RATINGS of NEW JERSEY

Transcription

1 2017 RATINGS of NEW JERSEY #ACURatings Conservative.org TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the Chairman... 2 ACU & ACUF Board Members... 3 Selecting the Winners & Losers... 4 NJ Senate Statistics... 5 NJ Senate Vote Descriptions... 6 NJ Senate Scores... 8 NJ Assembly Statistics NJ Assembly Vote Descriptions NJ Assembly Scores... 13

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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey 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 201 N. Union Street, Suite 370 Alexandria, VA (202)

4 2017 WINNERS & LOSERS AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE EXCELLENCE <= 10 COALITION OF THE RADICAL LEFT SENATE HOUSE HOUSE HOUSE SENATE SENATE HOUSE HOUSE HOUSE n/a AUTH HOWARTH SPACE Beach Rice Barclay Greenwald Mukherji BUCCO PETERSON WEBBER Codey Ruiz Benson Gusciora Muoio CARROLL PHOEBUS Cruz-Perez Sacco Burzichelli Holley Oliver DIMAIO RIBLE Cunningham Sarlo Caputo Jasey Pinkin Diegnan Scutari Caride Jimenez Pintor Marin Gill Smith Chaparro Johnson Prieto SENATE AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE ACHIEVEMENT HOUSE Gordon Greenstein Lesniak Madden Stack Sweeney Vitale Weinberg Chiaravalloti Conaway Coughlin Danielsen Jones Karabinchak Kennedy Lagana Schaer Singleton Sumter Taliaferro DOHERTY GOVE Pou Whelan DeAngelo Lampitt Tucker OROHO MCGUCKIN O'SCANLON WOLFE Egan Eustace Giblin Green McKeon McKnight Moriarty Mosquera Vainieri Huttle Watson Wimberly Zwicker 4

5 NEW JERSEY SENATE STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 27 NEW JERSEY SENATE CONSERVATIVE RATINGS RED = REPUBLICANS REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 61 BLUE = DEMOCRATS DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 8 30 LOWEST REPUBLICANS BECK SINGER 36 # OF STATE SENATORS HIGHEST DEMOCRAT ACU PERCENTAGE VAN DREW 36 5

6 NEW JERSEY SENATE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS 1. S 2868 Expanding Selected Residential Developers Tax Credits. This bill increases the cap on the tax credit that is given to residential developers from $718 million to $823 million, but only for projects in areas approved by the government that have been labeled underdeveloped. ACU opposes these subsidy programs that disadvantage those not favored by the government and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on January 23, 2017 by a vote of S 3040 Exempting Police and Fire Unions Pension Funds from Oversight. This bill removes the police and fire unions from oversight by the state Treasury Department s investment management system. ACU opposes giving a blank check to a pension fund investment that has resulted in billions of dollars in unfunded liabilities in many states and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 13, 2017 by a vote of 37-0 but it was vetoed by the governor. 3. A 4701 Joining the Northeast Greenhouse Gas Initiative. This bill requires New Jersey to join a northeast regional cap and trade program to reduce greenhouse gases. ACU opposes government mandates designed carry out a politicized global warming agenda and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by raising the cost of energy and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 25, 2017 by a vote of but it was vetoed by the governor. 4. S 3034 Legalizing Certain Types of Fireworks. This bill allows the sale of sparklers and non-exploding, non-aerial fireworks. Sales of these items have carried penalties that include prison time. ACU supports this expansion of individual liberties and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 25, 2017 by a vote of S 3248 Expanding Medicaid. This bill dramatically increases eligibility for Medicaid by expanding coverage to individuals earning up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, an increase from the current maximum income level of 138 percent. ACU opposes this expansion of a program rife with fraud and waste, which now provides taxpayer benefits to many able-bodied childless adults and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 19, 2017 by a vote of A 31 Increasing Welfare Benefits. This bill increases state welfare benefits by 30 percent by the year 2020 and then automatically increases the cash benefits each year. The state program is based on the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. An overreliance on welfare diminishes recipients employment prospects, keeping families out of the workforce and unable to prosper, as illustrated by the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index. ACU believes welfare should be temporary and designed to move people into the workforce as quickly as possible and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 26, 2017 by a vote of but it was vetoed by the governor. 7. A 3480 Mandating Hiring Practices. This bill prohibits employers from inquiring about past salary history of prospective employees or considering their current pay in making a salary offer. ACU believes individuals and companies should be free to negotiate their own benefits in the market place and opposes this mandate, especially when with this basic information is required for federal government hiring and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 26, 2017 by a vote of A 33 Repealing the Cap on Welfare Benefits. This bill repeals what is known as the "family cap on welfare benefits" that prevents increased cash benefits for a child born within ten months of a welfare application. An overreliance on welfare diminishes recipients employment prospects, keeping families out of the workforce and unable to prosper, as illustrated by the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index. ACU supports reasonable restrictions on welfare benefits and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 26, 2017 by a vote of but it was vetoed by the governor. 9. A 4927 Expanding Paid Family Leave. This bill expands the mandate for paid family leave by forcing all companies with 20 or more employees (current law applies to companies with at least 50 employees) to provide the benefit, and also more than doubles the mandated time off from six weeks to 12. ACU opposes these mandates that interfere with the right of employees to freely negotiate their own benefits and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 26, 2017 by a vote of but it was vetoed by the governor. 6

