ILLINOIS 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS GUIDE

Transcription

1 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS GUIDE ILLINOIS 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 IL House Vote Descriptions... 6 House Scores... 8 IL 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 30, 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 Illinois 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 ILLINOIS Conservatives of the Illinois General Assembly Defenders of Liberty ACU Defenders of Liberty are those members of the Illinois General Assembly who scored 100 percent on the ACU 2013 State Legislative Ratings. Illinois Senate: Connelly LaHood Duffy Oberweis Rezin Syverson Illinois House of Representatives: Halbrook Kay McSweeney Morrison Schmitz Sosnowski Wheeler ACU Conservatives ACU Conservatives are those members of the Illinois General Assembly who scored 80 percent or higher on the ACU 2013 State Legislative Ratings. Illinois Senate: Althoff Bivins Brady McCarter McConnaughay Murphy Radogno Righter Rose Illinois House of Representatives: Bellock Durkin Bost Fortner Brady Hammond Brauer Harms Brown D. Harris Cabello Hatcher Cavaletto Hays Davidsmeyer Ives Demmer Kosel Leitch Meier B. Mitchell Moffitt Osmond Poe Pritchard Reboletti Reis Rosenthal Roth Sandack Senger Sommer Sullivan, Jr. Tracy Tryon Unes 4

5 True Liberals of the Prairie State True Liberals of the Prairie State are those members of the Illinois General Assembly who scored 0 percent on the ACU 2013 State Legislative Ratings. Illinois Senate: Bertino-Tarrant Clayborne, Jr. Collins T. Cullerton Cunningham Delgado Frerichs Harris, III Hastings Holmes Hunter Hutchinson Jones, III Lightford Link Manar Martinez McGuire Morrison Mulroe Munoz Noland Raoul Sandoval Silverstein Van Pelt Illinois House of Representatives: Cassidy D Amico DeLuca Fine Golar Hoffman Jakobsson Martwick Mayfield Smith Thapedi Welch 5

6 Illinois House Vote Descriptions 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS GUIDE ILLINOIS 1. SB 1 Pension Reform. This bill is an attempt to reform Illinois broken pension system. The pension would reduce the current $100 billion of unfunded liability by $20-$27 billion and reduce the state s contributions by about $187 billion over the next 33 years. ACU supports real pension reform and supported this bill as a good start at reform. The bill passed the House on May 2, 2013 by a vote of HB 1189 Second Amendment Rights. This bill included provisions that create a defacto gun registration system that would require approval from the Illinois State Police and their validation that the buyer has a Firearm Owner s Identification Card. ACU opposes weakening Second Amendment rights and opposed this bill. The bill passed the House on May 31, 2013 by a vote of SB 26 Obamacare Implementation. This bill expands the Medicaid program to help implement the Obamacare health insurance program. ACU opposes this expansion which will impose a future burden on Illinois taxpayers and does not reform a program riddled with waste and abuse before expansion and opposed this bill. The bill passed the House on May 27, 2013 by a vote of HB 2675 Local Control of Education. This bill mandates that local school districts must include condom training to children from the age of 11 as part of their sex education curriculum. ACU supports local control of education and opposed this bill. The bill passed the House on April 17, 2013 by a vote of HB 190 Spending Increase. This supplemental budget bill adds $603 million in spending at a time when the state of Illinois credit rating is one of the lowest in the country and there are $7 billion in unpaid vendor bills. ACU opposes irresponsible spending increases and opposed this bill. The bill passed the House on February 5, 2013 by a vote of SB 2555 Spending Increase. This education budget bill increased spending over last year s levels by $155 million at a time of fiscal crisis in Illinois. ACU opposes irresponsible spending increases and opposed this bill. The bill passed the House on May 31, 2013 by a vote of SB 1920 Pension Contributions. This bill creates a waiver for the Chicago Public School System so it does not have to pay its pension contributions for this fiscal year. ACU opposes this irresponsible fiscal policy at a time when the Illinois pension system is already underfunded by $98 billion dollars and opposed this bill. The bill was defeated in the House on May 31, 2013 by a vote of HB 89 Property Tax Freeze. This bill would prevent property tax increases when assessed valuations are lowered unless approved by the voters. ACU supports tax limitation legislation and supported this bill. The bill was defeated in the House on April 12, 2013 by a vote of HB 2418 Local Government Mandates. This bill would create an unfunded mandate on one county (Lake) by requiring a new board of elections that removes the County Clerk s authority over elections without the approval 6

