2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS GUIDE
CALIFORNIA The American Conservative Union is taking our highly touted Congressional Ratings program to State Legislatures for the third year in a row, grading members on their votes on key conservative issues. Last year, we graded State Legislators in fifteen critical states, including Colorado, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia. This year, we are expanding our ratings to twenty states. ACU first began rating members of Congress in 1971. 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, defense, or Table of Contents 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 A Letter From The Chairman How We Selected the Votes Conservative All-Stars CA Assembly Vote Descriptions Assembly Scores CA Senate Vote Descriptions Senate Scores
2 3 4 4 6 9 12 15
American Conservative Union • 1331 H St. NW, Suite 500, Washington DC 20005 • (202) 347-9388 • conservative.org
CALIFORNIA 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS
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
22
Millie Hallow Colin A. Hanna David Keene Robert Luddy Ambassador Roger F. Noriega Thomas S. Winter
CALIFORNIA 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS
December 19, 2013 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 California State Legislature.
Al Cardenas, ACU Chairman
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. Last year we brought that same commitment to conservative ideals to the states, rating members in fifteen legislatures. I am pleased to report that this year we will score 20 states. This is part of the ACU plan to bring our ratings to all 50 states -- scoring every legislature in every state, every cycle. 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 2009. 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 20005 Tel: (202) 347-9388 Fax: (202) 347-9389 www.conservative.org
3
2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS GUIDE CALIFORNIA
How We Selected the Votes The American Conservative Union is taking our highly touted Congressional Ratings program to State Legislatures for the third year in a row, grading members on their votes on key conservative issues. Last year, we graded State Legislators in fifteen critical states, including Colorado, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia. This year, we are expanding our ratings to twenty states. ACU first began rating members of Congress in 1971. 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. 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. This is part of the ACU five-year plan to bring our ratings to all fifty states- scoring every legislature in every state, every year.
Conservatives of the California State Legislature Defenders of Liberty ACU Defenders of Liberty are those members of the California State Legislature who scored 100 percent on the ACU 2013 State Legislative Ratings and cast a vote for each adjudicated vote. California Senate: Wyland
California Assembly: Donnelly Hagman
Harkey
ACU Conservatives ACU Conservatives are those members of the California State Legislature who scored 80 percent or higher on the ACU 2013 State Legislative Ratings. California Senate:
Anderson Berryhill Emmerson
California Assembly: Allen Bigelow Chavez Conway Dahle B. Gaines 4
Fuller T. Gaines Huff
Knight Nielsen Vidak
Walters
Gorell Grove Jones Linder Logue Maienschein
Mansoor Melendez Morrell Nestande Olsen Patterson
Wagner Waldron Wilk
CALIFORNIA 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS
True Liberals of the Golden State True Liberals of the Sunshine State are those members of the California State Legislature who scored 0 percent on the ACU 2013 State Legislative Ratings. California Senate:
Beall Block Calderon Corbett De Leon DeSaulnier
California Assembly: Alejo Atkins Bloom Blumenfield Bocanegra Bonilla Bonta Bradford Buchanan Calderon
Evans Hancock Hernandez Hill Hueso Jackson
Lara Leno Lieu Liu Monning Padilla
Pavley Steinberg Torres Wolk Yee
Campos Chau Chesbro Dickinson Eggman Fong Garcia Gomez Gordon Hall
Hernandez Jones-Sawyer Levine Lowenthal Mitchell Mullin Nazarian Pan Perea J. Perez
V. M. Perez Quirk Rendon Skinner Stone Ting Weber Wieckowski Williams
5
2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS GUIDE CALIFORNIA
