Rand Paul
Key Voting Record
Key Vote Description
Legislator Score / Vote
2020: 116th Congress 100%
- 1: On the Motion to Waive All Applicable Budgetary Discipline for United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act, H.R. 5430✔ Nay
Key Vote 1: On the Motion to Waive All Applicable Budgetary Discipline for United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act, H.R. 5430
This motion waives the Senate's "pay-as-you-go" (PAYGO) rules for H.R. 5430, allowing for a larger budget deficit.
"Nay" votes scored. - 2: Guilty or Not Guilty: Article of Impeachment Against Donald John Trump for Abuse of Power✔ Nay
Key Vote 2: Guilty or Not Guilty: Article of Impeachment Against Donald John Trump for Abuse of Power
As Professor Turley noted in his written testimony to the House Judiciary Committee, “[T]he problem with the abuse of power allegation is its lack of foundation.” President Trump denied on multiple occasions that there was any quid pro quo tying the aid to Ukraine to investigations. The most notable claim that there was a quid pro quo comes from a former national security adviser who was relieved of his duties in a very public manner and is seeking to cash in on his time in the White House through a book deal.
"Nay" votes scored. - 3: Guilty or Not Guilty: Article of Impeachment Against Donald John Trump for Obstruction of Congress✔ Nay
Key Vote 3: Guilty or Not Guilty: Article of Impeachment Against Donald John Trump for Obstruction of Congress
In addition to the charge of “abuse of power,” charge of “obstruction of Congress” rings hollow, too. House Democrats had not exhausted all legal mechanisms to compel testimony. House Democrats complain that federal courts would have taken too long to solve the disputes over subpoenas, yet they took 29 days to appoint impeachment managers and transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate. Even if federal courts took months, or even years, to settle the legal disputes, with a presidential election on the horizon, the electorate would have had the final word.
"Nay" votes scored. - 4: On the Joint Resolution: Iran War Powers Resolution✔ Yea
Key Vote 4: On the Joint Resolution: Iran War Powers Resolution
Many of the issues with out-of-control government power stem from congressional leaders surrendering their constitutionally delegated power over to the executive branch, whether they be handed over to unelected regulators or in the office of the President itself. In order to chip away at the behemoth our federal government has become, we need our members of Congress to be willing to reclaim the powers our framers meant for them to have. This includes the power to initiate hostilities and to declare war on foreign nations. S.J.Res. 68 is one monumental step in that reclamation fight.
"Yea" votes scored. - 5: On the Joint Resolution: Borrower Defense Institutional Accountability Rule CRA Resolution, H.J.Res. 76✔ Nay
Key Vote 5: On the Joint Resolution: Borrower Defense Institutional Accountability Rule CRA Resolution, H.J.Res. 76
This Democrat-only Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution would undo updated borrower defense regulations that will be a marked improvement over the existing set of regulations that were issued under President Obama. The revised borrower defense regulations set to go into effect in July 2020 are the result of more than two years of deliberations and significant input from the public and from higher education stakeholders, following years of broad relief granted to groups under the existing regulations. As such, fortunately, the new regulations address many of the flaws of the existing structure of borrower defense.
"Nay" votes scored. - 6: On the Motion to Table: Paul Amendment to H.R. 6074 to Pay for Coronavirus Emergency Spending✔ Nay
Key Vote 6: On the Motion to Table: Paul Amendment to H.R. 6074 to Pay for Coronavirus Emergency Spending
The amendment would simply rescind unobligated funds for several international outreach and foreign aid programs that have been flagged in the past for being unnecessary and wasting taxpayer dollars, and apply those funds to offset the cost of emergency spending to combat the coronavirus domestically. The continued spread of the COVID-19 virus worldwide, including now in a number of US states, has justly caused significant public concern. As Congress moves to fund efforts to combat the spread of the disease, however, it should not forget its duty to avoid burdening future generations with unnecessary new deficit spending.
"Nay" votes scored. - 7: On the Amendment: Wyden-Daines Amendment to H.R. 6172✔ Yea
Key Vote 7: On the Amendment: Wyden-Daines Amendment to H.R. 6172
This amendment would disallow the collection of internet search and browser history under Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act. This information could still be acquired, but via other legal authorities that require a demonstration of probable cause by the government. This is largely codifying what is supposed to be current practice, but the government’s long history of reading the restrictions on their access to information extremely broadly justifies establishing a clear prohibition on acquiring such intrusive and revealing personal information. One need only check one’s own browser history to see how many details about a person’s life and that of their family can be inferred merely by acquiring that data.
"Yea" votes scored. - 8: On the Amendment: Lee-Leahy Amendment to H.R. 6172✔ Yea
Key Vote 8: On the Amendment: Lee-Leahy Amendment to H.R. 6172
This amendment greatly expands the instances under which amici curiae may be appointed to present some semblance of an adversarial process in Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) proceedings. Obviously, it would defeat the point of a legitimate surveillance order to have the target be able to represent themselves in front of the FISC, but the Lee/Leahy amendment insists that amici with expertise in privacy and civil liberties be present to ensure a fair proceeding in their stead in a number of instances. At their discretion, the FISC would be expected to appoint an amicus in FISA applications involving: new interpretations of law; First Amendment-protected activities; persons affiliated with political campaigns, religious organizations, or domestic new media; the use of new surveillance technologies; or other civil liberties concerns. This would greatly increase the likelihood that abuses of surveillance authorities, including both the NSA’s mass surveillance of Americans revealed by Edward Snowden and the FBI’s abuse of the same against President Trump’s campaign, would be discovered and flagged before they got out of hand. The government would also be explicitly required to disclose all possible exculpatory evidence that may undercut the need for a surveillance order to both the FISC and the amicus. The importance of such a requirement is highlighted by both the Carter Page incident during the Trump campaign, in which information about Page being an intelligence asset was withheld from the FISC. Recent revelations that the FBI also withheld exculpatory evidence in their investigation of General Flynn, as well, further calls that the disclosure of such information be explicitly demanded.
"Yea" votes scored. - 9: On the Amendment: Paul Amendment to H.R. 6172✔ Yea
Key Vote 9: On the Amendment: Paul Amendment to H.R. 6172
This amendment would require that a warrant be acquired under a non-FISA court in order to conduct surveillance on any US person and would disallow the use of information collected on US persons under either FISA or Executive Order 12333 from being used against them in court. Because it challenges the very structure of the surveillance authorities the government claims, this is considered a more ambitious reform than the others. However, it would bring surveillance authorities far closer into line with the express intent of the 4th Amendment - that all Americans receive due process against undue searches and seizures and that defendants have access to all information available to the government in the event of a court proceeding. The specific prohibition on the use of EO 12333 data against Americans is particularly noteworthy in light of Senator Burr’s recent assertion on the Senate floor that the executive branch could use it to continue Section 215 surveillance unabated in the absence of legislative permission.
"Yea" votes scored. - 10: On the Motion to Waive All Applicable Budgetary Discipline for the Great American Outdoors Act✔ Nay
Key Vote 10: On the Motion to Waive All Applicable Budgetary Discipline for the Great American Outdoors Act
The Great American Outdoors Act, the legislative vehicle for which is H.R. 1957, would create the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, which would be financed by revenues collected from the sale of oil, gas, coal, and other energy produced on federally owned land and waters to support deferred maintained projects in federal parks and other federally owned lands. The bill would also make the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) permanent, bringing it outside the annual congressional appropriations process. Additionally, the Great American Outdoors Act would require the LWCF to purchase more land annually at a time when the federal government already owns roughly 28 percent of land in the United States. The federal government owns a majority of land in a handful of states, including Nevada (80.1 percent), Utah (63.1 percent), and Idaho (61.9 percent). The Great American Outdoors Act shifts LWCF spending from discretionary spending subject to congressional appropriation to mandatory spending. In FY 2019, mandatory spending represented 61.4 percent of all federal spending. This spending is on autopilot and not subject to annual congressional appropriation. Discretionary spending is subject to annual appropriation and represented 30 percent of federal spending in FY 2019. As Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) noted in his floor speech on Tuesday, the Great American Outdoors Act “will cost nearly $17.3 billion over the next 10 years…all for land projects that we cannot afford, let alone maintain.” FreedomWorks supports invoking budgetary points of order against the Great American Outdoors Act and opposes efforts to waive them.
"Nay" votes scored. - No votes for this year match the provided filters.
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2019: 116th Congress 96%
- 1: On the Conference Report: Consolidated Appropriations Act, H.J.Res. 31✔ Nay
Key Vote 1: On the Conference Report: Consolidated Appropriations Act, H.J.Res. 31
After signing the 2018 omnibus spending package, President Trump realized this. He promised he would never again sign another bill like it. Yet, this bill totals well over 1,100 pages and would have to be passed and signed in under 48 hours to avoid a shutdown. Congress should learn from its past mistakes and allow for adequate time to debate the contents of this monstrosity. If they do not, President Trump should make good on his promise and veto this bill. Additionally, this legislation — in all of its profligate glory — spends and spends and spends taxpayer dollars, with no regard for the looming fiscal crisis our country faces.
"Nay" votes scored. - 2: On the Nomination: Andrew Wheeler to Serve as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency✔ Yea
Key Vote 2: On the Nomination: Andrew Wheeler to Serve as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Acting EPA Administration Andrew Wheeler has done a phenomenal job balancing protecting the environment and abiding by his constitutional obligations, all while preserving free market principles He will no doubt add to that legacy as full-time Administrator. Acting Administrator Wheeler recognizes that Washington bureaucrats do not know what’s best for America’s businesses, and does not try to run their companies. Instead, he gives the private sector the flexibility it needs to efficiently lower emissions and find the most cost-effective way to help the environment. He also understands that property rights are fundamental to our liberty and that government agencies have no business regulating our backyards.
"Yea" votes scored. - 3: On the Nomination: Neomi Rao to Serve as a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit✔ Yea
Key Vote 3: On the Nomination: Neomi Rao to Serve as a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
As the administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Neomi Rao was charged with overseeing the implementation of government policies and reviewing draft regulations. This experience makes her uniquely qualified to assess the constitutionality of government regulations. Rao also founded the Center for the Study of the Administrative State at the Antonin Scalia Law School. There is perhaps no judicial nominee better positioned to reign in the excesses of the federal bureaucracy. Given this history, Neomi Rao is a fantastic pick and will carry on Brett Kavanaugh’s legacy on the D.C. Circuit of reigning in the excesses of the administrative state. She was already leading the way on regulatory reform as the head of OIRA facilitating billions in reduced regulatory economic burdens over the last two years. Now she has the opportunity to do so from the bench and set precedents that cannot be easily undone by future administrations.