7 of voters. ACU opposes this usurpation of local government and opposed this bill. The bill passed the House on May 30, 2013 by a vote of SB 10 Same Sex Marriage. This bill redefines marriage in Illinois to include persons of the same sex. The bill provides no religious liberty protections for place of worship and their ministries or individual protections for refusing to participate or support same sex marriages. ACU supports the traditional definition of marriage and supports religious liberty protections in states that allow same sex marriages and opposed this bill. The bill passed the House on November 5, 2013 by a vote of

8 ILLINOIS 2013 HOUSE VOTES Cast ACU % ACU SB 10 HB 2418 HB 89 SB 1920 SB 2555 HB 190 HB 2675 SB 26 HB 1189 SB 1 Representative Name Party District ACEVEDO D % ANDRADE, JR.* D 40 X X X X X X X X X N/A ANTHONY* R 75 X X X X X X X X X N/A ARROYO D % BEISER D % BELLOCK R E % BERRIOS D % BOST R % BRADLEY D E % BRADY R % BRAUER R % BROWN R % BURKE, D. D % BURKE, K. D X % CABELLO R % CASSIDY D % CAVALETTO R % CHAPA LAVIA D X % CLOONEN D P % CONROY D % COSTELLO, II D % CRESPO D % CROSS R P % CURRIE D % D AMICO D % DAVIDSMEYER R % DAVIS, M. D % DAVIS, W. D % DELUCA D % DEMMER R % DRURY 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 ILLINOIS 2013 HOUSE VOTES Cast ACU % ACU SB 10 HB 2418 HB 89 SB 1920 SB 2555 HB 190 HB 2675 SB 26 HB 1189 SB 1 Representative Name Party District DUNKIN D X % DURKIN R % EVANS, JR. D % FARNHAM D % FEIGENHOLTZ D E % FINE D % FLOWERS D 31 E E % FORD D % FORTNER R E + E % FRANKS D % GABEL D % GOLAR D 6 X X % GORDON-BOOTH D E % HALBROOK R % HAMMOND R % HARMS R % HARRIS, D. R X % HARRIS, G. D % HATCHER R % HAYS R E % HERNANDEZ D % HOFFMAN D % HURLEY D % IVES R % JACKSON, SR. D % JAKOBSSON D 103 E % JEFFERSON D % JONES D % KAY R % KIFOWIT D % KOSEL 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 9

10 ILLINOIS 2013 HOUSE VOTES Cast ACU % ACU SB 10 HB 2418 HB 89 SB 1920 SB 2555 HB 190 HB 2675 SB 26 HB 1189 SB 1 Representative Name Party District LANG D % LEITCH R % LILLY D 78 X % MADIGAN D % MANLEY D % MARTWICK D % MAUTINO D % MAYFIELD D P 0 9 0% MCASEY D % MCAULIFFE R % MCSWEENEY R % MEIER R % MELL D E - X % MITCHELL, B. R % MITCHELL, C. D % MOFFITT R % MORRISON R % MOYLAN D % MUSSMAN D % NEKRITZ D % OSMOND R % PHELPS D % PIHOS R % POE R % PRITCHARD R % REBOLETTI R % REIS R 109 E % RILEY D % RITA D % ROSENTHAL R % ROTH 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 10

11 ILLINOIS 2013 HOUSE VOTES Cast ACU % ACU SB 10 HB 2418 HB 89 SB 1920 SB 2555 HB 190 HB 2675 SB 26 HB 1189 SB 1 Representative Name Party District SACIA R X % SANDACK R % SCHERER D % SCHMITZ R E % SENGER R % SENTE D % SIMS, JR. D % SMIDDY D % SMITH D P 0 9 0% SOMMER R % SOSNOWSKI R % SOTO D % STEWART* R 89 X X X X X X X X X N/A SULLIVAN, JR. R % TABARES D % THAPEDI D % TRACY R % TRYON R % TURNER D % UNES R % VERSCHOORE D % WALSH, JR. D % WELCH D % WHEELER R % WILLIAMS D % WILLIS D % YINGLING D % ZALEWSKI D 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 11

