2014 RATINGS of ALABAMA

Transcription

1 2014 RATINGS of ALABAMA Conservative.org TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the Chairman 2 AL Senate Vote Descriptions 5 ACU & ACUF Board Members 3 AL Senate Scores 6 How We Selected the 3 AL House Vote Descriptions Winners & Losers 4 AL 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 Alabama 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 Alabama 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 80-89% AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE ACHIEVEMENT SENATE HOUSE HOUSE SENATE HOUSE ALLEN BEASON BLACKWELL DIAL GLOVER HOLTZCLAW PITTMAN REED BALL BARTON BAUGHN BECKMAN BOOTHE BRIDGES BROWN BUTTRAM LEE LONG LOVE MASK McCLENDON McClurkin McCUTCHEON McMILLAN HOLLEY McGILL ORR TAYLOR WAGGONER WHATLEY CARNS GALLIHER HURST JONES Laird MERRILL PAYNE SCOFIELD CHESTEEN MOORE, B. WILLIAMS CLOUSE NORDGREN COLLINS DAVIS DeMARCO PATTERSON POOLE RICH < 10% COALITION OF THE RADICAL LEFT DRAKE FARLEY FAUST FINCHER GASTON GREER HAMMON HARPER HENRY HILL, M. HUBBARD, M. ISON JOHNSON, K. JOHNSON, W. ROBERTS SANDERFORD SESSIONS SHIVER TREADAWAY TUGGLE VANCE WALLACE WEAVER WILLIAMS, D. WILLIAMS, J. WILLIAMS, P. WOOD WREN SENATE Ross Beasley Dunn Figures Sanders HOUSE Forte Boyd Bracy Buskey Colston England Givan Grimsley Hall Holmes, A. Howard Jackson HOUSE Kennedy Knight McAdory McCampbell McClammy Melton Moore, M. Robinson, O. Rogers Scott Warren 4

5 ALABAMA SENATE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS Pension Reform. This bill repealed the deferred retirement program which allowed those eligible for retirement at age 55 to receive retirement benefits while continuing to work, often resulting in a 50 percent pay increase. ACU opposes these programs that provide benefits most people not working for the government do not receive and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 22, 2011 by a vote of HB 56 Immigration. This bill allows police officers to ask about the immigration status of anyone they stop based on a reasonable suspicion the person is an illegal immigrant. It barred illegal immigrants from enrolling in public colleges and requires public schools to determine the immigration status of students. ACU supports reasonable efforts to enforce the immigration laws and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 2, 2011 by a vote of HB 18 Abortion. This bill bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy with an exception for the prevention of death or serious injury to the mother. ACU supports restrictions on abortion and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 9, 2011 by a vote of HB 414 Pension Reform. This bill requires state employees and teachers to increase their contribution rate for their guaranteed pension from 5 percent to 7.5 percent. Judicial system employees contribution rates are increased from 6 percent to 9 percent. ACU supports fiscal responsibility and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 9, 2011 by vote of Charter Schools. This bill would have allowed charter schools to be created through conversion of lowperforming traditional public schools. ACU supports the expansion of school choice and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 2, 2012 by a vote of HB 19 Voting Integrity. This bill requires voters in Alabama to show a photo identification before voting. ACU supports reasonable measures to prevent voter fraud and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 24, 2012 by a vote of HB 360 Education. This bill gives local school systems greater flexibility in determining their schedule. ACU supports local control of education and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 2, 2012 by a vote of Right To Work. This constitutional amendment would protect employees from being forced to join a union or from being hired or fired based on union membership. ACU supports Right To Work and supported this amendment. The amendment passed the Senate on March 7, 2013 by a vote of HB 57 Abortion. This bill requires abortion clinics to meet the same standards of other medical clinics, including having a doctor and nurse present and the ability to send a patient to a hospital if necessary. ACU supports these health care standards and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 3, 2013 by a vote of Second Amendment. This comprehensive bill strengthened protection for gun owners by allowing those who have a pistol permit to keep firearms stored in their vehicles while at work, requires Sheriffs to approve or deny a carry permit within 30 days, extends the Castle Doctrine for self-defense to place of work and allows for valid permits from other states to be recognized in Alabama, among other provisions. ACU supports strengthening Second Amendment rights and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 5, 2013 by a vote of Welfare Reform. This bill requires a drug screening program for any adult applying or receiving cash assistance through the TANF when there is a reasonable suspicion of illegal drug use. ACU supports reasonable restrictions on welfare benefits and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 25, 2013 by a vote of HB 658 School Choice. This bill allows families with children in failing schools to receive tax credits to help pay tuition at a better public school or a private school. ACU supports the expansion of school choice and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 9, 2013 by a vote of Smoking Ban. The Holtzclaw amendment to a bill banning smoking in public places exempted private clubs from the ban. ACU supports the protection of private property rights and supported this amendment. The senate passed the amendment on February 11, 2014 by a vote of Voting Integrity. This bill reduces the penalty for falsifying or fraudulently making a Voter ID card by changing the offense from a felony to a misdemeanor. ACU opposes weakening ballot protection laws and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 20, 2014 by a vote of Welfare Eligibility. This bill would allow those convicted of a drug related felony to receive welfare benefits after the sentence is completed. ACU opposes weakening welfare eligibility rules and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 28, 2014 by a vote of