"Yea" votes scored. - 4: On the Cloture Motion: Green New Deal Resolution, S.J.Res. 8✔ Nay
Key Vote 4: On the Cloture Motion: Green New Deal Resolution, S.J.Res. 8
The “Green New Deal” resolution seeks to transition America’s mostly free market economy into a socialist economy, bordering on full-fledged communism. The so-called “Green New Deal” is not grounded in any sense of reality. By one unofficial estimate, the resolution’s goals of government-run healthcare, a complete transition to renewable energy, “free” college for all, and universal basic income would cost $6.6 trillion annually, or 31 percent of projected gross domestic product (GDP) for 2019. To put this into perspective, the Congressional Budget Office projects that federal spending in 2019 will total $4.4 trillion, or 20.8 percent of GDP. This unofficial estimate does not include retrofitting or rebuilding every single building in the United States, a high-speed rail system that promises to make air travel unnecessary while ignoring the existence of oceans (sorry, Hawaii), increased subsidies for electric vehicles -- which currently draw their power from a grid fueled predominantly by a combination of coal, natural gas, and oil-fired electric power plants -- to replace all of the gas-fueled vehicles currently on the road, or any of the other unicorns promised to come down this socialist rainbow.
"Nay" votes scored. - 5: On Overriding the Veto: Yemen War Powers Resolution, S.J.Res. 7✔ Yea
Key Vote 5: On Overriding the Veto: Yemen War Powers Resolution, S.J.Res. 7
The Yemen War Powers Resolution, which has already been passed by both chambers of Congress, would require the removal of undeclared, unauthorized United States’ support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen absent explicit congressional authorization.
"Yea" votes scored. - 6: On the Nomination: Kimberly Reed to Serve as President of the Export-Import Bank✘ Yea
Key Vote 6: On the Nomination: Kimberly Reed to Serve as President of the Export-Import Bank
The Export-Import Bank has operated without a quorum since July 2015. That should not change. The Export-Import Bank has been the face of cronyism, and, with a reauthorization deadline looming, conservatives and libertarians must push back against congressional attempts to reestablish a quorum and reauthorize the Bank.
"Nay" votes scored. - 7: On the Nomination: Spencer Bachus to Serve as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank✔ Nay
Key Vote 7: On the Nomination: Spencer Bachus to Serve as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank
The Export-Import Bank has operated without a quorum since July 2015. That should not change. The Export-Import Bank has been the face of cronyism, and, with a reauthorization deadline looming, conservatives and libertarians must push back against congressional attempts to reestablish a quorum and reauthorize the Bank.
"Nay" votes scored. - 8: On the Nomination: Judith DelZoppo Pryor to Serve as a Member of the Board of Directors to the Export-Import Bank✔ Nay
Key Vote 8: On the Nomination: Judith DelZoppo Pryor to Serve as a Member of the Board of Directors to the Export-Import Bank
The Export-Import Bank has operated without a quorum since July 2015. That should not change. The Export-Import Bank has been the face of cronyism, and, with a reauthorization deadline looming, conservatives and libertarians must push back against congressional attempts to reestablish a quorum and reauthorize the Bank.
"Nay" votes scored. - 9: On Passage of the Bill: Supplemental Appropriations Act - H.R. 2157✔ Nay
Key Vote 9: On Passage of the Bill: Supplemental Appropriations Act - H.R. 2157
The Supplemental Appropriations Act would provide for an additional $17.2 billion in emergency relief funds with no offsets, although the Disaster Relief Fund still has more than $29 billion in it. The bill would also further other big-government policies, including duplicative agriculture subsidies, National Flood Insurance Program reauthorization, and community development block grant spending. This bill, which is a modified and worsened version of another supplemental appropriations bill, H.R. 268, that passed the House in January. H.R. 2157 spends close to 50 percent more than H.R. 268 despite, again, no new funds being requested for these disasters. Because it will be brought to the floor as an emergency supplemental, the spending in it is also exempt from the Budget Control Act discretionary spending caps. Furthermore, H.R. 2157 would also ramp up agriculture subsidies that already distort the market and amount to no better than other defunct welfare programs. With $22 trillion of national debt and more being added with each passing day, we need to be spending more, not less. At the very least, we need to fully and honestly offset any new federal spending with further spending cuts.
"Nay" votes scored. - 10: On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed: Pennies Plan Balanced Budget, S. 1332✔ Yea
Key Vote 10: On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed: Pennies Plan Balanced Budget, S. 1332
Introduced by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), the Pennies Plan Balanced Budget would cut two cents for every dollar of on-budget spending beginning in FY 2020. This would balance the federal budget by FY 2024, without making any changes to Social Security. Sen. Paul’s Pennies Plan Balanced Budget would address the concerning growth of federal spending by cutting two pennies from every dollar of on-budget spending. This would reduce on-budget spending by $183.1 billion in FY 2020 and $11.3 trillion in the unified budget. Although federal spending will be reduced under this budget proposal, federal spending will still rise by 18.2 percent over the budget window. The spending levels under the budget resolution would be enforceable under a point of order requiring five-eighths of members present and voting to waive. The Pennies Plan Balanced Budget includes reconciliation instructions to the Senate Finance Committee to extend the individual income tax reforms, including the pass-through changes, under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The budget resolution also includes a reserve fund for the expansion of health savings accounts. This is a crucial health insurance reform that will put people in charge of their healthcare dollars and lower overall healthcare costs.
"Yea" votes scored. Triple Score - 11: On the Amendment: Lee Amendment (#928) to H.R. 1327✔ Yea
Key Vote 11: On the Amendment: Lee Amendment (#928) to H.R. 1327
The Lee amendment would authorize $10.18 billion for the VCF over the next ten years (through 2029), which is the amount that the Congressional Budget Office has estimated is necessary for that time period. From 2030 through 2092, the Lee amendment would authorize another $10 billion for claims. This simple appropriation of funds would prevent the bill from, as written currently, giving a government program a completely blank check from Congress.
"Yea" votes scored. - 12: On the Amendment: Paul Amendment (#929) to H.R. 1327✔ Yea
Key Vote 12: On the Amendment: Paul Amendment (#929) to H.R. 1327
The Paul amendment would further the fiscal responsibility in the Lee amendment by requiring that the reauthorization of the VCF does not add new debt. “Any new spending that we are approaching, any new program that's going to have the longevity of 70, 80 years, should be offset by cutting spending that's less valuable," Sen. Paul said on the Senate floor.
"Yea" votes scored. - 13: On the Amendment: Paul Amendment (#932) to H.R. 3877✔ Yea
Key Vote 13: On the Amendment: Paul Amendment (#932) to H.R. 3877
"Yea" votes scored. - 14: On Passage of the Bill: Generational Theft Act, H.R. 3877✔ Nay
Key Vote 14: On Passage of the Bill: Generational Theft Act, H.R. 3877
The so-called "Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019," which would be more appropriately named the "Generational Theft Act," will increase the discretionary spending caps by more $320 billion over two fiscal years and suspend the debt limit through July 31, 2021. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), discretionary spending would be $1.119 trillion in FY 2020 and $1.145 trillion in FY 2021. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 would increase discretionary spending to $1.290 trillion in FY 2020 and $1.298 trillion in FY 2021. In total, this is a more than $320 billion spending increase over two fiscal years. Additionally, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 also includes $156.5 billion over two fiscal years for overseas contingency operations (OCO), which is used by Congress to bypass the discretionary spending caps. Prior to this budget deal, the CBO projected that the budget deficit would be $892 billion for FY 2020 and $962 billion in FY 2021. The discretionary spending levels in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 guarantee a return to $1 trillion budget deficits. Making matters worse, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 suspends the debt limit through July 31, 2021, providing the Department of the Treasury with a virtual blank check to borrow, accumulating more debt that future generations will have to shoulder. This deal on the discretionary spending caps is nothing short of a surrender by Republican “leadership” in the House and Senate and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Of course, we’ll be told that spending cuts will be on the agenda when Republicans get control of Congress again. Sadly, those promises never seem to come to pass. After all, Republican “leadership” and rank-and-file members don’t have any intention of governing by the limited government rhetoric on which they campaign. Instead, these Republicans vote with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for higher spending and more debt.
"Nay" votes scored. Triple Score - 15: On the Amendment: Paul Amendment (#942) to H.R. 4378✔ Yea
Key Vote 15: On the Amendment: Paul Amendment (#942) to H.R. 4378
This amendment, offered Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), would reduce spending authorized by the continuing resolution by 2 percent.
"Yea" votes scored. Double Score - 16: On Passage: Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020 - H.R. 4378 ✔ Nay
Key Vote 16: On Passage: Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020 - H.R. 4378
The Continuing Appropriations Act, H.R. 4378, would fund the federal government through November 21, 2019. The continued practice of governance by CR merely sets up another showdown where Congress will be pushed into enacting a massive last-second spending binge before they can go home for the holidays. It will continue spending at near-record deficit levels, while simultaneously including a host of program reauthorizations that ought to have been considered, and potentially amended, on their own. This spending continues at a level that will shortly lead us back to trillion-dollar annual deficits, while the national debt limit remains suspended through 2021, granting the federal government a blank check to tax future generations through spending money it does not possess.
"Nay" votes scored. Double Score - 17: On the Nomination: Eugene Scalia for Secretary of Labor✔ Yea
Key Vote 17: On the Nomination: Eugene Scalia for Secretary of Labor
Scalia is clearly a knowledgeable and highly qualified pick, having previously been appointed as the Department of Labor’s solicitor under President George W. Bush. He has since enjoyed a successful career as a lawyer on labor and employment issues. During his legal career, Scalia has been successful in pushing back against federal overreaches into workplace regulation. Such a voice at the Department of Labor will be valuable in ensuring that its mission to protect workers does not further spill over into unnecessary, job-killing red tape.