12 Illinois Senate Vote Descriptions 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS GUIDE ILLINOIS 1. SB 1 Pension Reform. This bill is an attempt to reform Illinois broken pension system. The pension would reduce the current $100 billion of unfunded liability by $20-$27 billion and reduce the state s contributions by about $187 billion over the next 33 years. ACU supports real pension reform and supported this bill as a good start at reform. The bill was defeated in the Senate on May 30, 2013 by a vote of SB 10 Same Sex Marriage. This bill redefines marriage in Illinois to include persons of the same sex. The bill provides no religious liberty protections for place of worship and their ministries or individual protections for refusing to participate or support same sex marriages. ACU supports the traditional definition of marriage and supports religious liberty protections in states that allow same sex marriages and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on February 14, 2013 by a vote of HB 1189 Second Amendment Rights. This bill included provisions that create a defacto gun registration system that would require approval from the Illinois State Police and their validation that the buyer has a Firearm Owner s Identification Card. ACU opposes weakening Second Amendment rights and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on May 31, 2013 by a vote of SB 26 Obamacare Implementation. This bill expands the Medicaid program to help implement the Obamacare health insurance program. ACU opposes this expansion which will impose a future burden on Illinois taxpayers and does not reform a program riddled with waste and abuse before expansion and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on May 28, 2013 by a vote of HB 2675 Local Control of Education. This bill mandates that local school districts must include condom training to children from the age of 11 as part of their sex education curriculum. ACU supports local control of education and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on May 22, 2013 by a vote of HB 190 Spending Increase. This supplemental budget bill adds $603 million in spending at a time when the state of Illinois credit rating is one of the lowest in the country and there are $7 billion in unpaid vendor bills. ACU opposes irresponsible spending increases and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on February 7, 2013 by a vote of HB 2418 Local Government Mandates. This bill would create an unfunded mandate on one county (Lake) by requiring a new board of elections that removes the County Clerk s authority over elections without the approval of voters. ACU opposes this usurpation of local government and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on May 29, 2013 by a vote of SB 1244 Housing Trust Fund. This bill authorizes Lake County to establish a so-called affordable housing trust fund paid for by a tax surcharge on all real estate-related documents. ACU opposes these funds that use taxpayer money to pay activist groups to assist people in finding affordable housing as well as unneeded tax surcharges and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on April 24, 2013 by a vote of

13 9. SB 2555 Spending Increase. This education budget bill increased spending over last year s levels by $155 million at a time of fiscal crisis in Illinois. ACU opposes irresponsible spending increases and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 29, 2013 by a vote of SB 1787 Labor Law. This bill targeted a funeral company involved in a labor dispute with the Teamsters Union. It would allow the state Comptroller to revoke a license or refuse to issue a license to a funeral home that engages in a lockout that has a negative effect on consumers. ACU opposes government interference in private labor disputes and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on November 7, 2013 by a vote of

14 ILLINOIS 2013 SENATE VOTES Cast ACU % ACU SB 1787 SB 2555 SB 1244 HB 2418 HB 190 HB 2675 SB 26 HB 1189 SB 10 SB 1 Senator Name Party District ALTHOFF R % BARICKMAN R X % BERTINO-TARRANT D % BISS D % BIVINS R % BRADY R % BUSH D % CLAYBORNE, JR. D 57 - X X % COLLINS D % CONNELLY R % CULLERTON, J. D % CULLERTON, T. D X 0 9 0% CUNNINGHAM D % DELGADO D P - - X 0 8 0% DILLARD R X % DUFFY R 26 X % FORBY D X % FRERICHS D % HAINE D % HARMON D % HARRIS, III D 15 - P X - - X 0 7 0% HASTINGS D % HOLMES D X P X % HUNTER D % HUTCHINSON D X % JACOBS D X % JONES, III D X % KOEHLER D % KOTOWSKI D % LAHOOD R % LANDEK D % LIGHTFORD D 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 14

15 ILLINOIS 2013 SENATE VOTES Cast ACU % ACU SB 1787 SB 2555 SB 1244 HB 2418 HB 190 HB 2675 SB 26 HB 1189 SB 10 SB 1 Senator Name Party District LINK D % LUECHTEFELD R X % MANAR D % MARTINEZ D P % MCCANN R x % MCCARTER R % MCCONNAUGHAY R % MCGUIRE D % MORRISON D X - P % MULROE D % MUNOZ D % MURPHY R % NOLAND D % OBERWEIS R X % RADOGNO R % RAOUL D X % REZIN R % RIGHTER R % ROSE R % SANDOVAL D X % SILVERSTEIN D 8 - X % STADELMAN D X X % STEANS D % SULLIVAN D % SYVERSON R X % TROTTER D X % VAN PELT D 5 - P 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 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