewis Uhler Carolyn Meadows Matt Schlapp Thomas Winter HOW WE SELECTED THE VOTES As the nation s oldest grassroots conservative organization, the American Conservative Union serves as an umbrella organization for conservatives in America. The ACU tracks a wide range of issues before Congress and State Legislatures to determine which issues and votes serve as a clear litmus test separating those representatives who defend liberty and liberal members who have turned their backs on our founding principles constitutionally limited government, individual liberty, free markets, a strong national defense and traditional values. As a result, the ACU Ratings have included a wide variety of issues covering votes on taxes, wasteful government spending, cultural issues, defense and foreign policy. To contact ACU on a policy issue, please call The votes selected by the ACU are not always considered the most important votes as defined by others, instead the votes selected are chosen to create a clear ideological distinction among those casting them. With our annual ratings, ACU s mission is informing grassroots conservatives and the public in an unbiased, transparent manner on where individual members of Congress fall on the ideological spectrum H Street NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC (202)

4 2014 WINNERS & LOSERS % AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE EXCELLENCE < 10% COALITION OF THE RADICAL LEFT SENATE HOUSE HOUSE SENATE HOUSE HOUSE BLACK ANDERSON HOWELL, W. Alexander BaCote Kory MARTIN BELL, RICHARD LEFTWICH Colgan Brink Lopez McDOUGLE BELL, ROBERT MASSIE Locke Bulova McClellan OBENSHAIN BERG MILLER Lucas Carr McQuinn GARRETT CAMPBELL MINCHEW Barker Dance Plum REEVES FARISS MORRIS Deeds Filler-Corn Sickles STANLEY GILBERT PEACE Ebbin Herring Spruill STUART HABEEB TAYLOR Edwards Hester Surovell HEAD WEBERT Favola Hope Toscano Howell James Ward Marsden Keam Watts 80-89% AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE ACHIEVEMENT Marsh McEachin Miller SENATE HOUSE HOUSE HOUSE Puller CARRICO RUFF ADAMS BYRON HODGES HUGO RAMADAN ROBINSON Saslaw Wexton CLINE LANDES STOLLE COMSTOCK LaROCK WARE DeSTEPH LINGAMFELTER WILT FERRELL LOUPASSI GREASON O'BANNON 4

5 VIRGINIA SENATE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS 1. SB 236 Religious Freedom. This bill protects religious expression for students in a variety of ways, including the right to pray, organize prayer groups and wear clothing or accessories that have a religious connotation. ACU supports this freedom of expression and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on January 21, 2014 by a vote of SB 139 Cellphone Use. This bill changes the use of a cellphone while driving from a secondary to a primary offense. ACU opposes these measures that overregulate private activity and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on January 21, 2014 by a vote of with the Lt. Governor casting the 20th and deciding vote. 3. SB 587 Labor Law. This bill applies age discrimination laws to small businesses with as few as six employees while the federal law exempts those with fewer than 20 employees. ACU opposes these measures that serve to increase the litigation burden on small businesses and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on January 24, 2014 by a vote of SB 225 Government Regulation. This bill creates a new traffic offense if someone does not wait a reasonable time to open a car door on the side of moving traffic. ACU opposes this absurd case of government overregulation and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on January 29, 2014 by a vote of SB 499 Failing Schools. This bill postpones the transfer of failing schools from the local school boards to the Opportunity Educational Institution by one year. ACU supports efforts to help students in failing schools and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on February 4, 2014 by a vote of HB 669 Voting Integrity. This bill removes the requirement that a voter provide the date he or she signed the statement on the back of the envelope when casting an absentee ballot. ACU opposes weakening voting requirements that make it easier to commit fraud and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on February 28, 2014 by a vote of HB 1025 Biofuels Subsidies. This bill repeals the expiration date of 2016 for the biofuels subsidy program that currently benefits only one company in the Commonwealth of Virginia. ACU opposes these programs that pick winners and losers in the energy marketplace and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on March 4, 2014 by a vote of SB 330 Religious Freedom. This bill protects genetic counselors from participating in counseling that goes counter to their moral or religious beliefs. The Governor recommended changes that would require that counselor to find another genetic counselor that would provide this service and refer the client to that counselor. ACU supports religious freedom protections and opposed the Governors recommendation. The Senate rejected the Governor s changes on March 6, 2014 by a vote of HB 5002 Budget Bill. The Black amendment to the budget bill would have stopped appropriations for Obamacare coverage of newly eligible individuals without approval of the General Assembly. ACU opposes Obamacare and supported this amendment. The Senate defeated the amendment on June 12, 2014 by a vote of SB 250 Labor Law. This bill prohibits state agencies from asking a prospective employee if that person has been convicted of any crime, making exceptions for law enforcement agencies and fire departments. ACU opposes these restrictions and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on February 7, 2014 by a vote of