"Yea" votes scored. - 18: On the Amendment: Paul Amendment (#1019) to H.R. 3055✔ Yea
Key Vote 18: On the Amendment: Paul Amendment (#1019) to H.R. 3055
This amendment, offered Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), would reduce the appropriations authorized under H.R. 3055 by 2 percent. H.R. 3055 included the Senate’s versions of the Commerce, Justice, and Science; Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration; Interior and Environment; and Transportation and Urban Development appropriations bills for FY 2020
"Yea" votes scored. Double Score - 19: On Passage: State Innovation Waivers CRA, S.J.Res. 52✔ Nay
Key Vote 19: On Passage: State Innovation Waivers CRA, S.J.Res. 52
Introduced by Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), S.J.Res. 52 targets guidance issued by the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Health and Human Services that made it easier for states to get “state innovation waivers” under Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Trump administration has taken regulatory steps to provide more affordable private health insurance options through association health plans and short-term, limited-duration plans. In October 2018, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued guidance that further eases the process of applying for and receiving a waiver. The October 2018 guidance focuses on the coverage that is made available on the exchanges by health insurance companies rather than what consumers had purchased. States must still meet statutory requirements to be eligible for a waiver, but the guidance explains that the comprehensiveness and affordability requirement may be considered met “if access to coverage that is as affordable and comprehensive as coverage forecasted to have been available in the absence of the waiver is projected to be available to a comparable number of people under the waiver.” If an individual decides to purchase a more affordable, less comprehensive plan, the comprehensiveness and affordability requirement under Section 1332 will be met because there will be more comprehensive offerings on the exchanged that they could have opted to purchase. The guidance issued by the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Health and Human Services is not a cure-all for the issues that America’s health insurance system faces. Much more has to be done to address these issues, particularly through the legislative process. Unfortunately, congressional Democrats aren’t interested in solutions; many want more government involvement and the elimination of private health insurance.
"Nay" votes scored. - 20: On the Motion to Waive All Applicable Budgetary Discipline for H.R. 1865✔ Nay
Key Vote 20: On the Motion to Waive All Applicable Budgetary Discipline for H.R. 1865
This motion waives the Senate's "pay-as-you-go" (PAYGO) rules for H.R. 1865, allowing for a larger budget deficit.
"Nay" votes scored. - 21: On the Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment: Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, H.R. 1865✔ Nay
Key Vote 21: On the Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment: Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, H.R. 1865
Together, the FY 2020 spending bills, H.R. 1865 and H.R. 1158, total nearly $1.4 trillion in spending that flies far above the caps that Congress set for itself less than a decade ago meant to at least restrain spending. This has been continually ignored and voted away by members too afraid to practice the fiscal responsibility they preach and sell to voters on the campaign trail. Many of those same members will, unfortunately, vote for these packages as well. As we have now surpassed $23 trillion in national debt, there is already a mounting price to pay for Washington’s reckless fiscal “policy,” if it can be called that. The “policy” of both parties seems to be simply spending more and more without regard to the debt drag that this creates in our economy, let alone the fiscal crisis that slowly but surely will consume our country should we continue down this path.
"Nay" votes scored. - 22: On the Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment: Consolidated Appropriations Act, H.R. 1158☐ Did Not Vote
Key Vote 22: On the Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment: Consolidated Appropriations Act, H.R. 1158
Together, the FY 2020 spending bills, H.R. 1865 and H.R. 1158, total nearly $1.4 trillion in spending that flies far above the caps that Congress set for itself less than a decade ago meant to at least restrain spending. This has been continually ignored and voted away by members too afraid to practice the fiscal responsibility they preach and sell to voters on the campaign trail. Many of those same members will, unfortunately, vote for these packages as well. As we have now surpassed $23 trillion in national debt, there is already a mounting price to pay for Washington’s reckless fiscal “policy,” if it can be called that. The “policy” of both parties seems to be simply spending more and more without regard to the debt drag that this creates in our economy, let alone the fiscal crisis that slowly but surely will consume our country should we continue down this path.
"Nay" votes scored. - No votes for this year match the provided filters.
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2018: 115th Congress 100%
- 1: On the Cloture Motion: FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act - S. 139✔ Nay
Key Vote 1: On the Cloture Motion: FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act - S. 139
This vote is on the motion to invoke cloture on the FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act, S. 139, which requires a 60-vote majority to limit debate. In addition to the objections FreedomWorks has to the bill, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) used a tactic known as "filling the tree" to prevent amendments that would have addressed the concerns of constitutional conservatives and libertarians.
"Nay" votes scored. - 2: On the Motion: FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act - S. 139✔ Nay
Key Vote 2: On the Motion: FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act - S. 139
Despite some tweaks to the original text produced by the House Select Committee on Intelligence, the FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act continues to represent an assault on the Fourth Amendment. The Bill of Rights is a cornerstone of our constitutional republic, and crucial to defending the civil liberties of all American citizens. FISA has caused damage to the Fourth Amendment for years, and now is a critical time to support genuine reform, such as the USA RIGHTS Act. The revised version of the FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act remains the exact opposite of reform, and it is worse than current law. The bill would continue the backdoor search, with an utterly meaningless “warrant requirement.” The caveats proposed to this purported “warrant requirement” are an end-run around the Fourth Amendment. The bill provides a path for the National Security Agency (NSA) to restart the practice of “abouts” collection. This means if a U.S. person mentions a potential surveillance target in a communication, the NSA can collect it, regardless of whether or not the U.S. person was communicating with anyone associated with the target.
"Nay" votes scored. - 3: On the Cloture Motion: Bipartisan Budget Act✔ Nay
Key Vote 3: On the Cloture Motion: Bipartisan Budget Act
This vote is for cloture on the Bipartisan Budget Act. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) had offered an amendment to restore the original spending caps under the Budget Control Act. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) "filled the tree," refusing to allow amendments. A vote for cloture is essentially a vote not to allow amendments.
"Nay" votes scored. - 4: On the Motion: Bipartisan Budget Act✔ Nay
Key Vote 4: On the Motion: Bipartisan Budget Act
The Schumer-McConnell spending deal, the Bipartisan Budget Act, is the worst-case scenario for fiscal conservatives under a Democratic president and Democrat-controlled Congress, but it is happening under a Republican president and Republican Congress. This is reckless spending, and a massive tax hike on future generations, made under the guise of “bipartisan negotiations.” This is deceitful, aggressive overspending by those elected to protect taxpayers. Leaving Americans with higher budget deficits likely over $1 trillion, and a national debt that will balloon to over $21 trillion, is no way to govern, and its weight falls squarely on the shoulders of taxpayers. This deal makes clear that Republicans only care about deficits and out-of-control federal spending under a Democratic president. With a Republican president and Republican control of the House and Senate, there is no other conclusion that one can possibly draw.
"Nay" votes scored. Triple Score - 5: On the Nomination: Russ Vought to Serve as Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget✔ Yea
Key Vote 5: On the Nomination: Russ Vought to Serve as Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget
Russ Vought's nomination had been stalled by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who sought to leverage his obstruction of the nomination in exchange for more emergency supplemental funding for his home state. Vought's credentials to serve in this important post, which handles budget and regulatory policy for the White House, were never in question. Democrats opposed Vought's nomination over issues that have nothing to do with his ability to serve as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget.
"Yea" votes scored. - 6: On Passage of the Bill: Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, S. 2155✔ Yea
Key Vote 6: On Passage of the Bill: Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, S. 2155
Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act would provide targeted relief in the banking industry from onerous regulatory overreach into the financial sector created by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, commonly known as “Dodd-Frank.” Initially passed in response to the recession of 2008, Dodd-Frank created a series of reforms that were supposed to address the issues in the financial sector that had supposedly caused the recession, but instead created a climate of overregulation, authorized the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) with little to no oversight, and gave the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) the authority to label financial firms as too big to fail.
"Yea" votes scored. - 7: Co-Sponsors of the Federal Reserve Transparency Act, S. 16✔ Yea
Key Vote 7: Co-Sponsors of the Federal Reserve Transparency Act, S. 16
The Federal Reserve Transparency Act instructs the Comptroller General of the United States, who serves as the director of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to complete an audit of the Federal Reserve within 12 months of its enactment. A report of the findings of the audit would be required within 90 days of its completion. The bill would require the Federal Reserve to provide information to the GAO, currently excluded from audits under 31 USC 714(b), including discussions between the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department, as well as transactions with foreign banks. Should Leader McConnell bring this bill to the floor, FreedomWorks will substitute the cosponsor key vote for the roll call vote.
"Yea" votes scored. - 8: Co-Sponsors of the CREATES Act, S. 974✔ Yea
Key Vote 8: Co-Sponsors of the CREATES Act, S. 974
The CREATES Act would grant relief in court for generic and biosimilar competitors seeking FDA approval. This would clear the pathway for new drugs to enter the market, drastically reducing prices through increased competition. The cost savings stemming from this legislation could reach between 15 percent and 50 percent of current prices for impacted drugs. Should Leader McConnell bring this bill to the floor, FreedomWorks will substitute the cosponsor key vote for the roll call vote. Should Leader McConnell bring this bill to the floor, FreedomWorks will substitute the cosponsor key vote for the roll call vote.
"Yea" votes scored. - 9: Co-Sponsors of the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, S. 21✔ Yea
Key Vote 9: Co-Sponsors of the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, S. 21
The REINS Act would require congressional approval for economically significant rules promulgated by federal regulatory agencies. Under the REINS Act, the House and Senate would have to vote on a proposed rule and the president would have to sign it before enforcement of the rule can begin. The bill would give Congress 70 days to pass a resolution to approve a rule. If a resolution is not passed, the rule cannot take effect. Should Leader McConnell bring this bill to the floor, FreedomWorks will substitute the cosponsor key vote for the roll call vote.
"Yea" votes scored. - 10: Co-Sponsors of the Earmark Elimination Act, S. 2330✔ Yea
Key Vote 10: Co-Sponsors of the Earmark Elimination Act, S. 2330
The Earmark Elimination Act would make permanent the temporary moratorium on congressional earmarks put into effect in 2010 by creating a point of order against any provision within a bill that matches the definition of an earmark, and when raised would be stricken absent a two-thirds majority to override. Should Leader McConnell bring this bill to the floor, FreedomWorks will substitute the cosponsor key vote for the roll call vote.
"Yea" votes scored. - 11: Co-Sponsors of the CBO Show Your Work Act, S. 1746✔ Yea
Key Vote 11: Co-Sponsors of the CBO Show Your Work Act, S. 1746
The CBO Show Your Work Act would require the Congressional Budget Office to make the models and data employed to produce its analyses and cost estimates, as well as any details that were used, available to Congress and on the agency’s website. This much-needed transparency will allow interested parties outside of Congress to hold the CBO accountable. Should Leader McConnell bring this bill to the floor, FreedomWorks will substitute the cosponsor key vote for the roll call vote.