6 ALABAMA SENATE SCORES ALABAMA SENATE STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 64% REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 87% LOWEST REPUBLICAN WARD 69% DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 17% HIGHEST DEMOCRAT BEDFORD 36% ALABAMA SENATE VOTE DETAIL* Party District 72 HB 56 HB 18 HB HB 19 HB HB HB ACU Cast ACU % ALLEN R % Beasley D X X % BEASON R X % Bedford D X % BLACKWELL R X X X % BREWBAKER R X - X % BUSSMAN R % Coleman D 20 - X % DIAL R X % Dunn D 19 X X - - X % FIELDING R % Figures D X X % GLOVER R X % HOLLEY R % HOLTZCLAW R X % 6

7 ALABAMA SENATE VOTE DETAIL* Party District 72 HB 56 HB 18 HB HB 19 HB HB HB ACU Cast ACU % Irons D X - - X % Keahey D X - - X % MARSH R X % McGILL R X X % ORR R X X X % PITTMAN R X % REED R % Ross D X X X X % Sanders D X X % SANFORD R X X X + X % SCOFIELD R X % Singleton D X % Smith I 29 + X X X % Smitherman D % TAYLOR R % WAGGONER R % WARD R X X % WHATLEY R X % WILLIAMS R % *The following members of the Senate did not vote on enough of the selected votes and as a result were not rated: BROOKS, HIGHTOWER. 7

8 ALABAMA HOUSE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS Pension Reform. This bill repealed the deferred retirement program which allowed those eligible for retirement at age 55 to receive retirement benefits while continuing to work, often resulting in a 50 percent pay increase. ACU opposes these programs that provide benefits most people not working for the government do not receive and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 22, 2011 by a vote of HB 56 Immigration. This bill allows police officers to ask about the immigration status of anyone they stop based on a reasonable suspicion the person is an illegal immigrant. It barred illegal immigrants from enrolling in public colleges and requires public schools to determine the immigration status of students. ACU supports reasonable efforts to enforce the immigration laws and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on April 5, 2011 by a vote of HB 414 Pension Reform. This bill requires state employees and teachers to increase their contribution rate for their guaranteed pension from 5 percent to 7.5 percent. Judicial system employees contribution rates are increased from 6 percent to 9 percent. ACU supports fiscal responsibility and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on June 2, 2011 by a vote of HB 18 Abortion. This bill bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy with an exception for the prevention of death or serious injury to the mother. ACU supports restrictions on abortion and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on June 9, 2011 by a vote of HB 360 Education. This bill gives local school systems greater flexibility in determining their schedule. ACU supports local control of education and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on May 2, 2012 by a vote of Abortion. This bill would prohibit coverage of abortion under health plans offered in the Obamacare state exchanges with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. ACU supports restrictions on abortions and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on May 8, 2012 by a vote of HB 19 Voting Integrity. This bill requires voters in Alabama to show a photo identification before voting. ACU supports reasonable measures to prevent voter fraud and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on May 21, 2012 by a vote of HB 57 Abortion. This bill requires abortion clinics to meet the same standards of other medical clinics, including having a doctor and nurse present and the ability to send a patient to a hospital if necessary. ACU supports these health care standards and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 19, 2013 by a vote of Second Amendment. This comprehensive bill strengthened protection for gun owners by allowing those who have a pistol permit to keep firearms stored in their vehicles while at work, requires Sheriffs to approve or deny a carry permit within 30 days, extends the Castle Doctrine for self-defense to place of work and allows for valid permits from other states to be recognized in Alabama, among other provisions. ACU supports strengthening Second Amendment rights and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on May 2, 2013 by a vote of HB 658 School Choice. This bill allows families with children in failing schools to receive tax credits to help pay tuition at a better public school or a private school. ACU supports the expansion of school choice and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on May 9, 2013 by a vote of HB 31 Conscience Protection. This bill allows healthcare providers to refuse to perform or participate in health care services that violate their conscience and declare it unlawful for any person to discriminate against healthcare providers who exercise this right. ACU supports conscience protection and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on January 21, 2014 by a vote of HB 558 School Choice. This bill removes a $7,500 cap on tax credits individuals can claim (up to one half of their tax liability) under a scholarship program and moves up the date funds can be released each year to students from failing schools from September 15 to May 15. ACU supports the expansion of school choice and supported this bill. The House adopted a motion to read a third time and pass on March 19, 2014 by a vote of

