2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS GUIDE

Transcription

1 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS GUIDE NORTH CAROLINA The American Conservative Union took our highly touted Congressional Ratings program to the State Legislatures for the third year in a row, grading members on their votes on key conservative issues. In 2012, we graded State Legislatures in fifteen critical states, including Colorado, Florida, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia. In 2013, we expanded 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, Table of Contents defense, or 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... 2 A Letter From The Chairman... 3 How We Selected the... 4 Conservative All-Stars... 4 NC House Vote Descriptions... 6 House Scores... 8 NC Senate Vote Descriptions...12 Senate Scores...14 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 February 4, 2014 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 North Carolina 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. Al Cardenas, ACU Chairman In 2011, we brought that same commitment to conservative ideals to the states, rating members in five legislatures. I am pleased to report that, in 2013, we scored twenty states. This is a part of the ACU plan to bring our ratings to all fifty states scoring every legislature in every state, every session. 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 Chairman, the American Conservative Union 1331 H Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC Tel: (202) Fax: (202)

4 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS GUIDE NORTH CAROLINA Conservatives of the North Carolina General Assembly Defenders of Liberty ACU Defenders of Liberty are those members of the North Carolina General Assembly who scored 100 percent on the ACU 2013 State Legislative Ratings. North Carolina Senate: Allran Apodaca Barefoot Berger Bingham Brock Brown Brunstetter Cook Curtis J. Davis Goolsby Gunn Harrington Hise Hunt Jackson Meredith Pate Rabin Randleman Sanderson Soucek Tarte Tillman Tucker Wade North Carolina House of Representatives: Arp Avila J. Bell W. Brawley Brody R. Brown Bryan Bumgardner Burr Collins Conrad Daughtry Davis, Jr. Dixon Dollar Faircloth Ford Hager Hardister Hollo Holloway Horn Howard Hurley Iler Jones Jordan Lambeth Langdon, Jr. Malone S. Martin McElraft McNeill Moffitt T. Moore Murry Presnell Riddell S. Ross Saine Samuelson Schaffer Setzer Shepard Speciale Stam Starnes Steinburg Stevens Stone Szoka Tillis Torbett Turner Warren 4

5 ACU Conservatives ACU Conservatives are those members of the North Carolina General Assembly who scored 80 percent or higher on the ACU 2013 State Legislative Ratings. North Carolina Senate: Barringer Daniel Newton Rabon Rucho North Carolina House of Representatives: Blackwell Cleveland Blust Dobson Boles, Jr. Dockham C. R. Brawley Elmore B. Brown Fulghum Catlin Hastings Jeter Johnson Lewis McGrady Millis Pittman Ramsey Wells West Whitmire True Liberals of the Tar Heel State True Liberals of the Tar Heel State are those members of the North Carolina General Assembly who scored 0 percent on the ACU 2013 State Legislative Ratings. North Carolina Senate: Bryant Clodfelter D. Davis Ford Graham Kinnaird McKissick, Jr. Nesbitt, Jr. Parmon Robinson Woodard North Carolina House of Representatives: Baskerville Fisher Gill L. Hall Harrison Insko Luebke D. Ross 5