7 10. A 4870 Raising the Minimum Wage. This bill gives a special minimum wage of $18 an hour for subcontractor workers at the state s airport, train and ferry terminals along with special benefits. Studies by the Congressional Budget Office have found increases in the minimum wage results in higher unemployment. High rates of unemployment hinder family prosperity, as illustrated by the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index. ACU opposes these artificial wages that hurt those who need employment the most, such as inexperienced workers and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 26, 2017 by a vote of A 2297 Mandating Insurance Coverage. This bill requires insurance companies to cover all pharmacy costs for a six months' supply of contraceptives. ACU opposes insurance mandates and believes the use of contraceptives is a matter of individual liberty and not something others should be forced to pay for through higher insurance premiums and taxes and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on December 7, 2017 by a vote of S 2872 Giving Special Tax Credits to Atlantic City Businesses. This bill designates Atlantic City as a Garden State Growth Zone and creates an aviation district near the airport where businesses can get special tax credits. ACU opposes these programs disadvantage businesses not favored by the government and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on December 18, 2017 by a vote of S 2276 Increasing Mandates for Solar Energy Use. This bill changes the mandate deadline for requiring 4 percent of solar energy use by electric power providers from 2027 to The bill also creates a new bureaucracy, The New Jersey Solar Energy Commission, to develop new mandates that will run through ACU supports all forms of energy, believes government should not favor one form of energy over another and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on January 8, 2018 by a vote of (The 2017 session of the Senate carried over to January 8). 12. A 224 Licensing for Pool Contractors. This bill creates a new occupational license for any contractor that cleans, builds or installs pools and spas and makes it illegal to perform any of these services without a government license. 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 occupational licenses that are primarily designed to reduce competition and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on December 18, 2017 by a vote of

8 NEW JERSEY SENATE SCORES NEW JERSEY SENATE VOTE DETAIL Party District S 2868 S 3040 A 4701 S 3034 S 3248 A 31 A 3480 A 33 A 4927 A 4870 A 2297 A 224 S 2872 S 2276 ADDIEGO R X + - X + X - X ALLEN R X X + X BATEMAN R Beach D BECK R Bell D 2 X X X X X X X X X X n/a n/a n/a BUCCO R 25 - X CARDINALE R 39 X Codey D CONNORS R X X CORRADO R 40 X X X X X X X X X X - X X n/a n/a n/a Cruz-Perez D 5 - X X X X n/a 5 Cunningham D X X Diegnan D DOHERTY R Gill D 34 X - - X Gordon D 38 X Greenstein D X X HOLZAPFEL R 10 X X + + X X - X 7 9 n/a KEAN R KYRILLOS R X X Lesniak D Madden D O'TOOLE R X X X X X X 5 8 n/a OROHO R X X X PENNACCHIO R Pou D Rice D X Ruiz D ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG + Member voted with ACU s position - Member voted against ACU s position X Member was absent for vote E Member was excused for vote 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. 8

9 NEW JERSEY SENATE VOTE DETAIL Party District S 2868 S 3040 A 4701 S 3034 S 3248 A 31 A 3480 A 33 A 4927 A 4870 A 2297 A 224 S 2872 S 2276 Sacco D X Sarlo D X X X Scutari D 22 X X X SINGER R Smith D X Stack D X Sweeney D THOMPSON R 12 X X X Turner D X - X Van Drew D Vitale D Weinberg D Whelan D X X X X ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG + Member voted with ACU s position - Member voted against ACU s position X Member was absent for vote E Member was excused for vote 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. 9

10 NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLY STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 31 NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLY CONSERVATIVE RATINGS RED = REPUBLICANS REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 81 BLUE = DEMOCRATS DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 9 LOWEST REPUBLICAN BURZICHELLI HIGHEST DEMOCRATS # OF STATE REPS BROWN ACU PERCENTAGE