"Yea" votes scored. - 12: On the Motion: Consolidated Appropriations Act, H.R. 1625✔ Nay
Key Vote 12: On the Motion: Consolidated Appropriations Act, H.R. 1625
Altogether, the bill spends nearly $1.3 trillion in discretionary funds – $700 billion for defense, and $591 billion for non-defense – for fiscal year 2018 alone. These appropriations would bring us back to Obama-era trillion-dollar yearly deficits, and balloon our national debt to nearly $22 trillion. This level of spending for a unified Republican government is unacceptable and breaks the promises of every Republican member who ran on a platform of defending taxpayers, spending responsibly, and reigning in the size of government.
"Nay" votes scored. - 13: On the Nomination: Jim Bridenstine to be NASA Administrator✔ Yea
Key Vote 13: On the Nomination: Jim Bridenstine to be NASA Administrator
Between his time as an aviator in the United States Navy, his firsthand experience serving as the executive director of the Tulsa Air and Space Museum and Planetarium, and his work in Congress, Bridenstine is extraordinarily qualified for the role of NASA administrator. In this role at NASA, Bridenstine will have the ability to bring much-needed reform to the agency, implementing the same principles of free markets and government efficiency that he tirelessly fought for in Congress. Serving on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Bridenstine became a champion of issues pertaining to air and space exploration.
"Yea" votes scored. - 14: On the Joint Resolution: Indirect Auto Lending CRA Resolution of Disapproval, S.J.Res. 57✔ Yea
Key Vote 14: On the Joint Resolution: Indirect Auto Lending CRA Resolution of Disapproval, S.J.Res. 57
The passage of this CRA would do nothing to change the prohibition against discrimination in the Equal Credit Opportunity Act that the guidance cites. It would simply roll back the gross regulatory overreach of the CFPB in claiming for itself -- behind closed doors and a screen of smoke -- a power that Congress, in the law that created the CFPB, explicitly banned the CFPB from having. As Sen. Moran said, the CFPB “had to work its magic to find a way to regulate auto dealers.” Good governing is done through accountable and transparent processes, not magic.
"Yea" votes scored. - 15: On the Motion to Proceed: Resolution of Disapproval on Restoring Internet Freedom, S.J.Res 52✔ Nay
Key Vote 15: On the Motion to Proceed: Resolution of Disapproval on Restoring Internet Freedom, S.J.Res 52
S.J.Res. 52 would undo the Restoring Internet Freedom Order and reinstate the Obama administration’s Internet red tape. This will hurt tech companies, as well as consumers. Internet access is becoming vital to commerce, and many Americans still lack connectivity. In order to get service to these most vulnerable parts of the country, we need an Internet free of the meddling hand of government, so it can innovate and expand as it did for so many years before the Obama-era regulations took effect.
"Nay" votes scored. - 16: On the Joint Resolution of Disapproval on Restoring Internet Freedom, S.J.Res. 52✔ Nay
Key Vote 16: On the Joint Resolution of Disapproval on Restoring Internet Freedom, S.J.Res. 52
S.J.Res. 52 would undo the Restoring Internet Freedom Order and reinstate the Obama administration’s Internet red tape. This will hurt tech companies, as well as consumers. Internet access is becoming vital to commerce, and many Americans still lack connectivity. In order to get service to these most vulnerable parts of the country, we need an Internet free of the meddling hand of government, so it can innovate and expand as it did for so many years before the Obama-era regulations took effect.
"Nay" votes scored. Double Score - 17: On the Motion to Proceed: Penny Plan Balanced Budget, S.Con.Res. 36✔ Yea
Key Vote 17: On the Motion to Proceed: Penny Plan Balanced Budget, S.Con.Res. 36
Sen. Paul’s resolution would balance the federal budget in five years by assuming the repeal of the 2018 Bipartisan Budget Act and from there cutting total outlays by one penny for every dollar spent, continuing for the next five years. At this point, the budget would be fully balanced and spending would be allowed to grow at one percent thereafter. Doing so would reduce spending by $404.8 billion in fiscal year 2019 and by $13.35 trillion over ten years relative to the baseline under current law.
"Yea" votes scored. Triple Score - 18: On the Cloture Motion: Toomey Foreign Investment Amendment to H.R. 5515✔ Yea
Key Vote 18: On the Cloture Motion: Toomey Foreign Investment Amendment to H.R. 5515
Sen. Toomey’s amendment would apply the principles of the REINS Act to CFIUS to make sure Congress has a final say on these regulations. This will mean that only regulations that try to address truly predatory behavior will pass, while those that are unnecessary and anti-market will be stopped from taking effect. This was the intent of Congress when it authorized CFIUS and it should not abandon its ability to set policy in this way. Sen. Toomey’s amendment gives Congress this oversight.
"Yea" votes scored. - 19: On the Motion to Discharge: Spending Cuts to Expired and Unnecessary Programs Act, H.R. 3✔ Yea
Key Vote 19: On the Motion to Discharge: Spending Cuts to Expired and Unnecessary Programs Act, H.R. 3
Approving this initial $15 billion rescissions request in full -- pulling back funds sitting in useless accounts that can only otherwise be used to spend more in the future -- is a task that conservatives in Congress should wholeheartedly endorse. It is one of few opportunities to exercise any semblance of fiscal discipline. It is only one small step towards actually tackling Washington’s out-of-control spending addiction, but it represents a chance to begin this fight.
"Yea" votes scored. - 20: On the Motion to Table the Lee Amendment to H.R. 5515✔ Nay
Key Vote 20: On the Motion to Table the Lee Amendment to H.R. 5515
The Lee Amendment ensures that if the government wishes to making any such detention, that it have clear authorization to do so. The entire text of the Lee Amendment is consistent with the Constitution and with the prior Supreme Court cases that govern this issue. This amendment is narrow in scope, and will not hinder our counterterrorism efforts. This is merely to strengthen American citizens’ constitutional protections. The motion to table would kill this important provision.
"Nay" votes scored. - 21: On the Motion to Table Lee-Cruz Amendment to the Farm Bill, H.R. 2✔ Nay
Key Vote 21: On the Motion to Table Lee-Cruz Amendment to the Farm Bill, H.R. 2
This amendment would add work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. The Senate stripped out this pro-work provision from their version of the Farm Bill. Work requirements are important for helping people rise out of welfare and becoming independent of government assistance. A vote to table the Lee-Cruz Amendment would prevent them from being added back in to the Senate text.
"Nay" votes scored. - 22: On the Motion to Instruct on H.R. 5895 to Enhance Trade Oversight✔ Yea
Key Vote 22: On the Motion to Instruct on H.R. 5895 to Enhance Trade Oversight
The motion to instruct simply states: “[M]anagers on the part of the Senate at the conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the Senate amendment to the bill H.R. 5895 be instructed to include language providing a role for Congress in making a determination under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (19 U.S.C. 1862).” The administration has misused Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act to unilaterally impose tariffs – which are taxes – for purposes unrelated to national security. These tariffs threaten American consumers with higher prices and American businesses with retaliatory tariffs imposed by our trading partners.
"Yea" votes scored. - 23: On the Paul Amendment to H.R. 6147 ✔ Yea
Key Vote 23: On the Paul Amendment to H.R. 6147
This amendment, sponsored by sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) would reduce appropriations in the minibus by 11.39% across the board. This would result in cuts of $17.5 billion and would bring spending in line with the budget caps in place before passage of the Bipartisan Budget Act. Given that we are rapidly approaching a trillion dollar deficit, this is a necessary step to reining in government spending.
"Yea" votes scored. Double Score - 24: On the Motion to Table the Cruz Amendment to H.R. 6147✔ Nay
Key Vote 24: On the Motion to Table the Cruz Amendment to H.R. 6147
This amendment would prohibit funds from being used to carry out the District of Columbia’s recently-passed Health Insurance Requirement Act. The D.C. mandate states that a “taxpayer who fails to pay the District of Columbia shared responsibility payment imposed...shall be subject to all collection, enforcement, and administrative provisions applicable to unpaid taxes or fees, as provided in Chapter 18, Chapter 41, Chapter 42, Chapter 43, and Chapter 44 of this title.” When dissected fully, this includes levying and seizing property, or even imprisoning individuals for choosing not to purchase health insurance.
"Nay" votes scored. - 25: On the Conference Report to H.R. 6157✔ Nay
Key Vote 25: On the Conference Report to H.R. 6157
H.R. 6157 is more of the same profligate spending resulting from a broken budget process and members unwilling to stand up for their campaign promises of shrinking government and reducing spending. The bill appropriates $33 billion more for Defense than the FY 2018 omnibus and $16 billion more for Labor/HHS. It also includes a CR until December 7, setting up votes on a spending package during the lame-duck session that will almost certainly be packed with last-minute giveaways to special interests.
"Nay" votes scored. - 26: On the Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court✔ Yea
Key Vote 26: On the Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court
When it comes more broadly to the rampant expansion of the unconstitutional regulatory state, Judge Kavanaugh is perhaps second to none in standing up for the Constitution. According to Kavanaugh, if Congress hasn’t yet opined on a matter of deep economic significance, any regulation relating to that matter should be presumed unconstitutional. He recognizes that lawmaking, under Article I of the Constitution, was delegated to Congress, not unelected executive branch bureaucrats.
"Yea" votes scored. Double Score - 27: On the Nomination of Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court✔ Yea
Key Vote 27: On the Nomination of Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court
When it comes more broadly to the rampant expansion of the unconstitutional regulatory state, Judge Kavanaugh is perhaps second to none in standing up for the Constitution. According to Kavanaugh, if Congress hasn’t yet opined on a matter of deep economic significance, any regulation relating to that matter should be presumed unconstitutional. He recognizes that lawmaking, under Article I of the Constitution, was delegated to Congress, not unelected executive branch bureaucrats.
"Yea" votes scored. Double Score - 28: On the Conference Report for the Farm Bill, H.R. 2✔ Nay
Key Vote 28: On the Conference Report for the Farm Bill, H.R. 2
American taxpayers cannot afford to continue to use billions of dollars to prop up failing agri-businesses. The subsidies programs, as bloated and wasteful as they are now, will increase in cost by over one billion over the next ten years. This is inexcusable given our crushing national debt.