6 North Carolina House Vote Descriptions 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS GUIDE NORTH CAROLINA 1. HB 998 Tax Reform. This bill provides broad tax relief, including reducing personal income tax rates to a flat tax of 5.75 %, as well as reducing corporate and state sales tax rates. ACU supports these pro-growth policies and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on June 10, 2013 by a vote of HB 101 Death Tax. This bill repealed the North Carolina Estate Tax, or death tax, retroactive to January 1, ACU has long supported the elimination of this unfair tax and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on May 8, 2013 by a vote of SB 4 Obamacare Implementation. This bill stops funding for the Obamacare health insurance exchange as well as funding for Medicaid expansion under Obamacare. ACU opposes the implementation of Obamacare and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on February 26, 2013 by a vote of SB 353 Abortion. This bill ends taxpayer funding of abortion, requires a doctor to be present during an abortion, prohibits sex-selective abortions and provides conscience protection for health care providers who object to abortion on moral, ethical or religious grounds. ACU supports restrictions on abortions and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on July 11, 2013 by vote of HB 4 Unemployment Insurance. This bill addresses the solvency of the state s Unemployment Insurance program by reducing maximum benefits and reducing the maximum number of weeks allowed to a sliding scale of 12 to 20 weeks. ACU supports these fiscally sound reforms and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on February 5, 2013 by a vote of HB 8 Eminent Domain. This bill amends the North Carolina constitution to prohibit the condemnation of private property for other than public use and provides for trial by jury in all condemnation cases. ACU supports strengthening private property rights and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on February 12, 2013 by a vote of HB 589 Election Law Reform. This bill adds a requirement for photo identification at the polls and eliminates same day registration and straight ticket voting. ACU supports reforms that strengthen the integrity of the ballot and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on April 24, 2013 by a vote of HB 937 Second Amendment Rights. This bill strengthens Second Amendment rights in a number of areas, including streamlining the permit issuing process, concealed carry rights and privacy laws. ACU supports strengthening Second Amendment rights and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on May 7, 2013 by a vote of HB 683 Government Regulation. This bill prohibits cities in North Carolina from banning large sugary drinks and prohibits the filing of lawsuits against food manufacturers or packagers for products because they might cause health issues due to weight gain. ACU opposes government regulations that decide what people should eat 6

7 and drink and opposes frivolous lawsuits and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on July 9, 2013 by a vote of HB 392 Welfare Reform. This bill requires drug tests for those who receive certain welfare benefits. ACU supports these welfare reforms and supported this bill. The House overrode the Governor s veto of the bill on September 3, 2013 by a vote of HB 74 Environmental Regulation. This bill limits how local governments can dictate rules on development through environmental regulation. ACU opposes using environmental regulations to stop development and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on July 26, 2013 by a vote of SB 402 Appropriations. In addition to tax relief outlined in the budget bill, this bill expanded school choice through a pilot program awarding opportunity scholarships to low income students, ended guaranteed lifetime tenure for teachers and eliminated earmarks from transportation projects, replacing them with data driven prioritization. ACU strongly supports reforms and supported this bill. The bill passed the House on July 24, 2013 by a vote of

8 NORTH CAROLINA 2013 HOUSE VOTES Cast ACU % ACU SB 402 HB 74 HB 392 HB 683 HB 937 HB 589 HB 8 HB 4 SB 353 SB 4 HB 101 HB 998 Representative Name Party District ADAMS D % ALEXANDER, JR. D % ARP R % AVILA R % BASKERVILLE D % BELL, J. R % BELL, L. D % BLACKWELL R % BLUST R % BOLES, JR. R E X % BRANDON D E - X % BRAWLEY, C. R. R % BRAWLEY, W. R % BRISSON D E % BRODY R % BROWN, B. R 9 E % BROWN, R. R % BRYAN R % BUMGARDNER R % BURR R % CARNEY D % CATLIN R % CLEVELAND R E % COLLINS R % CONRAD R % COTHAM D 100 E E % CUNNINGHAM D % DAUGHTRY R % DAVIS, JR. R E % DIXON R % DOBSON R E % + 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; *Representative did not cast enough votes in this session to be rated; **To be consistent with past ratings, we honor Speaker Thom Tillis as a Defender of Liberty. It is customary that the Speaker of the House does not cast a vote for every piece of legislation. 8