6 VIRGINIA SENATE SCORES VIRGINIA SENATE STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 41% REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 77% LOWEST REPUBLICAN WATKINS 20% DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 5% HIGHEST DEMOCRAT PUCKETT 22% VIRGINIA SENATE VOTE DETAIL Party District SB 236 SB 139 SB 587 SB 225 SB 499 SB 250 HB 669 HB 1025 SB 330 HB 5002 ACU Cast ACU % Alexander D % Barker D % BLACK R % CARRICO R % Colgan D % COSGROVE R E % Deeds D % Ebbin D % Edwards D % Favola D % GARRETT R % HANGER R % Howell D % Lewis D 6 X X X % Locke D % Lucas D % Marsden D % 6

7 VIRGINIA SENATE VOTE DETAIL Party District SB 236 SB 139 SB 587 SB 225 SB 499 SB 250 HB 669 HB 1025 SB 330 HB 5002 ACU Cast ACU % Marsh D % MARTIN R % McDOUGLE R % McEachin D % McWATERS R % Miller D % NEWMAN R % NORMENT R % OBENSHAIN R % Petersen D % Puckett D X % Puller D % REEVES R % RUFF R % Saslaw D % SMITH R % STANLEY R % STOSCH R % STUART R % VOGEL R % WAGNER R X % WATKINS R % Wexton D 33 X X X % 7

8 VIRGINIA HOUSE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS 1. HB 878 Second Amendment. This bill sets a time limit of 30 days for a law enforcement officer to certify the transfer of a firearm and provide written notification to an applicant if the application is denied. ACU supports strengthening Second Amendment rights and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on January 22, 2014 by a vote of HB 705 Concealed Carry. This bill simplifies the requirements for an out-of-state handgun permit to be recognized in Virginia as long as the permit holder carries a valid, government-issued photo ID and presents the ID to any law-enforcement officer on request. ACU supports these common sense provisions regarding gun laws and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on January 27, 2014 by a vote of HB 63 Home Schooling. This bill prohibits public schools from joining an organization that prevent home school students from participating in interscholastic programs if they meet all other requirements. ACU supports home schooling rights and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on January 30, 2014 by a vote of HB 388 Charter Schools. This bill requires local school boards to reimburse charter schools in their district for the difference between the cost of the local school board to educate students with disabilities and the proportionate share of funds allocated for this by federal and state sources. ACU supports strengthening of the charter school program and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on January 30, 2014 by a vote of HB 422 Labor Law. This bill prohibits local governments from forcing contractors to provide a fixed wage or additional benefits in order to get a government contract. ACU opposes government-imposed artificial wage levels that drive up the cost of projects and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on February 5, 2014 by a vote of HB 437 Constitutional Convention. This bill would have authorized Virginia s participation in a constitutional convention to propose a balanced budget amendment. ACU supports these efforts and supported this bill. The House defeated the bill on February 6, 2014 by a vote of HB 333 Local Control of Education. This bill eliminates the state requirement that schools cannot set an opening day prior to Labor Day. ACU supports local control of education and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on February 11, 2014 by a vote of HB 1025 Biofuels Subsidies. This bill eliminates the expiration date of 2016 for the biofuels subsidy program that currently benefits only one company in the Commonwealth of Virginia. ACU opposes these programs that pick winners and losers in the energy marketplace and opposed this bill. The bill passed the House on February 11, 2014 by a vote of SB 236 Religious Freedom. This bill protects religious expression for students in a variety of ways, including the right to pray, organize prayer groups and wear clothing or accessories that have a religious connotation. ACU supports this freedom of expression and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on February 26, 2014 by a vote of HB 650 Government Regulation. This bill would have exempted from a boating safety course those who already hold various landing and aquaculture licenses and those over 45 years of age who have had a Virginia motorboat registration certificate for over six years. The House rejected the Governors amendments to the bill which would have restored the requirement on April 23, 2014 by a vote of HR 566 Obamacare Implementation. This bill authorizes the Speaker of the House to take legal action against any attempt by the Governor to expand the Medicaid program under Obamacare by executive action without the approval of the General Assembly. ACU opposes the expansion of the Medicaid program with no reforms to eliminate waste and fraud and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on September 18, 2014 by a vote of HB 669 Voting Integrity. This bill removes the requirement that a voter provide the date he or she signed the statement on the back of the envelope when casting an absentee ballot. ACU opposes weakening voting requirements that make it easier to commit fraud and opposed this bill. The bill passed the House on February 7, 2014 by a vote of