"Nay" votes scored. - 29: On the Joint Resolution: Yemen War Powers Resolution, S.J.Res. 54✔ Yea
Key Vote 29: On the Joint Resolution: Yemen War Powers Resolution, S.J.Res. 54
The resolution would simply reclaim Congress’ rightful and required Article I powers by mandating the removal of unauthorized U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or affecting the Republic of Yemen not later than 30 days after the adoption of the resolution, absent a declaration of war or specific authorization for engagement in such activities. In Yemen, the executive branch has very clearly gone a step too far. By providing mid-air refueling, targeting assistance, and intelligence sharing to the Saudi-led coalition in its bombing of the Houthis in Yemen, the U.S. is directly involved in the conflict. In no way connected to al-Qaeda or the Islamic State, U.S. military force against the Houthis remains unauthorized, falling outside of the scope of the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs. A power explicitly delegated to the deliberative bodies of Congress is being actively stripped from them, time and time again, even in an instance where the Department of Defense admits the unauthorized nature of the conflict. The people of the United States deserve to have their government respect the Constitution that protects our rights, and the men and women of our armed forces deserve to have their involvement in foreign conflicts vetted as statutorily and constitutionally mandated. The vote on the Yemen War Powers Resolution is a significant opportunity to affirm these basic principles.
"Yea" votes scored. - 30: On the Motion: First Step Act Amendment to S. 756✔ Yea
Key Vote 30: On the Motion: First Step Act Amendment to S. 756
The First Step Act would reform the federal criminal justice system to make our communities safer by reducing crime and focusing limited resources on the most dangerous offenders. By increasing access to and instituting incentives for inmate participation in recidivism reduction programming and by modestly modifying some sentencing laws, the First Step Act would provide much-needed changes to the federal criminal justice system. The bill would reform four areas of sentencing law by reforming 18 U.S.C. 924(c) stacking to clarify that enhancements for second and subsequent offenses are used only on those who are true recidivists, by tailoring 21 U.S.C. 841 to modify mandatory minimum sentence enhancements and those who they may apply to, by applying the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 retroactively, and by expanding the existing federal safety valve for judges sentencing individuals with little to no criminal history.
"Yea" votes scored. - No votes for this year match the provided filters.
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2017: 115th Congress 97%
- 1: On the Amendment: Paul Amendment to the FY 2017 Budget Resolution✔ Yea
Key Vote 1: On the Amendment: Paul Amendment to the FY 2017 Budget Resolution
While serving as the vehicle to begin the process of repealing ObamaCare, as currently written, S.Con.Res. 3 would increase budget deficits by $7.919 trillion between FY 2017 and FY 2026 and add nearly $9.01 trillion in publicly held debt. It’s beyond comprehension, after seeing more than $8.1 trillion added public’s share of the national debt since on President Barack Obama’s watch, why Congress would pass a budget resolution that doesn’t show any measure of fiscal restraint. Introduced by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), this amendment freezes on-budget federal spending at the FY 2017 level, $3.265 trillion, between FY 2018 through FY 2026. The amendment would bring the budget into balance by FY 2024. The resolution does nothing to adversely affect ObamaCare repeal.
"Yea" votes scored. Double Score - 2: On Passage: H.J. Res. 38 - Resolution of Disapproval Against the Department of the Interior's Stream Protection Rule✔ Yea
Key Vote 2: On Passage: H.J. Res. 38 - Resolution of Disapproval Against the Department of the Interior's Stream Protection Rule
This resolution of disapproval of the Congressional Review Act nullifies the Department of the Interior's Stream Protection Rule. With an annual estimated cost of $81 million, according to the Department of the Interior's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, the Stream Protection Rule is another blow to the coal industry, which was a favorite target of the Obama administration. The National Mining Association estimates that rule will lead to billions of dollars in lost revenues to state and local governments, as well as the loss of between 113,000 and 280,000 jobs.
"Yea" votes scored. - 3: On Passage: H.J. Res 41 - Resolution of Disapproval Against the SEC's Disclosure of Payments by Resource Extraction Issuers Rule✔ Yea
Key Vote 3: On Passage: H.J. Res 41 - Resolution of Disapproval Against the SEC's Disclosure of Payments by Resource Extraction Issuers Rule
This resolution of disapproval of the Congressional Review Act nullifies the Securities and Exchange Commission's Disclosure of Payments by Resource Extraction Issuers rule. Promulgated under the authority of the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or Dodd-Frank, this rule requires resource extraction issuers to include in annual reports the payment of any entity controlled by the regulated business to foreign governments or the United States government "for the purpose of the commercial development of oil, natural gas, or minerals." The Securities and Exchange Commission projects initial compliance costs between $239 million and $700 million and annual compliance costs between $96 million and $591 million.
"Yea" votes scored. - 4: On the Nomination: Rep. Tom Price, M.D. (R-Ga.) to Serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services✔ Yea
Key Vote 4: On the Nomination: Rep. Tom Price, M.D. (R-Ga.) to Serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services
An orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Price, who has a lifetime 89 percent score with FreedomWorks, would bring a unique perspective to the Department of Health and Human Services that is desperately needed at a time when America's health care system is facing significant challenges. The Department of Health and Human Services was one of the federal agencies primarily responsible for the implementation of ObamaCare. HHS promulgated or approved rules developed by agencies it oversees, including rules that led to millions of health insurance policy cancellations and so-called “essential benefits” that have increased the cost of health insurance premiums for Americans. While the details of an ObamaCare replacement supported by the House and Senate Republican conferences are yet to be developed and introduced in legislative text, Dr. Price is the ideal individual to lead this effort in the Trump administration.
"Yea" votes scored. - 5: On the Nomination: Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) to Serve as Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget✔ Yea
Key Vote 5: On the Nomination: Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) to Serve as Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget
The Office of Management and Budget is the largest office working in the Executive Office of the President of the United States. As OMB director, Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) would play a large role in preparing President Trump’s Budget, as well as evaluating the degree to which agency programs, policies, and procedures follow the president’s policies. With Rep. Mulvaney’s history of serious concern and constructive activity toward reining in Washington’s overspending, this nominee deserves our support to take Washington by the horns and fight for responsible spending levels at the federal level.
"Yea" votes scored. Double Score - 6: On the Nomination: Scott Pruitt to Serve as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency✔ Yea
Key Vote 6: On the Nomination: Scott Pruitt to Serve as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
The EPA has become the most notorious offender in the unconstitutional fourth branch of government that we know as the regulatory state. It has promulgated rules and regulations, such as the Clean Power Plan, aimed at destroying an entire industry, hurting workers and their families. Under Scott Pruitt's leadership at the EPA, Americans will have safe air and water and protection from government overreach through rules and regulations. Pruitt is a staunch believer in federalism and Article I of the Constitution, which charges the legislative branch with the power to make laws, not executive-level regulatory agencies.
"Yea" votes scored. - 7: On Passage: H.J. Res. 37 - Resolution of Disapproval Against the DOD, GSA, and NASA Federal Acquisition Regulation✔ Yea
Key Vote 7: On Passage: H.J. Res. 37 - Resolution of Disapproval Against the DOD, GSA, and NASA Federal Acquisition Regulation
This resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act nullifies a the Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's relating to the Federal Acquisition Regulation. This regulation requires federal contractors to disclose decisions on the reporting of violations of federal labor laws and creates paycheck transparency protections for employees of federal contractors. The rule is expected to cost employers $458.3 million in the first year, $413.7 million in the second year, and between $398.5 million and $400 million annually thereafter.
"Yea" votes scored. - 8: On Passage: H.J.Res. 57 - Resolution of Disapproval Against the Department of Education's Accountability and State Plans Rule✔ Yea
Key Vote 8: On Passage: H.J.Res. 57 - Resolution of Disapproval Against the Department of Education's Accountability and State Plans Rule
This resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act, which gives Congress authority to effectively nullify regulations submitted for review by federal agencies within 60 legislative days, would cancel the Department of Education’s Accountability and State Plans Rule. The Department of Education’s Accountability and State Plans Rule implements part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and leaves open a loophole that federal bureaucrats could exploit to force Common Core on states that haven't implemented the standards. Education officials from several states and local jurisdictions strongly opposed the rule when it was being crafted.
"Yea" votes scored. - 9: On the Joint Resolution: S.J.Res. 34 - Resolution of Disapproval Against the FCC's Privacy Rule☐ Did Not Vote
Key Vote 9: On the Joint Resolution: S.J.Res. 34 - Resolution of Disapproval Against the FCC's Privacy Rule
he resolution would prevent the FCC from implementing rules that dictate the way broadband Internet service providers handle their customers’ personal information. S.J.Res. 34 passed the Senate last week by a vote of 50 to 48. Although consumer data privacy is of significant concern to every American, the proper parties should address the issue. In this area, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has historically held authority on the establishment and enforcement of general online privacy rules. Since the FCC can only regulate a portion of the Internet sphere – service providers like Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T – other Internet companies, namely websites like Facebook and Google, would escape any stringent data privacy rules enacted by the FCC. Creating more regulation in an uneven fashion would not only benefit certain companies in the industry by creating a clear advantage in digital advertising, it would also fail to achieve any consumer data protection purpose. In order to provide Americans with more robust and clearly defined protective measures, it is important to allow Congress and the FTC to set the rules in this sphere. Enabling other agencies to further restrict only a certain portion of an industry burdens privacy, progress, and business. It is important to move away from the Obama-era, regulatory induced system we have seen grow over the last eight years.
"Yea" votes scored. - 10: On the Nomination: Judge Neil M. Gorsuch to Serve as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court✔ Yea
Key Vote 10: On the Nomination: Judge Neil M. Gorsuch to Serve as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
Our activist community drove more than 1.7 million messages to the Senate urging Members to preserve this important seat on the High Court for someone who respects the rule of law and a textual interpretation of the Constitution. With the nomination of Judge Gorsuch, we now have the opportunity to follow through by solidifying the conservative bloc on the Supreme Court. As explained by SCOTUSBlog, “some of the parallels” between Justice Scalia and Judge Gorsuch “can be downright eerie.” Indeed, Judge Gorsuch has the same originalist and textualist approach to the Constitution and narrow application of criminal laws against defendants and support for mens rea, or criminal intent, requirements in federal law in common. The key difference between Justice Scalia and Judge Gorsuch is that Judge Gorsuch has written critically of the Supreme Court’s 1984 "Chevron deference," which requires federal courts to defer to regulatory agencies’ interpretations of “silent or ambiguous” statutes. The Chevron deference has allowed federal bureaucrats to enact law without judicial review, undermining the separation of powers in the Constitution.