9 ALABAMA HOUSE SCORES ALABAMA HOUSE STATISTICS OVERALL AVERAGE 67% REPUBLICAN AVERAGE 93% LOWEST REPUBLICANS BAKER, ODEN 67% DEMOCRAT AVERAGE 17% HIGHEST DEMOCRAT ROBINSON, J. 67% ALABAMA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL* Party District 72 HB 56 HB 414 HB 18 HB HB 19 HB HB 658 HB 31 HB 558 ACU Cast ACU % BAKER R % BALL R % BARTON R X X % BAUGHN R % BECKMAN R % Beech D 65 - X - X + + X % Black D X % Boman D X % BOOTHE R % Boyd D X % Bracy D % BRIDGES R % BROWN R % Burdine D % Buskey D % 9

10 ALABAMA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL* Party District 72 HB 56 HB 414 HB 18 HB HB 19 HB HB 658 HB 31 HB 558 ACU Cast ACU % BUTTRAM R % CARNS R 48 X X X X % CHESTEEN R % CLOUSE R % Coleman D % COLLINS R % Colston D X % DAVIS R % DeMARCO R % DRAKE R 45 X + X X X % England D % FARLEY R % FAUST R % FINCHER R % Ford D X % Forte D X X % GALLIHER R X X X X X % GASTON R % Givan D 60 X % GREER R % GREESON R 24 X X % Grimsley D X X X - - X % Hall D 19 X - - X % HAMMON R X % HARPER R 61 X + - X % HENRY R % HILL, M. R % 10

11 ALABAMA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL* Party District 72 HB 56 HB 414 HB 18 HB HB 19 HB HB 658 HB 31 HB 558 ACU Cast ACU % Holmes, A. D % Howard D % Hubbard, J. D 73 X - - X % HUBBARD, M. R % HURST R % ISON R % Jackson D 68 X % JOHNSON, K. R % JOHNSON, R. R % JOHNSON, W. R % JONES R % Kennedy D X X X X X 0 7 0% Knight D X % Laird I % LEE R % Lindsey D X % LONG R % LOVE R X X % MASK R X X % McAdory D % McCampbell D X X - - X % McClammy D % McCLENDON R X % McClurkin R % McCUTCHEON R % McMILLAN R X % Melton D % 11

12 ALABAMA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL* Party District 72 HB 56 HB 414 HB 18 HB HB 19 HB HB 658 HB 31 HB 558 ACU Cast ACU % MERRILL R % MILLICAN R X % MOORE, B. R % Moore, M. D % Morrow D % NEWTON, C. R X X % NORDGREN R % ODEN R 11 X X X X X X % PATTERSON R % PAYNE R 44 + X % POOLE R % RICH R % ROBERTS R X % Robinson, J. D % Robinson, O. D % Rogers D % SANDERFORD R % Scott D % SESSIONS R 105 X X % SHIVER R X % Todd D X X - X % TREADAWAY R X % TUGGLE R % VANCE R 80 X % WALLACE R % Warren D X % WEAVER R % 12

13 ALABAMA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL* Party District 72 HB 56 HB 414 HB 18 HB HB 19 HB HB 658 HB 31 HB 558 ACU Cast ACU % WILLIAMS, D. R % WILLIAMS, J. R % WILLIAMS, P. R X % WOOD R % WREN R % *The following members of the House did not vote on enough of the selected votes and as a result were not rated: Bandy, BUTLER, CANFIELD, Clarke, HOLMES, M., Mitchell, Newton, D., POLIZOS, SHEDD, STANDRIDGE, THOMAS, WILCOX. 13

14 NOTES

15 NOTES

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