9 VIRGINIA HOUSE SCORES VIRGINIA HOUSE STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 58% REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 79% LOWEST REPUBLICANS ALBO, RUST 42% DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 13% HIGHEST DEMOCRAT JOANNOU 67% VIRGINIA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL* Party District HB 878 HB 705 HB 63 HB 388 HB 422 HB 437 HB 669 HB 333 HB 1025 SB 236 HB 650 HR 566 ACU Cast ACU % ADAMS R % ALBO R % ANDERSON R % AUSTIN R % BaCote D % BELL, RICHARD R % BELL, ROBERT R % BERG R % Brink D X % Bulova D % BYRON R % CAMPBELL R % Carr D % CHAFIN R X % CLINE R % 9

10 VIRGINIA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL* Party District HB 878 HB 705 HB 63 HB 388 HB 422 HB 437 HB 669 HB 333 HB 1025 SB 236 HB 650 HR 566 ACU Cast ACU % COLE R % COMSTOCK R % COX R % Dance D % DAVIS R % DeSTEPH R % EDMUNDS R % FARISS R 59 + X % FERRELL R % Filler-Corn D % FOWLER R % Futrell D % GARRETT R % GILBERT R % GREASON R X X X % HABEEB R % HEAD R X % HELSEL R % Herring D % Hester D X X % HODGES R % Hope D X % Howell, A. D X % HOWELL, W. R X % HUGO R X % INGRAM R % James D % 10

11 VIRGINIA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL* Party District HB 878 HB 705 HB 63 HB 388 HB 422 HB 437 HB 669 HB 333 HB 1025 SB 236 HB 650 HR 566 ACU Cast ACU % Joannou D % JONES R % Keam D % KILGORE R % KNIGHT R % Kory D X X % Krupicka D % LANDES R % LaROCK R % LEFTWICH R % LeMUNYON R % LINGAMFELTER R % Lopez D % LOUPASSI R X X % MARSHALL, D. R X % MARSHALL, R. R 13 X % Mason D % MASSIE R % McClellan D 71 X % McQuinn D % MILLER R % MINCHEW R 10 X % MOREFIELD R % MORRIS R % Morrissey D % O'BANNON R % O'QUINN R % 11

12 VIRGINIA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL* Party District HB 878 HB 705 HB 63 HB 388 HB 422 HB 437 HB 669 HB 333 HB 1025 SB 236 HB 650 HR 566 ACU Cast ACU % ORROCK R % PEACE R X X % Plum D % POGGE R % POINDEXTER R % RAMADAN R % RANSONE R % Rasoul D % ROBINSON R % RUSH R % RUST R % SCOTT R % Sickles D % Simon D % Spruill D % STOLLE R % Surovell D % TAYLOR R X % Torian D % Toscano D % Tyler D 75 X X X % VILLANUEVA R % Ward D % WARE R X % Watts D % WEBERT R % 12

13 VIRGINIA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL* Party District HB 878 HB 705 HB 63 HB 388 HB 422 HB 437 HB 669 HB 333 HB 1025 SB 236 HB 650 HR 566 ACU Cast ACU % WILT R % WRIGHT R % YANCEY R % YOST R % * The following members of the House did not vote on enough of the selected votes and as a result were not rated: BLOXOM, Lewis, Lindsey, Sullivan. 13

14 NOTES

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