California Assembly Vote Descriptions 1. AB 1X Obamacare Implementation. This bill expands California’s Medicaid program, Medi-Cal, to help implement the Obamacare health insurance program. ACU opposes this expansion that will impose a future burden on California taxpayers and does not reform a program riddled with waste and abuse before expansion and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on March 7, 2013 by a vote of 54-22. 2. AB 154 Abortion. This bill allows non-physicians to perform early trimester abortions, expanding access to abortions throughout the state. ACU opposes measures that expand abortion access and jeopardize women’s health by taking physicians out of the process and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on May 28, 2013 by a vote of 50-25. 3. AB 711 Hunting Regulation. This bill seeks to make California the first state in the nation to ban all lead ammunition for hunting. ACU opposes unreasonable restrictions on hunters and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on May 16, 2013 by a vote of 44-21. 4. AB 48 Second Amendment Rights. This bill paces a series of restrictions in place, including criminalizing possession of so-called “magazine conversion kits” which are actually spare parts for magazines and allows the creation of an ammunition tracking database with gun owner information. ACU opposes the reduction of Second Amendment rights and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on May 29, 2013 by a vote of 46-26. 5. AB 10 Minimum Wage. This bill raises the state minimum wage by 20 per cent over three years, to $10 per hour. ACU agrees with the California Chamber of Commerce that the bill is a “job killer” that will result in lower economic growth and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on May 30, 2013 by a vote of 45-27. 6. AB 131 Voting Integrity. This bill allows election officials to process signed voter registration cards even if the place of birth box is left blank. ACU opposes laws that make it easier to commit voter fraud and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on April 4, 2013 by a vote of 47-23. 7. AB 375 Teacher Dismissal. This bill was designed to streamline the process to dismiss teachers who are charged with egregious moral violations. However, amendments to the bill make it more, rather than less difficult to dismiss these teachers and lump them in with teachers who have poor job performance. ACU agrees with principals and school administrators in opposing this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on May 29, 2013 by a vote of 64-11. 8. AB 1401 Jury Requirements. This bill would allow legal non-citizens to serve on juries. ACU believes membership on juries should be reserved for American citizens and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on April 25, 2013 by a vote of 45-26. 9. AB 1266 Gender Identity in Schools. This bill allows public school students to choose which athletic classes and public restrooms they will use regardless of their gender identity. ACU opposes this attempt to “help” transgender students at the expense of the privacy rights of others and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on May 9, 2013 by a vote of 46-25. 6
CALIFORNIA 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS
10. AB 1217 Labor Law. This bill extends labor law requirements to home health care workers. ACU opposes government regulation that interferes with the free market and will drive the cost of home health care for families in need and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on May 30, 2013 by a vote of 52-26. 11. AB 241 Labor Law. This bill extends labor law requirements to domestic workers and force them to meet licensure requirements, becoming the second state in the nation after New York to do so. The bill makes individual homeowners employing nannies and caregivers legally liable if they don’t follow union rules for wage and hour mandates, rest breaks, meals, etc. ACU this type of needless regulation and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on May 29, 2013 by a vote of 45-25. 12. AB 180 Second Amendment Rights. This bill allows the City of Oakland to circumvent state gun laws and enact their own more restrictive laws on registration and licensing of firearms. ACU opposes restriction Second Amendment rights and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on May 28, 2013 by a vote of 46-29. 13. SB 374 Second Amendment Rights. This bill requires the registration of all “semi-automatic” rifles, including rimfire. The bill also requires owners of these firearms to submit fingerprints and forms that will be kept in a government database and bans the sale and transfers of these firearms after January 1, 2014. ACU opposes these draconian gun control regulations and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on September 10, 2013 by a vote of 44-31. 14. SB 4 Domestic Energy Production. This bill imposes a state regulatory regime on hydraulic fracturing, including a possible moratorium if the Natural Resources Agency fails to complete a scientific study by January 1, 2015. ACU supports the continued growth of domestic energy production which reduces America’s dependence on imported oil and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on September 11, 2013 by a vote of 54-20. 