"Yea" votes scored. - 11: On Passage: Consolidated Appropriations Act - H.R. 244✔ Nay
Key Vote 11: On Passage: Consolidated Appropriations Act - H.R. 244
The process for the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which funds the federal government for the remainder of FY 2017, could not have been worse. This massive, nearly 1,700-page spending measure was negotiated behind closed doors between congressional leadership from both chambers and appropriators. With a Republican-controlled Congress and a Republican president, this spending bill reflects Obama-era spending levels. The bill annualizes base discretionary spending for FY 2017 at $1.07 trillion. This spending level blows through the spending caps established by the Budget Control Act of 2011 by $30 billion. The bill spends an additional $106 billion for overseas contingency operations, disaster relief, and other spending, which isn’t counted toward the spending caps. In total, the bill authorizes more than $1.175 trillion in annualized discretionary spending for FY 2017. The bill also falls short of promoting conservative priorities. While the bill does renew the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program and does not include funding for ObamaCare’s cost-sharing subsidies, it allocates nearly $296 million to bail out Puerto Rico’s Medicaid program, preserves current spending levels for the Environmental Protection Agency, increases spending for the National Institutes of Health and the National Endowment for the Arts, and provides a bailout for a private sector labor union.
"Nay" votes scored. Double Score - 12: On the Motion to Proceed: H.J.Res. 36 - Resolution of Disapproval Against the Bureau of Land Management’s Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation Rule✔ Yea
Key Vote 12: On the Motion to Proceed: H.J.Res. 36 - Resolution of Disapproval Against the Bureau of Land Management’s Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation Rule
This vote was on the motion to proceed to consideration of H.J.Res. 36, which would have canceled the Bureau of Land Management’s Methane Rule. With annual compliance costs between $114 million and $279 million, the so-called “venting and flaring” rule purports to reduce waste from “reduce the waste of natural gas from mineral leases administered” by the Bureau of Land Management. In reality, the purpose of the rule is to discourage oil and gas production on land overseen by the agency. The Bureau of Land Management estimates annual compliance costs between $114 million and $279 million.
"Yea" votes scored. - 13: Sponsor and Cosponsors of S. 1297 - To Make Title VII of FISA Permanent⊘ Ineligible
Key Vote 13: Sponsor and Cosponsors of S. 1297 - To Make Title VII of FISA Permanent
The current authorization expires in December, which means that Congress must reauthorize it by the end of the year. S. 1287 bill would eliminate the need for reauthorization, granting indefinite authority for a program that collects information on, potentially, millions of Americans. Section 702 allows the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to collect electronic communications by non-citizens of interest to the federal government. Officially, the program is not supposed to target U.S. citizens, but intelligence agencies cast a wide net and often the communications of Americans can be swept up by the surveillance as well. Given the sweeping powers in Section 702 and the potential for misuse, this program should require congressional oversight, which can be used to assess both terrorism and privacy concerns. Granting this surveillance authority indefinitely, as S. 1297 does, limits even further Congress’s ability to oversee this program.
"Nay" votes scored. Double Score - 14: On the Motion to Proceed: American Health Care Act, H.R. 1628✔ Yea
Key Vote 14: On the Motion to Proceed: American Health Care Act, H.R. 1628
This vote simply allows the Senate to begin debate on the House-passed version of H.R. 1628, the American Health Care Act.
"Yea" votes scored. Triple Score - 15: On the Amendment: Paul Amendment to H.R. 1628 - ObamaCare Repeal Reconciliation Act✔ Yea
Key Vote 15: On the Amendment: Paul Amendment to H.R. 1628 - ObamaCare Repeal Reconciliation Act
This amendment is virtually identical to the 2015 ObamaCare repeal bill – the Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act, H.R. 3762. This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 52 to 47, with only two unsurprising Republican defections. For more than seven years, Republicans successfully campaigned on ObamaCare repeal. They made floor speeches in support of repeal, and they voted to pass a repeal bill less than two years ago. Grassroots conservative activists are not going to accept excuses if Republicans fail to pass a bill that they have passed once before. The ObamaCare Repeal Reconciliation Act would repeal much of ObamaCare – including the tax and cost sharing subsidies, Medicaid expansion, and the taxes that came with the law – with a two-year delay to pass a replacement. This delay provides more than ample time to reach an agreement on a replacement bill or package. President Donald Trump has indicated that he will sign a 2015-style ObamaCare bill into law. Senate Republicans should do as they did in December 2015 and pass a bill that delivers on their frequent promises to repeal ObamaCare.
"Yea" votes scored. Triple Score - 16: On the Cloture Motion: McConnell Amendment to H.R. 601 - To Increase the Debt Limit✔ Nay
Key Vote 16: On the Cloture Motion: McConnell Amendment to H.R. 601 - To Increase the Debt Limit
The amendment offered by Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) would increase the debt limit and fund the federal government through December 8 without any spending or regulatory reforms.
"Nay" votes scored. - 17: On the Nomination: Chairman Ajit Pai to Serve Another Five-Year Term on the FCC✔ Yea
Key Vote 17: On the Nomination: Chairman Ajit Pai to Serve Another Five-Year Term on the FCC
Chairman Pai has served on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) since May 2012. Chairman Pai should not only be confirmed for his record of eloquently championing sensible regulation grounded by market principles, but because he also serves as an example of what the American people deserve from officials in Washington. Pai’s efforts, particularly on the debate surrounding Title II of the Communications Act of 1934, demonstrate his commitment to policies that work rather than policies that simply grow the power of government and relevance of his position as a regulator.
"Yea" votes scored. - 18: On the Amendment: Paul Amendment to the FY 2018 Budget - Reduces Spending by $43 Billion✔ Yea
Key Vote 18: On the Amendment: Paul Amendment to the FY 2018 Budget - Reduces Spending by $43 Billion
This amendment, sponsored by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), would reduce discretionary spending by $43 billion.
"Yea" votes scored. - 19: On the Amendment: Paul Amendment to FY 2018 Budget - ObamaCare Repeal✔ Yea
Key Vote 19: On the Amendment: Paul Amendment to FY 2018 Budget - ObamaCare Repeal
This amendment, sponsored by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), would create reconciliation instructions to repeal and replace ObamaCare, providing a path to follow through on more than seven years of promises after the Senate's failure this year.
"Yea" votes scored. Double Score - 20: On the Concurrent Resolution: FY 2018 Budget - Tax Reform Reconciliation✘ Nay
Key Vote 20: On the Concurrent Resolution: FY 2018 Budget - Tax Reform Reconciliation
It has been more than 30 years since Congress passed fundamental tax reform. Since that time, the tax code has become riddled with carve-outs that benefit politically connected special interests. Today, there are more than 74,000 pages in the tax code. According to the Tax Foundation, Americans spent 8.9 billion hours and $409 billion on tax compliance in 2016. Congress has a generational opportunity to reform the tax code by consolidating and lowering tax rates, broadening the tax base, and promoting job creation and international competitiveness for American businesses. This will make the tax code fairer and simplify the filing process, allowing the vast majority of Americans to file their taxes on a postcard. There is no doubt that 2017 has been a frustrating year for conservatives. Failure on fundamental tax reform is not an option. Passage of the FY 2018 budget resolution is the first step in this process. This is a step that the Senate must take.
"Yea" votes scored. - 21: On the Motion: $36.5 Billion of Disaster Relief Funding Without Spending Offsets✔ Nay
Key Vote 21: On the Motion: $36.5 Billion of Disaster Relief Funding Without Spending Offsets
No one disagrees with the need for assistance for areas recently impacted by disasters. Nevertheless, the concern with the Additional Supplement Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act is that Congress is spending $36.5 billion without any spending offsets. Sadly, some, like Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas), are demanding more money, attempting to extort additional funds by blocking a conservative nominee. Currently, the national debt is $20.4 trillion. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the projected budget deficit for FY 2017 and FY 2018 is $804 billion and $855 billion, respectively. Congress is only a few years away from the $1+ trillion deficits that Republicans frequently and rightly criticized under President Barack Obama. Long-term budget projections are even more ominous. Unfortunately, Congress continues to kick the can down the road, avoiding difficult decisions.
"Nay" votes scored. - 22: On the Joint Resolution: CRA to Cancel CFPB’s Giveaway to Trial Lawyers✔ Yea
Key Vote 22: On the Joint Resolution: CRA to Cancel CFPB’s Giveaway to Trial Lawyers
This resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) would cancel the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) arbitration rule. The final rule was published on Regulations.gov on July 19. While the CRA isn’t a panacea, it does provide a means for Congress to act as a check on out-of-control federal agencies. The CFPB’s arbitration rule is, in reality, a giveaway to trial lawyers. The rule ostensibly bans contractual arbitration clauses related to consumer financial products offered by banks and other financial sector firms. This severely limits consumers’ ability to enter into arbitration during disputes. Arbitration is an easier and quicker process for consumers to resolve issues, but lawyers don’t make much money from this process. The rule, however, will encourage trial lawyers to pursue more class-action lawsuits, which take longer and result in smaller payouts to consumers. But class-action lawsuits do bring in big dollars for trial lawyers. Class-action lawsuits can take two to five years to resolve, and the average payment is $32.35 per individual. These class-action suits, for which trial lawyers are paid an average of roughly $1 million, also drive up costs to consumers. By comparison, arbitration typically takes two to five months, with an average payment of thousands of dollars. It’s clear which process truly protects consumers.
"Yea" votes scored. - 23: On the Motion: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act✔ Yea
Key Vote 23: On the Motion: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act lowers individual rates for the vast majority of taxpayers. In addition, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act nearly doubles the standard deduction, meaning Americans keep more of their hard-earned money, and doubles the child tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000. This bill also provides relief by doubling the exemption amount from the unfair death tax. Pass-through business owners, who file their taxes on their individual tax return, will be able to take a 20 percent deduction. This lowers the tax burden currently faced by pass-through businesses, which, according to the Tax Foundation, employ 70 million people, and promotes fairness. America’s business community will also see added growth as a result of the policy changes in this bill. The corporate tax rate will be lowered substantially from 35 percent to 21 percent, making American businesses more globally competitive and allowing them the resources they need to innovate and create jobs. It also eliminates confusion and complexity so job creators can focus on building their company and hiring working Americans. This bill also repeals the harmful ObamaCare individual mandate, a coercive tax on Americans. It’s estimated that 80 percent of households subject to this tax earn less than $50,000 per year. This is an unnecessary hardship being placed on working Americans. The federal government should not punish individuals who cannot afford ObamaCare’s costly health insurance plans or decide it is not the best course for them.
"Yea" votes scored. - No votes for this year match the provided filters.
