WISCONSIN 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS GUIDE

Transcription

1 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS GUIDE WISCONSIN 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 WI Assembly Vote Descriptions... 6 Assembly Scores... 8 WI 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 January 14, 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 Wisconsin State Legislature. Since 1971, our Congressional ratings have become the gold Al Cardenas, ACU Chairman standard in holding every member of Congress accountable for their voting record on the most important issues facing our nation. 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 WISCONSIN Conservatives of the Wisconsin State Legislature Defenders of Liberty ACU Defenders of Liberty are those members of the Wisconsin State Legislature who scored 100 percent on the ACU 2013 State Legislative Ratings. Wisconsin Senate: Cowles Darling Ellis Farrow Fitzgerald Grothman Gudex Harsdorf Kedzie Lasee Lazich Leibham Moulton Petrowski Tiffany Vukmir Wisconsin Assembly: August Ballweg Bernier Bies Born Brooks Craig Czaja Endsley Jacque Jagler Kaufert Kerkman Kleefisch Klenke Knodl Knudson Kooyenga Kramer Krug Kuglitsch LeMahieu Loudenbeck Murphy Mursau Murtha Nerison Nygren A. Ott J. Ott Petersen Petryk Ripp Schraa Severson Spiros Steineke Strachota Stroebel Swearingen Tauchen Thiesfeldt Tittl Tranel Vos Weatherston Weininger Williams ACU Conservatives ACU Conservatives are those members of the Wisconsin State Legislature who scored 80 percent or higher on the ACU 2013 State Legislative Ratings. Wisconsin Senate: Olsen Wisconsin Assembly Honadel Hutton Kapenga Kestell Larson Marklein Nass Neylon Pridemore Sanfelippo Stone Suder 4

5 True Liberals of the Badger State True Liberals of the Badger State are those members of the Wisconsin State Legislature who scored 0 percent on the ACU 2013 State Legislative Ratings. Wisconsin Senate: Cullen Miller Wisconsin Assembly: Berceau Hesselbein Kessler Risser Milroy Sargent Taylor 5

6 Wisconsin Assembly Vote Descriptions 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS GUIDE WISCONSIN 1. AB 40 Budget Bill. This bill funds state government for two years and included a $1 billion tax cut, while freezing tuition at state colleges and ending the biennium with a surplus of $174 million. ACU supports pro-growth and fiscally sound economic policies and supported this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on June 18, 2013 by a vote of SB 206 Abortion. This bill establishes new requirements before an abortion is performed including an ultrasound before informed consent. ACU supports abortion restrictions and supported this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on June 13, 2013 by a vote of AB 82 Welfare Fraud. This bill creates a new offense if a person knowingly traffics benefits for a state welfare program known as FoodShare. ACU supports efforts to crack down on welfare fraud and supported this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on April 16, 2013 by a vote of SB 200 Unemployment Insurance. This bill strengthens job search requirements to obtain unemployment insurance, while eliminating loopholes that allow people to voluntarily leave their job and still collect payments. ACU supports reasonable restrictions on unemployment insurance payments and supported this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on June 12, 2013 by a vote of SB 1 Government Regulation. This bill creates an expedited process and modified standards to facilitate permits for ferrous mining in Wisconsin. ACU supports efforts to reduce bureaucratic red tape that hampers economic growth and supported this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on March 7, 2013 by a vote of SB 2 Government Reform. This bill removes the authority of the Secretary of State to designate the publication date for acts signed into law. Instead, the law will be published when signed. The legislation is in response to delays in publication of the collective bargaining laws passed in ACU supports government reforms of this kind and supported this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on March 6, 2013 by a vote of AB 15 Labor Law. This bill creates a work-share program that gives employers the flexibility to reduce employee hours in an equitable manner in lieu of laying off one or more full-time employees. ACU supports labor law reforms and supported this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on March 6, 2013 by a vote of AB 85 Government Reform. This bill sets up a referendum in Milwaukee County that would bring down the County Supervisors pay from over $50,000 per year to $24,000 and reduce the Supervisors terms from four to two years. ACU supports giving Milwaukee county residents the opportunity to bring their county in line with other counties in the state and supported this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on May 8, 2013 by a vote of SSSB 1 Property Taxes. This special session bill includes a $100 million property tax cut. ACU supports tax relief and supported this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on October 17, 2013 by a vote of