11 NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLY VOTE DESCRIPTIONS 1. S 2868 Expanding Selected Residential Developers Tax Credits. This bill increases the cap on the tax credit that is given to residential developers from $718 million to $823 million, but only for projects in areas approved by the government that have been labeled underdeveloped. ACU opposes these subsidy programs that disadvantage those not favored by the government and opposed this bill. The Assembly passed the bill on February 15, 2017 by a vote of S 158 Expanding the Angel Investor Tax Credit Program. This bill expands the so-called Angel Investor Tax Credit." "Angel Investors" are individuals who financially support a company favored by the government, and in this case, the bill expands the tax break to businesses the government defines as emerging technology companies. ACU opposes programs that provide unfair competitive advantages to select businesses and transfer tax burdens to those companies not favored by the government and opposed this bill. The Assembly passed the bill on March 16, 2017 by a vote of S 3040 Exempting Police and Fire Unions Pension Funds From Oversight. This bill removes the police and fire unions from oversight by the state Treasury Department s investment management system. ACU opposes giving a blank check to a pension fund investment that has resulted in billions of dollars in unfunded liabilities in many states and opposed this bill. The Assembly passed the bill on March 23, 2017 by a vote of 60-4 but it was vetoed by the governor. 4. A 3480 Mandating Hiring Practices. This bill prohibits employers from inquiring about past salary history of prospective employees or considering their current pay in making a salary offer. ACU believes individuals and companies should be free to negotiate their own benefits in the market place and opposes this mandate, especially when with this basic information is required for federal government hiring and opposed this bill. The Assembly passed the bill on May 22, 2017 by a vote of A 4701 Joining the Northeast Greenhouse Gas Initiative. This bill requires New Jersey to join a northeast regional cap and trade program to reduce greenhouse gases. ACU opposes government mandates designed carry out a politicized global warming agenda and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by raising the cost of energy and opposed this bill. The Assembly passed the bill on May 22, 2017 by a vote of but it was vetoed by the governor. 6. S 3034 Legalizing Certain Types of Fireworks. This bill allows the sale of sparklers and non-exploding, non-aerial fireworks. Sales of these items have carried penalties that include prison time. ACU supports this expansion of individual liberties and supported this bill. The Assembly passed the bill on June 22, 2017 by a vote of A 31 Increasing Welfare Benefits. This bill increases state welfare benefits by 30 percent by the year 2020 and then automatically increases the cash benefits each year. The state program is based on the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. An overreliance on welfare diminishes recipients employment prospects, keeping families out of the workforce and unable to prosper, as illustrated by the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index. ACU believes welfare should be temporary and designed to move people into the workforce as quickly as possible and opposed this bill. The Assembly passed the bill on June 22, 2017 by a vote of but it was vetoed by the governor. 8. A 4870 Raising the Minimum Wage. This bill gives a special minimum wage of $18 an hour for subcontractor workers at the state s airport, train and ferry terminals along with special benefits. Studies by the Congressional Budget Office have found increases in the minimum wage results in higher unemployment. High rates of unemployment hinder family prosperity, as illustrated by the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index. ACU opposes these artificial wages that hurt those who need employment the most, such as inexperienced workers, and opposed this bill. The Assembly passed the bill on June 22, 2017 by a vote of but it was vetoed by the governor. 9. A 33 Repealing the Cap on Welfare Benefits. This bill repeals what is known as the "family cap on welfare benefits" that prevents increased cash benefits for a child born within ten months of a welfare application. An overreliance on welfare diminishes recipients employment prospects, keeping families out of the workforce and unable to prosper, as illustrated by the ACU Foundation s Family Prosperity Index. ACU supports reasonable restrictions on welfare benefits and opposed this bill. The Assembly passed the bill on June 22, 2017 by a vote of but it was vetoed by the governor. 10. A 4927 Expanding Paid Family Leave. This bill expands the mandate for paid family leave by forcing all companies with 20 or more employees (current law applies to companies with at least 50 employees) to provide the benefit, and also more than doubles the mandated time off from six weeks to 12. ACU opposes these mandates that interfere with the right of employees to freely negotiate their own benefits and opposed this bill. The Assembly passed the bill on June 22, 2017 by a vote of but it was vetoed by the governor. 11. S 359 Raising the Age to Purchase Tobacco Products. This bill raises the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products and electronic smoking devices that do not use tobacco from 18 to 21. ACU believes those old enough to risk their lives for their country in military service are old enough to purchase tobacco and opposed this bill. The Assembly passed the bill on June 22, 2017 by a vote of