15. SB 54 Labor Law. This bill would require California refineries to displace current employees so that a specified number would be union members. The bill would also impose Davis-Bacon style prevailing wage requirements on refinery operators. ACU opposes this type of job-killing legislation that drives up the cost of business and hurts consumers and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on September 9, 2013 by a vote of 51-24. 16. SB 628 Infrastructure Financing. This bill repeals the requirement that voters approve the creation of an infrastructure financing district that can issue bonds and raise the appending limit for transit projects. ACU opposes removing the voters from control over how their tax money is spent and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on August 8, 2013 by a vote of 46-29. 17. AB 767 Car Tax Increase. The bill authorizes counties to double the car tax and to expand the tax to more counties. Funds would be used for a government program to prevent thefts. ACU opposes using car tac revenue for anything other than administrative expenses and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on May 16, 2013 by a vote of 47-25. 18. AB 210 Local Tax Increase. This bill authorizes Alameda and Contra Costa counties to impose sales and use taxes over the current 2 percent cap. ACU opposes this breach of the cap for selected counties and opposed this bill. The Assembly passed the bill on May 9, 2013 by a vote of 46-23. 19. AB 8 Energy Subsidies. This bill raises vehicle fees to subsidize the infrastructure for and purchase of electric vehicles. ACU opposes raising fees to pick winners and losers in the energy marketplace and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on June 27, 2013 by a vote of 54-20.
7
CALIFORNIA 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS 20. AB 483 Taxpayer Protection. This bill redefines terms in the California constitution relating to electorate approval of tax-like fees that could open the door for local governments to circumvent current taxpayer protections. ACU opposes weakening taxpayer protections of this kind and opposed the bill. The bill passed the Assembly on September 12, 2013 by a vote of 63-8. 21. SB 11 Tax Extensions. This bill “extends” for many years numerous “temporary” taxes due to expire over the next few years. ACU opposes these backdoor tax increases to pay for wasteful government programs and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Assembly on September 6, 2013 by a vote of 53-24.
8
+ -
-
-
D
D
R
D
R
D
R
D
D
R
D
D
D
D
R
D
Campos
Chau
CHAVEZ
Chesbro
CONWAY
Cooley
DAHLE
Daly
Dickinson
DONNELLY
Eggman
Fong
Fox
Frazier
GAINES
Garcia
X
-
-
-
+
-
-
+
X
+
X
+
-
-
X
X
X
-
+
-
+
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+
X
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X
X
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0
19
1
5
0
0
21
0
1
18
5
19
0
18
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
19
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1
17
0
15
ACU Votes
21
20
17
14
21
16
21
21
16
19
17
19
21
20
21
21
21
19
18
21
21
20
20
15
20
19
21
20
18
20
20
Votes Cast
0%
95%
6%
36%
0%
0%
100%
0%
6%
95%
29%
100%
0%
90%
0%
0%
0%
0%
11%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
100%
0%
5%
94%
0%
75%
ACU %
+ 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; * Assemblymember did not cast enough votes to be rated this session.
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X
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X
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D
D
Brown
-
-
D
D
Bradford
Buchanan
D
Bonta
-
-
-
-
+
-
Calderon
D
D
Blumenfield
Bocanegra
D
Bloom
Bonilla
R
D
BIGELOW
D
Atkins
-
+
-
AB 375
-
AB 1401
-
AB 1266
R
AB 131
+
AB 1217
-
AB 241
D
AB 10
+
AB 180
-
SB 374
Ammiano
AB 48
+
SB 4
-
SB 54
ALLEN
AB 711
X
SB 628
-
AB 767
X
AB 210
D
AB 154 +
AB 8
Alejo
AB 1X
-
AB 483
R
Party
SB11
ACHADJIAN
Assemblymember Name
CALIFORNIA 2013 ASSEMBLY VOTES
CALIFORNIA 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS
9
10 + + -
D
R
R
D
R
D
R
D
D
D
R
R
Lowenthal
MAIENSCHEIN
MANSOOR
Medina
MELENDEZ
Mitchell
MORRELL
Mullin
Muratsuchi
Nazarian
NESTANDE
OLSEN
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17
17
0
2
0
18
0
15
1
20
19
0
17
16
0
0
20
0
0
0
20
0
20
19
3
14
0
1
0
1
ACU Votes
20
20
20
19
21
19
21
17
21
21
21
19
18
19
20
21
21
1
9
19
20
18
20
19
13
16
20
14
21
21
Votes Cast
85%
85%
0%
11%
0%
95%
0%
88%
5%
95%
90%
0%
94%
84%
0%
0%
95%
N/A
N/A
0%
100%
0%
100%
100%
23%
88%
0%
7%
0%
5%
ACU %
+ 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; * Assemblymember did not cast enough votes to be rated this session.