7 10. SSAB 1 Obamacare Implementation. This special session bill would provide for the expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare. ACU opposes this expansion of a program rife with waste, fraud and abuse that will burden Wisconsin taxpayers in future years and opposed this amendment. The amendment was tabled (killed) in the Assembly on December 4, 2013 by a vote of

8 WISCONSIN 2013 ASSEMBLY VOTES Cast ACU % ACU SSAB 1 (MOTION TO TABLE ASSEMBLY SUB. AMDT. 1) SSSB 1 AB 85 AB 15 SB 2 SB 1 SB 200 AB 82 SB 206 AB 40 Representative Name Party District AUGUST R % BALLWEG R % BARCA D % BARNES D % BERCEAU D % D % BERNARD SCHABER BERNIER R % BEWLEY D (-) % BIES R % BILLINGS D % BORN R % BROOKS R X % CLARK D % CRAIG R % CZAJA R % DANOU D % DOYLE D % ENDSLEY R % GENRICH D % GOYKE D % HEBL D % HESSELBEIN D % HINTZ D % HONADEL R X X % HULSEY D % HUTTON R % JACQUE R % JAGLER R % JOHNSON D % JORGENSEN 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; * Representative did not cast enough votes in this session to be rated 8

9 WISCONSIN 2013 ASSEMBLY VOTES Cast ACU % ACU SSAB 1 (MOTION TO TABLE ASSEMBLY SUB. AMDT. 1) SSSB 1 AB 85 AB 15 SB 2 SB 1 SB 200 AB 82 SB 206 AB 40 Representative Name Party District KAHL D % KAPENGA R X % KAUFERT R % KERKMAN R % KESSLER D % KESTELL R % KLEEFISCH R X % KLENKE R % KNODL R % KNUDSON R % KOLSTE D % KOOYENGA R % KRAMER R % KRUG R % KUGLITSCH R % KULP* R 69 X X X X X X X X X N/A LARSON R 67 X X + (+) % LEMAHIEU R % LOUDENBECK R % MARKLEIN R % MASON D X X % MILROY D X X - X X 0 6 0% MURPHY R % MURSAU R % MURTHA R % NASS R % NERISON R % NEYLON R X X X % NYGREN R 89 + X % OHNSTAD 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; * Representative did not cast enough votes in this session to be rated 9

10 WISCONSIN 2013 ASSEMBLY VOTES Cast ACU % ACU SSAB 1 (MOTION TO TABLE ASSEMBLY SUB. AMDT. 1) SSSB 1 AB 85 AB 15 SB 2 SB 1 SB 200 AB 82 SB 206 AB 40 Representative Name Party District OTT, A. R % OTT, J. R % PASCH D % PETERSEN R X % PETRYK R % POPE D % PRIDEMORE R 22 X X % RICHARDS D % RIEMER D % RINGHAND D % RIPP R % RODRIGUEZ* R 21 X X X X X X X X X N/A SANFELIPPO R % SARGENT D % SCHRAA R % SEVERSON R X % SHANKLAND D % SINICKI D % SMITH D % SPIROS R % STEINEKE R 5 + X % STONE R X X % STRACHOTA R X % STROEBEL R % SUDER R X X % SWEARINGEN R % TAUCHEN R % TAYLOR D % THIESFELDT R % TITTL R % TRANEL R 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; * Representative did not cast enough votes in this session to be rated 10

11 WISCONSIN 2013 ASSEMBLY VOTES Cast ACU % ACU SSAB 1 (MOTION TO TABLE ASSEMBLY SUB. AMDT. 1) SSSB 1 AB 85 AB 15 SB 2 SB 1 SB 200 AB 82 SB 206 AB 40 Representative Name Party District VOS R % VRUWINK D % WACHS D % WEATHERSTON R 62 + X % WEININGER R % WILLIAMS R % WRIGHT D % YOUNG D % ZAMARRIPA D % ZEPNICK 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; * Representative did not cast enough votes in this session to be rated 11