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2016: 114th Congress 91%
- 1: On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed: S. 2232 - The Federal Reserve Transparency Act✔ Yea
Key Vote 1: On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed: S. 2232 - The Federal Reserve Transparency Act
This bill would require a comprehensive audit of the Federal Reserve Bank. Currently, several of the Fed's economically significant activities are shielded from their annual audit. Given that the Fed's policies have a dramatic effect on interest rates and the value of our money, it is crucial that their practices be subject to public and Congressional scrutiny.
"Yea" votes scored. - 2: On the Cloture Motion S.Amdt. 4787 to H.R. 2578 (Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016)✔ Nay
Key Vote 2: On the Cloture Motion S.Amdt. 4787 to H.R. 2578 (Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016)
This amendment, S.Amdt. 4685, offered by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), to the Senate version of the Commerce, Justice, Science spending bill would greatly expand the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) surveillance powers, giving the agency the ability to collect sensitive, personal information about American citizens’ online activities. The Fourth Amendment is an important protection against government intrusions into our lives, and we should be wary of any legislation that threatens such a fundamental right. The amendment would allow the FBI to collect Electronic Communications Transactional Records (ECTRs) which includes information about web browsing history, the to/from lines of emails, and location information from IP addresses with only an administrative subpoena, also known as a National Security Letter. In addition to not requiring a warrant, national security letters also include a gag order, so companies cannot even inform their customers that their data is being turned over to federal law enforcement officials.
"Nay" votes scored. - 3: On the Joint Resolution S.J.Res. 28✘ Nay
Key Vote 3: On the Joint Resolution S.J.Res. 28
This resolution, S.J. Res. 28, offered by Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) would roll back an unnecessary, expensive, and duplicative federal regulation on catfish at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The resolution would save taxpayers $14.4 million. Federal regulations like this one are part of the regulatory state that burdens individuals and the economy with complex and expensive rules.
"Yea" votes scored. - 4: On Passage of the Bill H.R. 5325✔ Nay
Key Vote 4: On Passage of the Bill H.R. 5325
"Nay" votes scored. - 5: On the Amendment S.Amdt. 3023 to S.Amdt. 2953 to S. 2012 (Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015)✔ Yea
Key Vote 5: On the Amendment S.Amdt. 3023 to S.Amdt. 2953 to S. 2012 (Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015)
To modify the authority of the President of the United States to declare national monuments.
"Yea" votes scored. - 6: On the Amendment S.Amdt. 3125 to S.Amdt. 2953 to S. 2012 (Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015)✔ Nay
Key Vote 6: On the Amendment S.Amdt. 3125 to S.Amdt. 2953 to S. 2012 (Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015)
To require campaign finance disclosures for certain persons benefiting from fossil fuel activities.
"Nay" votes scored. - 7: On the Motion (Motion to Waive All Applicable Budgetary Discipline Re: Shaheen Amdt. No. 3345)✔ Nay
Key Vote 7: On the Motion (Motion to Waive All Applicable Budgetary Discipline Re: Shaheen Amdt. No. 3345)
To make appropriations to address the heroin and opioid drug abuse epidemic for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016
"Nay" votes scored. - 8: On the Nomination PN1152: John B. King, of New York, to be Secretary of Education✔ Nay
Key Vote 8: On the Nomination PN1152: John B. King, of New York, to be Secretary of Education
John B. King, of New York, to be Secretary of Education
"Nay" votes scored. - 9: On the Motion (Motion to Waive All Applicable Budgetary Discipline Re: Paul Amdt. No. 3787)✔ Yea
Key Vote 9: On the Motion (Motion to Waive All Applicable Budgetary Discipline Re: Paul Amdt. No. 3787)
To provide for the establishment of free market enterprise zones in order to help facilitate the creation of new jobs, entrepreneurial opportunities, enhances and renewed educational opportunities, and increased community involvement in bankrupt or economically distressed areas.
"Yea" votes scored. - 10: On the Joint Resolution H.J.Res. 88✔ Yea
Key Vote 10: On the Joint Resolution H.J.Res. 88
To nullify a Department of Labor rule published on April 8, 2016, relating to the definition of the term "fiduciary" and the conflict of interest rule with respect to retirement investment advice.
"Yea" votes scored. - 11: On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to S. 764 with Further Amendment (Amdt. No. 4935))✔ Nay
Key Vote 11: On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to S. 764 with Further Amendment (Amdt. No. 4935))
To reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act, and for other purposes
"Nay" votes scored. - No votes for this year match the provided filters.
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2015: 114th Congress 100%
- 1: On the Amendment: S.Amdt. 92 to S.Amdt. 2 to S. 1 - To permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund✔ Nay
Key Vote 1: On the Amendment: S.Amdt. 92 to S.Amdt. 2 to S. 1 - To permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund
The Land and Water Conservation Fund provides money for states and the federal government to purchase land for "conservation" purposes. This fund has been used to purchase millions of acres of private property, further increasing the massive quantity of government-owned property in the United States. Taxpayers should not be subsidizing the government takeover of ever-greater swaths of property, yet this amendment would make this land-purchase fund permanent.
"Nay" votes scored. - 2: On the Amendment: S.Amdt. 1116 to H.R. 2 - To require that the "Doc Fix" bill be fully paid for✔ Yea
Key Vote 2: On the Amendment: S.Amdt. 1116 to H.R. 2 - To require that the "Doc Fix" bill be fully paid for
H.R. 2 is a bill to permanently prevent a scheduled cut in payments to doctors under Medicare, as well as to reauthorize S-CHIP - the federal health insurance program for children. Aside from numerous other policy issues, this bill also adds over $140 billion to the deficit over ten years. This amendment by Senator Mike Lee would invoke the statutory pay-as-you-go requirement so that Congress would be forced to find savings to erase the deficits created by this bill.
"Yea" votes scored. - 3: On the Amendment: S.Amdt. 1243 to S.Amdt. 1221 to H.R. 1314 - To Strike Trade Adjustment Assistance from the Bill✔ Yea
Key Vote 3: On the Amendment: S.Amdt. 1243 to S.Amdt. 1221 to H.R. 1314 - To Strike Trade Adjustment Assistance from the Bill
This amendment, by Senator Flake, would strike the extension of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program from the bill to create fast-track trade authority. TAA is an ineffective and duplicative program that gives financial assistance to workers and companies that have been negatively affected by free trade. TAA has been shown to be ineffective and even harmful to those it is supposed to benefit, and should be allowed to expire.
"Yea" votes scored. - 4: On the Amendment: S.Amdt. 2162 to S.Amdt. 2089 to S. 1177 - To make it easier for parents to opt their children out of standardized testing✔ Yea
Key Vote 4: On the Amendment: S.Amdt. 2162 to S.Amdt. 2089 to S. 1177 - To make it easier for parents to opt their children out of standardized testing
This amendment by Senator Lee would allow parents to opt their children out of having to take federally mandated standardized tests, while ensuring that schools are not penalized for these students not being tested.
"Yea" votes scored. - 5: On the Amendment: S.Amdt. 2180 to S.Amdt. 2089 to S. 1177 - To remove federal mandates on educational standards in the states✔ Yea
Key Vote 5: On the Amendment: S.Amdt. 2180 to S.Amdt. 2089 to S. 1177 - To remove federal mandates on educational standards in the states
This amendment by Senator Cruz would prohibit the Department of Education from forcing states to adhere to any federal testing standards, allowing states to determine their own assessment plans for public schools.
"Yea" votes scored. - 6: On the Cloture Motion, S.Amdt. 2327 to S.Amdt. 2266 to H.R. 22 - To Reauthorize the U.S. Export Import Bank✔ Nay
Key Vote 6: On the Cloture Motion, S.Amdt. 2327 to S.Amdt. 2266 to H.R. 22 - To Reauthorize the U.S. Export Import Bank
The Export-Import Bank is an 80-year-old corporate welfare program that ought to be allowed to expire. That Republican leaders prioritize Ex-Im instead of conservative priorities confirms that they fail to address the expansion...
"Nay" votes scored. - 7: On the Amendment: S.Amdt. 2621 to S.Amdt. 2716 to S. 754 - To require companies to delete sensitive personal information before sending cyber threat data to Homeland Security.☐ Did Not Vote
Key Vote 7: On the Amendment: S.Amdt. 2621 to S.Amdt. 2716 to S. 754 - To require companies to delete sensitive personal information before sending cyber threat data to Homeland Security.
This amendment by Senator Ron Wyden would address one of the most glaring issues with the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA), by requiring that companies sharing cyber threat data with the government first scrub non-essential personally identifiable information (PII) from the reports first. Without this amendment, CISA creates a perverse incentive for companies to be less careful about the sharing of their customers' personal data - which would be shared in real times across many government agencies, including the NSA.
"Yea" votes scored. - 8: On Cloture: H.R. 1314 - Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015✔ Nay
Key Vote 8: On Cloture: H.R. 1314 - Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015
This bill was the vehicle for the budget agreement that will spend $80 billion beyond the Budget Control Act caps over two years, along with $16 billion in new defense spending that doesn't count towards the caps. The supposed offsets to this spending are mostly either gimmicks or long-term, while the new deficit spending is immediate. The bill also suspends the debt ceiling through March of 2017, effectively giving the government a blank check for that period.
"Nay" votes scored. Double Score - 9: On the Joint Resolution: S.J.Res. 24 - Disapproving of the EPA Rule to Increase Emissions Standards for Existing Power Plants✔ Yea
Key Vote 9: On the Joint Resolution: S.J.Res. 24 - Disapproving of the EPA Rule to Increase Emissions Standards for Existing Power Plants
This resolution invokes the Congressional Act to disapprove of the recent EPA rule that greatly increases emissions restrictions on existing coal-fired power plants. This tremendously destructive regulation would greatly increase energy costs in the many states which rely heavily upon coal-fired power plants for their electricity. These cost increases damage overall economic growth, and in particular lower the standard of living of lower-income earners.
"Yea" votes scored. - 10: On the Joint Resolution: S.J.Res. 23 - Disapproving of the EPA Rule to Increase Emissions Standards for New Power Plants✔ Yea
Key Vote 10: On the Joint Resolution: S.J.Res. 23 - Disapproving of the EPA Rule to Increase Emissions Standards for New Power Plants
This resolution invokes the Congressional Act to disapprove of the recent EPA rule that greatly increases emissions restrictions on any future coal-fired power plants. This rule tightens emissions standards to the point where it will likely not be economically feasible to build new coal-fired electric plants, crippling one of the most abundant and cost-effective sources of energy in America.