9 NORTH CAROLINA 2013 HOUSE VOTES Cast ACU % ACU SB 402 HB 74 HB 392 HB 683 HB 937 HB 589 HB 8 HB 4 SB 353 SB 4 HB 101 HB 998 Representative Name Party District DOCKHAM R X + E + + X X X X % DOLLAR R % EARLE D % ELMORE R % FAIRCLOTH R X % FARMER-BUTTERFIELD D % FISHER D E % FLOYD D % FORD R % FOUSHEE D % FULGHUM R % GILL D % GLAZIER D % GOODMAN D X % GRAHAM, C. D E E % GRAHAM, G. D % HAGER R % HALL, D. D 11 E % HALL, L. D % HAMILTON D E E % HANES, JR. D % HARDISTER R % HARRISON D 57 E % HASTINGS R 110 E % HOLLEY D X % HOLLO R % HOLLOWAY R % HORN R E % HOWARD R E % HURLEY R E % ILER 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; *Representative did not cast enough votes in this session to be rated; **To be consistent with past ratings, we honor Speaker Thom Tillis as a Defender of Liberty. It is customary that the Speaker of the House does not cast a vote for every piece of legislation. 9

10 NORTH CAROLINA 2013 HOUSE VOTES Cast ACU % ACU SB 402 HB 74 HB 392 HB 683 HB 937 HB 589 HB 8 HB 4 SB 353 SB 4 HB 101 HB 998 Representative Name Party District INSKO D E % JACKSON D % JETER R % JOHNSON R E % JONES R % JORDAN R % LAMBETH R E % LANGDON, JR. R E % LEWIS R 53 + E E % LUCAS D E % LUEBKE D % MALONE R 35 E % MARTIN, G.* D 34 - X X E X X X X E N/A MARTIN, S. R E % MCELRAFT R E % MCGRADY R E % MCMANUS D E % MCNEILL R % MEYER* D 50 X X X X X X X X X X X X 0 0 N/A MICHAUX, JR. D % MILLIS R % MOBLEY D % MOFFITT R % MOORE, R. D E % MOORE, T. R % MURRY R E % PIERCE D X % PITTMAN R % PRESNELL R % QUEEN D % RAMSEY 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; *Representative did not cast enough votes in this session to be rated; **To be consistent with past ratings, we honor Speaker Thom Tillis as a Defender of Liberty. It is customary that the Speaker of the House does not cast a vote for every piece of legislation. 10

11 NORTH CAROLINA 2013 HOUSE VOTES Cast ACU % ACU SB 402 HB 74 HB 392 HB 683 HB 937 HB 589 HB 8 HB 4 SB 353 SB 4 HB 101 HB 998 Representative Name Party District RICHARDSON D % RIDDELL R % ROSS, D.* D 34 X - - X X X X X 0 6 0% ROSS, S. R E % SAINE R % SAMUELSON R % SCHAFFER R % SETZER R % SHEPARD R % SPECIALE R % STAM R % STARNES R X % STEINBURG R % STEVENS R E % STONE R X % SZOKA R % TERRY D E % TILLIS** R X + X % TINE D % TOLSON D % TORBETT R % TURNER R % WADDELL D 46 E % WARREN R % WELLS R % WEST R E E % WHITMIRE R E E % WILKINS D 2 E % WRAY D E E % YOUNTS* R 80 X X X X X X X X X N/A + 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; *Representative did not cast enough votes in this session to be rated; **To be consistent with past ratings, we honor Speaker Thom Tillis as a Defender of Liberty. It is customary that the Speaker of the House does not cast a vote for every piece of legislation. 11