+
+
-
-
-
+
+
-
+
+
-
-
+
-
R
D
Hueso*
-
-
R
D
Holden*
LOGUE
D
Hernandez
+
LINDER
R
HARKEY
D
D
Hall
+
Levine
R
HAGMAN
+
R
R
GROVE
D
D
Gray
+
Jones-Sawyer
R
GORELL
JONES
D
Gordon
-
-
AB 375
-
AB 131
+
AB 1401
X
AB 10
-
AB 1266
-
AB 1217
-
AB 48
-
AB 241
-
AB 180
X
AB 711
-
SB 374
-
SB 4
D
AB 154 -
SB 54
-
SB 628
Gonzalez
AB 1X
-
AB 767
-
AB 210
D
AB 8
D
AB 483
Gatto
Party
SB11
Gomez
Assemblymember Name
CALIFORNIA 2013 ASSEMBLY VOTES
CALIFORNIA 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS
AB 1X
-
R
D
D
WALDRON
Weber
Wieckowski
-
-
+
-
-
+
+
-
-
X
-
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
-
+
+
X
-
-
-
+
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
-
+
+
-
-
X
-
+
-
X
-
-
-
X
-
-
+
-
-
+
+
X
-
-
-
+
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
-
+
+
X
-
-
-
X
-
-
-
-
-
X
-
-
+
-
-
+
+
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
-
+
+
X
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
-
+
+
-
-
-
-
X
-
X
-
-
-
-
+
-
-
-
+
-
-
X
+
X
-
-
-
+
-
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
+
-
+
-
-
+
+
X
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
-
-
+
-
-
+
+
X
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
X
+
-
-
-
+
-
-
+
+
X
-
-
-
+
-
+
-
-
-
-
+
-
-
-
+
-
-
+
+
X
-
-
-
+
-
-
-
-
-
X
+
-
-
-
+
-
-
+
+
X
-
-
X
X
-
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
-
-
+
-
-
+
+
X
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
-
-
+
-
-
+
+
X
-
-
-
+
-
+
-
-
-
-
+
-
-
-
+
-
-
+
+
-
-
X
-
+
-
+
-
X
-
-
+
-
-
-
+
-
-
X
+
-
-
-
-
+
-
X
-
X
-
-
X
-
-
-
+
-
-
+
+
X
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
-
-
-
-
X
-
-
X
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
-
+
+
X
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
+
1
0
20
0
0
18
20
0
0
0
0
9
0
3
0
0
0
0
18
0
ACU Votes
21
21
21
21
20
19
21
6
21
18
20
18
21
18
21
19
21
17
20
21
Votes Cast
5%
0%
95%
0%
0%
95%
95%
N/A
0%
0%
0%
50%
0%
17%
0%
0%
0%
0%
90%
0%
ACU %
+ 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; * Assemblymember did not cast enough votes to be rated this session.
D
R
WAGNER
Yamada
D
Torres*
R
D
Ting
D
D
Stone
Williams
D
Skinner
WILK
D
D
Rendon
Salas
D
D
Quirk
Quirk-Silva
-
D
Perez, V.M.