12 Wisconsin Senate Vote Descriptions 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS GUIDE WISCONSIN 1. AB 40 Budget Bill. This bill funds state government for two years and included a $1 billion tax cut, while freezing tuition at state colleges and ending the biennium with a surplus of $174 million. ACU supports progrowth and fiscally sound economic policies and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on June 21, 2013 by a vote of AB 40 Budget Bill. This amendment to the budget bill would implement the expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare. ACU opposes this expansion of a program rife with waste, fraud and abuse that will burden Wisconsin taxpayers in future years and opposed this amendment. The amendment was tabled (killed) by the Senate on June 20, 2013 by a vote of SB 206 Abortion. This bill establishes new requirements before an abortion is performed, including an ultrasound before informed consent. ACU supports abortion restrictions and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on June 12, 2013 by a vote of AB 82 Welfare Fraud. This bill creates a new offense if a person knowingly traffics benefits for a state welfare program known as FoodShare. ACU supports efforts to crack down on welfare fraud and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on May 7, 2013 by a vote of SB 200 Unemployment Insurance. This bill strengthens job search requirements to obtain unemployment insurance, while eliminating loopholes that allow people to voluntarily leave their job and still collect payments. ACU supports reasonable restrictions on unemployment insurance payments and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on June 11, 2013 by a vote of SB 1 Government Regulation. This bill creates an expedited process and modified standards to facilitate permits for ferrous mining in Wisconsin. ACU supports efforts to reduce bureaucratic red tape that hampers economic growth and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on February 27, 2013 by a vote of SB 2 Government Reform. This bill removes the authority of the Secretary of State to designate the publication date for acts signed into law. Instead the law will be published when signed. The legislation is in response to delays in publication of the collective bargaining laws passed in ACU supports government reforms of this kind and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on January 29, 2013 by a vote of AB 15 Labor Law. This bill creates a work-share program that gives employers the flexibility to reduce employee hours in an equitable manner in lieu of laying off one or more full-time employees. ACU supports labor law reforms and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on April 9, 2013 by a vote of AB 85 Government Reform. This bill sets up a referendum in Milwaukee County that would bring down the County Supervisors pay from over $50,000 per year to $24,000 and reduce the Supervisors terms from four 12

13 to two years. ACU supports giving Milwaukee county residents the opportunity to bring their county in line with other counties in the state and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on May 14, 2013 by a vote of SSSB 1 Property Taxes. This special session bill includes a $100 million property tax cut. ACU supports tax relief and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on October 15, 2013 by a vote of SB 265 Election Law Reform. This bill would require election officials, whenever possible, to assign an equal number of election inspectors from each political party to polling places. ACU supports measures to protect the integrity of the ballot and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on October 8, 2013 by a vote of SB 267 Election Law Reform. This bill requires a record to be made of voters who were required to provide proof of residence and what identifying document was provided. ACU supports voter integrity measures and supported this bill. The bill passed the Senate on October 8, 2013 by a vote of

14 WISCONSIN 2013 SENATE VOTES Cast ACU % ACU SB 267 SB 265 SSSB 1 AB 85 AB 15 SB 2 SB 1 SB 200 AB 82 SB 206 AB 40 (MOTION TO TABLE AMDT. 13) AB 40 Senator Name Party District CARPENTER D % COWLES R % CULLEN D % DARLING R X % ELLIS R % ERPENBACH D % FARROW R % FITZGERALD R % GROTHMAN R % GUDEX R % HANSEN D % HARRIS D % HARSDORF R % JAUCH D % KEDZIE R % LARSON D % LASEE R % LASSA D % LAZICH R % LEHMAN D % LEIBHAM R % MILLER D % MOULTON R % OLSEN R X + X % PETROWSKI R % RISSER D % SCHULTZ R % SHILLING D X % TAYLOR D % TIFFANY R % VINEHOUT 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; * Representative did not cast enough votes in this session to be rated 14 14

15 WISCONSIN 2013 SENATE VOTES Cast ACU % ACU SB 267 SB 265 SSSB 1 AB 85 AB 15 SB 2 SB 1 SB 200 AB 82 SB 206 AB 40 (MOTION TO TABLE AMDT. 13) AB 40 Senator Name Party District VUKMIR R % WIRCH 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; * Representative 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