12 North Carolina Senate Vote Descriptions 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS GUIDE NORTH CAROLINA 1. HB 998 Tax Reform. This bill provides broad tax relief, including reducing personal income tax rates to a flat tax of 5.75 %, as well as reducing corporate and state sales tax rates. ACU supports these pro-growth policies and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on July 3, 2013 by a vote of SB 4 Obamacare Implementation. This bill stops funding for the Obamacare health insurance exchange as well as funding for Medicaid expansion under Obamacare. ACU opposes the implementation of Obamacare and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on February 5, 2013 by a vote of SB 353 Abortion. This bill ends taxpayer funding of abortion, requires a doctor to be present during an abortion, prohibits sex-selective abortions and provides conscience protection for health care providers who object to abortion on moral, ethical or religious grounds. ACU supports restrictions on abortions and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on July 25, 2013 by a vote of HB 4 Unemployment Insurance. This bill addresses the solvency of the state s Unemployment Insurance program by reducing maximum benefits and reducing the maximum number of weeks allowed to a sliding scale of 12 to 20 weeks. ACU supports these fiscally sound reforms and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on February 13, 2013 by a vote of HB 589 Election Law Reform. This bill adds a requirement for photo identification at the polls and eliminates same day registration and straight ticket voting. ACU supports reforms that strengthen the integrity of the ballot and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on July 25, 2013 by a vote of HB 937 Second Amendment Rights. This bill strengthens Second Amendment rights in a number of areas, including streamlining the permit issuing process, concealed carry rights and privacy laws. ACU supports strengthening Second Amendment rights and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on June 13, 2013 by a vote of HB 683 Government Regulation. This bill prohibits cities in North Carolina from banning large sugary drinks and prohibits the filing of lawsuits against food manufacturers or packagers for products because they might cause health issues due to weight gain. ACU opposes government regulations that decide what people should eat and drink and opposes frivolous lawsuits and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on July 1, 2013 by a vote of HB 392 Welfare Reform. This bill requires drug tests for those who receive certain welfare benefits. ACU supports these welfare reforms and supported this bill. The Senate overrode the Governor s veto on September 4, 2013 by a vote by a vote of HB 74 Environmental Regulation. This bill limits how local governments can dictate rules on development through environmental regulation. ACU opposes using environmental regulations to stop development and 12

13 supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on July 26, 2013 by a vote of SB 402 Appropriations. In addition to tax relief outlined in the budget bill, this bill expanded school choice through a pilot program awarding opportunity scholarships to low income students, ended guaranteed lifetime tenure for teachers and eliminated earmarks from transportation projects, replacing them with data driven prioritization. ACU strongly supports reforms and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on July 24, 2013 by a vote of

14 NORTH CAROLINA 2013 SENATE VOTES Cast ACU % ACU SB 402 HB 74 HB 392 HB 683 HB 937 HB 589 HB 4 SB 353 SB 4 HB 998 Senator Name Party District ALLRAN R % APODACA R % BAREFOOT R % BARRINGER R 17 E E + E % BERGER R % BINGHAM R E % BLUE D E % BROCK R X % BROWN R E % BRUNSTETTER R E % BRYANT D % CLARK D % CLODFELTER D E - E - E E E E 0 4 0% COOK R % CURTIS R % DANIEL R E % DAVIS, D. D 5 E - X E E % DAVIS, J. R E % FORD D % FOUSHEE* D 23 X X X X X X X X X X 0 0 N/A GOOLSBY R % GRAHAM D E % GUNN R % HARRINGTON R % HARTSELL, JR. R 36 - E E % HISE R % HUNT R % JACKSON R % JENKINS D 3 E - E + E E E + E % KINNAIRD D X % MCKISSICK, JR. 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; *Senator did not cast enough votes in this session to be rated. 14

15 NORTH CAROLINA 2013 SENATE VOTES Cast ACU % ACU SB 402 HB 74 HB 392 HB 683 HB 937 HB 589 HB 4 SB 353 SB 4 HB 998 Senator Name Party District MCLAURIN D 25 E - E % MEREDITH R % NESBITT, JR. D E % NEWTON R % PARMON D % PATE R % RABIN R % RABON R 8 E % RANDLEMAN R % ROBINSON D 28 E E % RUCHO R % SANDERSON R % SOUCEK R % STEIN D % TARTE R % TILLMAN R E % TUCKER R % WADE R % WALTERS D 13 E - E + E E % WOODARD D E - E % + 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; *Senator did not cast enough votes in this session to be rated. 15

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