-
AB 131
-
AB 375
+
AB 1401
-
AB 10
-
AB 1266
+
AB 1217
D
AB 48
-
AB 241
+
AB 180
D
AB 711
-
SB 374
+
SB 4
Perez, J.
AB 154
-
SB 54
+
SB 628
Perea
-
AB 767
+
AB 210
R
AB 8
D
AB 483
Pan
Party
SB11
PATTERSON
Assemblymember Name
CALIFORNIA 2013 ASSEMBLY VOTES
CALIFORNIA 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS
11
2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS GUIDE CALIFORNIA
California Senate Vote Descriptions 1. AB 1X Obamacare Implementation. This bill expands California’s Medicaid program, Medi-Cal, to help implement the Obamacare health insurance program. ACU opposes this expansion that will impose a future burden on California taxpayers and does not reform a program riddled with waste and abuse before expansion and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on June 5, 2013 by a vote of 28-8. 2. AB 154 Abortion. This bill allows non-physicians to perform early trimester abortions, expanding access to abortions throughout the state. ACU opposes measures that expand abortion access and jeopardize women’s health by taking physicians out of the process and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on August 26, 2013 by a vote of 25-11. 3. AB 711 Hunting Regulation. This bill seeks to make California the first state in the nation to ban all lead ammunition for hunting. ACU opposes unreasonable restrictions on hunters and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on September 9, 2013 by a vote of 23-15. 4. AB 48 Second Amendment Rights. This bill paces a series of restrictions in place, including criminalizing possession of so-called “magazine conversion kits” which are actually spare parts for magazines and allows the creation of an ammunition tracking database with gun owner information. ACU opposes the reduction of Second Amendment rights and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on August 10, 2013 by a vote of 22-14. 5. AB 10 Minimum Wage. This bill raises the state minimum wage by 20 per cent over three years, to $10 per hour. ACU agrees with the California Chamber of Commerce that the bill is a “job killer” that will result in lower economic growth and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on September 12, 2013 by a vote of 26-11. 6. AB 131 Voting Integrity. This bill allows election officials to process signed voter registration cards even if the place of birth box is left blank. ACU opposes laws that make it easier to commit voter fraud and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on June 1, 2013 by a vote of 26-10. 7. AB 375 Teacher Dismissal. This bill was designed to streamline the process to dismiss teachers who are charged with egregious moral violations. However, amendments to the bill make it more, rather than less difficult to dismiss these teachers and lump them in with teachers who have poor job performance. ACU agrees with principals and school administrators in opposing this bill. The Senate passed the bill on September 12, 2013 by a vote of 25-13. 8. AB 1401 Jury Requirements. This bill would allow legal non-citizens to serve on juries. ACU believes membership on juries should be reserved for American citizens and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on August 19, 2013 by a vote of 25-11.
12
CALIFORNIA 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS
9. AB 1266 Gender Identity in Schools. This bill allows public school students to choose which athletic classes and public restrooms they will use regardless of their gender identity. ACU opposes this attempt to “help” transgender students at the expense of the privacy rights of others and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on July 3, 2013 by a vote of 21-9. 10. AB 1217 Labor Law. This bill extends labor law requirements to home health care workers. ACU opposes government regulation that interferes with the free market and will drive the cost of home health care for families in need and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on September 12, 2013 by a vote of 25-11. 11. AB 241 Labor Law. This bill extends labor law requirements to domestic workers and force them to meet licensure requirements, becoming the second state in the nation after New York to do so. The bill makes individual homeowners employing nannies and caregivers legally liable if they don’t follow union rules for wage and hour mandates, rest breaks, meals, etc. ACU this type of needless regulation and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on September 11, 2013 by a vote of 23-12. 12. AB 180 Second Amendment Rights. This bill allows the City of Oakland to circumvent state gun laws and enact their own more restrictive laws on registration and licensing of firearms. ACU opposes restriction Second Amendment rights and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on September 6, 2013 by a vote of 21-15. 13. SB 374 Second Amendment Rights. This bill requires the registration of all “semi-automatic” rifles, including rimfire. The bill also requires owners of these firearms to submit fingerprints and forms that will be kept in a government database and bans the sale and transfers of these firearms after January 1, 2014. ACU opposes these draconian gun control regulations and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 29, 2013 by a vote of 23-15. 14. SB 4 Domestic Energy Production. This bill imposes a state regulatory regime on hydraulic fracturing, including a possible moratorium if the Natural Resources Agency fails to complete a scientific study by January 1, 2015. ACU supports the continued growth of domestic energy production which reduces America’s dependence on imported oil and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on May 29, 2013 by a vote of 28-11. 15. SB 391 Real Estate Fees. This bill imposes a $75 document fee on real estate transactions such as refinancing to pay for subsidized housing. ACU opposes what is in essence a transaction tax to pay for government interference in the free market and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on May 29, 2013 by a vote of 27-12. 16. SB 323 Tax Policy. This bill would strip the Boy Scouts and other “public youth charities” from their tax exempt status if they have policies which bar gay, lesbian, transgender or bi sexual people from membership or serving as leaders. It would also would prevent the organizations from receiving tax free revenue from their sales, such as Girl Scout Cookies. ACU opposes this type of government discrimination and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on May 29, 2013 by a vote of 27-9. 17. AB 8 Energy Subsidies. This bill raises vehicle fees to subsidize the infrastructure for and purchase of electric vehicles. ACU opposes raising fees to pick winners and losers in the energy marketplace and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on September 11, 2013 by a vote of 29-6.
13
CALIFORNIA 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS
18. AB 483 Taxpayer Protection. This bill redefines terms in the California constitution relating to electorate approval of tax-like fees that could open the door for local governments to circumvent current taxpayer protections. ACU opposes weakening taxpayer protections of this kind and opposed the bill. The bill passed the Senate on September 9, 2013 by a vote of 34-4. 19. SB 11 Tax Extensions. This bill “extends” for many years numerous “temporary” taxes due to expire over the next few years. ACU opposes these backdoor tax increases to pay for wasteful government programs and opposed this bill. The bill passed the Senate on May 29, 2013 by a vote of 32-5.
14
AB 1X
-
D
D
R
D
D
D
D
R
D
R
R
D
D
D
D
D
Block
Calderon