12 12. A 3492 Increasing Funding for Planned Parenthood. This bill makes a supplemental appropriation of $7.5 million for family planning services that includes funds for Planned Parenthood on top of funding already approved in the budget. ACU believes abortion is a human tragedy, supports restrictions on the practice, opposes taxpayer funds that support Planned Parenthood (the nation s largest abortion provider) and opposed this bill. The Assembly voted to override the governor s veto of the bill on June 29, 2017 by a vote of A 2297 Mandating Insurance Coverage. This bill requires insurance companies to cover all pharmacy costs for a six months' supply of contraceptives. ACU opposes insurance mandates and believes the use of contraceptives is a matter of individual liberty and not something others should be forced to pay for through higher insurance premiums and taxes and opposed this bill. The Assembly passed the bill on July 31, 2017 by a vote of S 2276 Increasing Mandates for Solar Energy Use. This bill changes the mandate deadline for requiring 4 percent of solar energy use by electric power providers from 2027 to The bill also creates a new bureaucracy, The New Jersey Solar Energy Commission, to develop new mandates that will run through ACU supports all forms of energy, believes government should not favor one form of energy over another, and opposed this bill. The Assembly passed the bill on December 7, 2017 by a vote of A 224 Licensing for Pool Contractors. This bill creates a new occupational license for any contractor that cleans, builds or installs pools and spas and makes it illegal to perform any of these services without a government license. 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 occupational licenses that are primarily designed to reduce competition and opposed this bill. The Assembly passed the bill on January 8, 2018 by a vote of (The 2017 session carried over through January 8). 12

13 NEW ASSEMBLY HOUSE SCORES NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLY VOTE DETAIL Party District S 2868 S 158 S 3040 A 3480 A 4701 S 3034 A 31 A 4870 A 33 A 4927 S 359 A 3492 A 2297 S 2276 A 224 Andrzejczak D X + + X - X AUTH R X X Barclay D Benson D BRAMNICK R X BROWN R X BUCCO R X X X Burzichelli D X Caputo D 28 X X - X Caride D X - X CARROLL R 25 + X X X X Chaparro D X Chiaravalloti D CIATTARELLI R 16 X - X X CLIFTON R X + X Conaway D X Coughlin D 19 X DANCER R X + X Danielsen D X DeAngelo D DECROCE R X + + X X X X X X n/a DIMAIO R Downey D Egan D 17 - X X Eustace D 38 X Giblin D X GOVE R X X + X Green D X X Greenwald D Gusciora D 15 X X ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG + Member voted with ACU s position - Member voted against ACU s position X Member was absent for vote E Member was excused for vote 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. 13

14 NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLY VOTE DETAIL Party District S 2868 S 158 S 3040 A 3480 A 4701 S 3034 A 31 A 4870 A 33 A 4927 S 359 A 3492 A 2297 S 2276 A 224 HANDLIN R X X - - X Holley D X X Houghtaling D HOWARTH R X X X + + X Jasey D Jimenez D Johnson D X Jones D Karabinchak D KEAN R 30 X X Kennedy D 22 X X X Lagana D 38 - X Lampitt D 6 X X Land D X + + X - X Mazzeo D X - X MCGUCKIN R X n/a 95 McKeon D X McKnight D Moriarty D 4 X - X X Mosquera D X X Mukherji D MUÑOZ R X X X Muoio D X Oliver D X X X O'SCANLON R PETERSON R X X + X PHOEBUS R X + X Pinkin D Pintor Marin D n/a 7 Prieto D ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG + Member voted with ACU s position - Member voted against ACU s position X Member was absent for vote E Member was excused for vote 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. 14

15 NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLY VOTE DETAIL Party District S 2868 S 158 S 3040 A 3480 A 4701 S 3034 A 31 A 4870 A 33 A 4927 S 359 A 3492 A 2297 S 2276 A 224 Quijano D X X X X X X n/a 0 0 RIBLE R X + X X X RODRIGUEZ-GREGG R X - X + + X X X + X X n/a n/a 82 ROONEY R 40 X X X n/a 75 RUMPF R X X X X X X X X n/a RUSSO R X X X X X X X X 3 7 n/a Schaer D SCHEPISI R 39 + X - X X + X - X X 7 9 n/a Singleton D SPACE R Sumter D X X Taliaferro D THOMSON R 30 X X X X X X X X X X X X X n/a n/a n/a Tucker D X - X Vainieri Huttle D X X n/a 3 Watson D 29 X X n/a 8 WEBBER R X Wimberly D X X Wisniewski D WOLFE R 10 X X X Zwicker D ACU Cast LIFETIME AVG + Member voted with ACU s position - Member voted against ACU s position X Member was absent for vote E Member was excused for vote 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. 15