CANNELLA
Corbett
Correa
De Leon
DeSaulnier
EMMERSON
Evans
FULLER
GAINES
Galgiani
Hancock
Hernandez
Hill
Hueso
D
D
D
R
D
Liu
Monning
Mitchell*
NIELSEN
Padilla -
+
X
-
X
-
-
-
-
+
X
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
+
X
-
-
-
-
+
+
-
X
-
-
+
-
+
-
+
X
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
+
-
-
-
-
X
+
+
-
+
-
-
+
-
+
-
-
-
-
+
X
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
+
-
-
-
-
X
+
+
-
+
-
-
+
-
+
-
-
+
-
-
+
X
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
+
-
-
-
-
-
+
+
-
+
-
-
-
-
X
-
-
+
-
X
+
X
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
+
-
-
-
-
-
+
+
X
+
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
-
+
X
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
+
-
-
-
-
-
+
+
-
+
-
-
+
-
+
X
-
+
-
-
+
X
-
-
-
X
-
+
-
+
-
-
-
-
-
+
+
-
+
-
-
-
-
X
-
-
+
-
-
+
X
-
-
X
-
-
+
-
+
-
-
-
-
-
+
+
-
X
-
-
X
-
X
-
-
+
-
+
X
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
+
-
-
-
-
-
+
+
-
+
-
-
X
-
X
-
-
+
-
+
-
+
X
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
+
-
-
-
-
-
+
+
-
+
X
-
X
-
+
-
-
+
-
+
-
+
X
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
+
-
-
-
-
X
+
+
-
+
-
-
+
-
+
-
-
+
-
+
-
-
-
+
X
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
+
X
-
-
-
X
+
+
-
+
-
-
+
-
+
X
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
+
-
-
-
-
-
+
+
-
+
-
-
-
-
+
+
-
+
-
+
-
+
X
+
-
+
X
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
+
-
-
-
-
+
+
+
-
+
-
-
-
-
+
-
-
+
-
+
-
+
X
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
+
-
-
-
-
-
+
+
-
X
-
-
-
-
X
-
-
+
-
+
-
+
X
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
-
-
-
X
-
-
+
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
X
X
+
-
-
X
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
+
X
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
X
-
+
0
18
0
0
0
0
0
0
18
0
16
0
0
0
0
1
18
16
0
13
0
0
7
0
9
0
0
15
0
18
ACU Votes
18
19
0
19
18
18
18
19
19
19
19
17
19
18
18
15
19
19
18
16
18
19
16
19
14
18
19
16
17
19
Votes Cast
0%
95%
N/A
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
95%
0%
84%
0%
0%
0%
0%
7%
95%
84%
0%
81%
0%
0%
44%
0%
64%
0%
0%
94%
0%
95%
ACU %
+ 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 presen; *Senator did not cast enough votes to be rated in this session.
D
Lieu
-
D
D
Lara
Leno
+
R
KNIGHT
-
Jackson
+
R
D
HUFF
-
-
-
X
-
+
+
-
+
-
-
-
-
-
-
+
AB 1266
+
AB 1217
-
AB 1401
+
AB 241
+
AB 375
+
AB 180
-
AB 131
+
SB 374
X
AB 10
+
SB 4
R
AB 48
+
SB 391
D
AB 711
+
SB 323
BERRYHILL
AB 154
+
AB 8
Beall
-
AB 483
R
SB 11
ANDERSON
Senator Name Party
CALIFORNIA 2013 SENATE VOTES
CALIFORNIA 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS
15
16
D
R
D
Wright
WYLAND
Yee
-
-
+
-
-
+
X
-
X
-
-
+
+
-
-
-
+
+
-
+
+
-
-
X
-
+
+
-
X
+
X
-
+
-
+
-
-
+
+
-
-
X
X
-
+
-
-
+
X
-
-
-
X
-
+
-
-
+
+
-
-
-
X
-
+
-
-
+
+
-
-
-
X
-
+
X
-
+
X
X
-
X
X
-
+
-
-
+
+
X
-
-
X
-
-
+
-
-
+
+
X
-
X
X
-
-
+
+
X
+
+
X
-
+
X
-
-
+
+
-
+
+
-
-
+
X
-
-
+
-
-
+
X
-
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
-
+
X
-
-
-
-
-
-
+
X
-
+
X
-
-
-
-
-
-
+
X
-
+
-
-
-
-
X
-
-
+
X
-
+
-
-
-
-
X
-
-
+
X
-
-
X
-
-
-
-
-
SB 11
0
18
4
0
17
10
0
0
4
0
0
ACU Votes
19
18
14
18
18
12
14
19
16
5
17
Votes Cast
0%
100%
29%
0%
94%
83%
0%
0%
25%
N/A
0%
ACU %
+ 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 presen; *Senator did not cast enough votes to be rated in this session.
R
D
R
Wolk
D
Torres
VIDAK
-
X +
X
SB 323
WALTERS
D
Steinberg
-
AB 1401
X
AB 1266
X
AB 375
-
AB 8
-
AB 131
-
AB 483
-
AB 10
-
AB 1217
D
AB 48
-
AB 241
D
AB 711
-
AB 180
Roth
AB 154
-
SB 374
Price*
AB 1X
-
SB 4
D
SB 391
Pavley
Senator Name Party
CALIFORNIA 2013 SENATE VOTES
CALIFORNIA 2013 STATE LEGISLATIVE RATINGS
2013
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 www.conservative.org.
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