"Yea" votes scored. - 11: Motion to Waive Budget Point of Order: S.Amdt. 2883 to S.Amdt. 2874 to H.R. 3762 - To make the federal 100% match for the Medicaid expansion permanent✔ Nay
Key Vote 11: Motion to Waive Budget Point of Order: S.Amdt. 2883 to S.Amdt. 2874 to H.R. 3762 - To make the federal 100% match for the Medicaid expansion permanent
This amendment by Senator Sherrod Brown would make permanent the 100 percent federal match rate for Medicaid enrollees under the ObamaCare expansion of that program. This would completely remove the incentive for states to resist expanding Medicaid because it would be largely free for them. This increase in permanent federal entitlement spending would be paid for by a tax increase on higher income earners.
"Nay" votes scored. - 12: On Passage: H.R. 3762 - To Use Budget Reconciliation to Repeal Most of ObamaCare✔ Yea
Key Vote 12: On Passage: H.R. 3762 - To Use Budget Reconciliation to Repeal Most of ObamaCare
This bill uses the budget reconciliation process to repeal all of the parts of ObamaCare that have a budgetary impact, which would eliminate nearly all of ObamaCare's core functions. Among the programs repealed are the Medicaid expansion, the insurance premium subsidies, the insurance mandates, several grant programs, and all of the new taxes. Because of the reconciliation procedure, this bill only requires 50 votes to pass.
"Yea" votes scored. - 13: On the Conference Report: H.R. 22 - Highway Funding Bill & Ex-Im Reauthorization✔ Nay
Key Vote 13: On the Conference Report: H.R. 22 - Highway Funding Bill & Ex-Im Reauthorization
This bill would renew federal highway funding to states for a period of five years. However, it does not solve the structural deficit within the Highway Trust Fund, doesn't eliminate the wasteful spending that takes away from funding roads, and doesn't offset that spending in any real way. Furthermore, this bill contains a reauthorization of the expired Export-Import Bank, in order to prevent having a standalone vote on renewing such a direct corporate welfare fund.
"Nay" votes scored. - 14: On Cloture: H.R. 2029 - Consolidated Appropriations Act (Omnibus)✔ Nay
Key Vote 14: On Cloture: H.R. 2029 - Consolidated Appropriations Act (Omnibus)
This omnibus appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2016 funds former Speaker Boehner's budget-busting deal to the tune of $50 billion above the budget caps for 2016. It contains several very troubling legislative riders a well, including more funding for the IMF, and a massive new cybersecurity information sharing program that violates consumers' privacy and due process. It also fails to include most of the amendments from the appropriations process that would have defunded key, harmful federal regulations.
"Nay" votes scored. - No votes for this year match the provided filters.
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2014: 113th Congress 100%
- 1: Motion to Concur: H.R. 3547 - Omnibus Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2014✔ Nay
Key Vote 1: Motion to Concur: H.R. 3547 - Omnibus Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2014
This bill funds the federal government for the remainder of the fiscal year (through September, 2014). It spends $45 billion more than the budget caps established in 2011, and perpetuates a vast amount of wasteful spending from previous years. Lawmakers were also given almost no time to read this 1,500 page spending bill.
"Nay" votes scored. - 2: On Cloture: H.R. 2642 - Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act (The Farm Bill)✔ Nay
Key Vote 2: On Cloture: H.R. 2642 - Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act (The Farm Bill)
This final version of the Farm Bill, reconciled between the House and Senate, actually undoes some of the already modest reforms to crop insurance and food stamps that were previously in the bill. This five-year reauthorization of the Farm Bill will spend nearly a trillion dollars over ten years, and remains loaded with corporate welfare and special carve-outs for well-connected agricultural corporations.
"Nay" votes scored. - 3: On Cloture: S. 540 - Temporary Debt Limit Extension Act✔ Nay
Key Vote 3: On Cloture: S. 540 - Temporary Debt Limit Extension Act
This bill suspends the debt limit until March 15th of 2015, allowing the president to potentially run up as much debt as he pleases during that time period. The debt is already projected to increase by about $1 trillion over that period, to over $18 trillion. Meanwhile, this debt ceiling suspension contains no reforms to curb spending whatsoever.
"Nay" votes scored. - 4: On Cloture: S.Amdt. 2874 to H.R. 3979 - To Retroactively Extend Federal Unemployment Benefits for Six Months✔ Nay
Key Vote 4: On Cloture: S.Amdt. 2874 to H.R. 3979 - To Retroactively Extend Federal Unemployment Benefits for Six Months
This amendment replaced an unrelated bill with a bill to extend federal unemployment insurance benefits by a further six months, starting retroactively in January 2014. Federal unemployment assistance was meant to be temporary, as states already have their own safety nets for the unemployed. Extending this program is an unnecessary cost to taxpayers, and creates perverse incentives than can cause job-seekers more difficulty in finding work.
"Nay" votes scored. - 5: On Cloture: S. 2262 - Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (Shaheen-Portman)✔ Nay
Key Vote 5: On Cloture: S. 2262 - Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (Shaheen-Portman)
This bipartisan energy bill further subsidizes state projects to make buildings more energy efficient, among various green subsidies. Many of the provisions of this bill are duplicative, and all would be better handled by states themselves. The projects and the accompanying regulations are theoretically voluntary, but with 'incentives' and studies aimed at coercing states to accept them.
"Nay" votes scored. - 6: On Cloture: Nomination of David Jeremiah Barron to be United States Circuit Judge for the First Circuit✔ Nay
Key Vote 6: On Cloture: Nomination of David Jeremiah Barron to be United States Circuit Judge for the First Circuit
David Jeremiah Barron is a troubling judicial nominee due to his explicit advocacy of judicial activism. He was also the White House legal counsel who approved the extralegal killing of a non-combatant American citizen in Yemen - an unprecedented violation of Constitutional rights to due process and trial.
"Nay" votes scored. - 7: On Cloture: On the Nomination of Sylvia Mathews Burwell to be Secretary of Health and Human Services✔ Nay
Key Vote 7: On Cloture: On the Nomination of Sylvia Mathews Burwell to be Secretary of Health and Human Services
This was the crucial vote for the nomination of Sylvia Burwell to replace the retiring Kathleen Sebelius as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). During her tenure as Chair of the Office of Management and Budget, Burwell oversaw the Obama Administration's attempts to make the partial government shutdown of 2013 as visibly inconvenient as possible, including famously shutting WWII veterans out of their own (open-air) memorial. Thus, it appears unlikely that Burwell would be willing to change the opaque and uncooperative practices of HHS, which is overseeing the implementation of ObamaCare.
"Nay" votes scored. - 8: On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed: S. 2432 - Bank on Students Emergency Student Loan Refinancing Act ✔ Nay
Key Vote 8: On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed: S. 2432 - Bank on Students Emergency Student Loan Refinancing Act
This bill would allow students to refinance their private loans into a lower-interest government loan. To pay for this, the bill also contains the so-called "Buffett Tax", a new alternative minimum tax rate that would greatly increase tax rates for higher-income individuals and small businesses.
"Nay" votes scored. - 9: On the Amendment: S.Amdt. 3584 to H.R. 5021 (Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014)✔ Yea
Key Vote 9: On the Amendment: S.Amdt. 3584 to H.R. 5021 (Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014)
This amendment by Sen. Mike Lee would stop the cycle of mismanagement and bankruptcy in the Highway Trust Fund by devolving that funding directly to the states over a period of 5 years. Cutting out the federal middleman for highway infrastructure projects will allow states to more accurately address their own needs, and at a lower cost than under the current system.
"Yea" votes scored. - 10: On Passage: H.R. 5021 - Highway and Transportation Funding Act✔ Nay
Key Vote 10: On Passage: H.R. 5021 - Highway and Transportation Funding Act
This bill bails out the nearly depleted Highway Trust Fund through May of 2015, using revenue gimmicks to supposedly offset most of the cost. The Highway Trust Fund desperately needs reform instead of merely continuing to receive periodic taxpayer bailouts.
"Nay" votes scored. - 11: On Cloture: S.J.Res. 19 - Proposing a constitutional amendment to regulate campaign-related spending✔ Nay
Key Vote 11: On Cloture: S.J.Res. 19 - Proposing a constitutional amendment to regulate campaign-related spending
This constitutional amendment would allow the government broad power to legally define what constitutes political speech for the purposes of regulating expenditures on behalf of candidates. This means that anything from books, movies, billboards, or any other funded public expression that is deemed "political" could be regulated and potentially limited. Effectively, this amendment would place constitutional limits on free speech, stripping away many First Amendment freedoms.
"Nay" votes scored. - 12: On Cloture: S. 2199 - Paycheck Fairness Act✔ Nay
Key Vote 12: On Cloture: S. 2199 - Paycheck Fairness Act
This bill purports to ban unequal pay on account of gender. But by making unequal pay illegal, it exposes employers to expensive and time-consuming frivolous lawsuits for any perceived inequality. The "wage gap" that this policy is supposed to address has been shown by repeated studies to be diminishing on its own, and is in fact non-existent in most industries.
"Nay" votes scored. - 13: On Cloture: H.R. 83 - Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act (CRomnibus)✔ Nay
Key Vote 13: On Cloture: H.R. 83 - Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act (CRomnibus)
This trillion-plus dollar spending bill was crafted behind closed doors and was packed with dozens of policy riders that Congress never had a chance to vote on individually. It continues to fund the federal government fully, with zero reforms to the government's out-of-control spending.
"Nay" votes scored. - No votes for this year match the provided filters.
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2013: 113th Congress 100%
- 1: S.Res. 15 - Amending the Rules of the Senate✔ Nay
Key Vote 1: S.Res. 15 - Amending the Rules of the Senate
This change to the rules of the Senate weakens the minority party's ability to filibuster legislation by imposing much tighter restrictions on debate time on bills. The ability of either party to slow down consideration of a bill or nomination was a feature granted to the Senate intentionally by our founders, providing the opportunity for legislation to be exhaustively debated before being passed into law. This rules change is a major blow to that important tradition.
"Nay" votes scored. - 2: S.Amdt. 4 to H.R. 152 - To reduce annually appropriated spending by .49% across the board.✔ Yea
Key Vote 2: S.Amdt. 4 to H.R. 152 - To reduce annually appropriated spending by .49% across the board.
This amendment, sponsored by Senator Mike Lee (UT), would offset the cost of the emergency spending in the Disaster Relief Act over time by making a .49% across-the board cut to discretionary spending. Such a minor spending cut in order to offset a large amount of deficit spending should be an easy call given the current $16.4 trillion national debt.
"Yea" votes scored. - 3: H.R. 152 - Disaster Relief Appropriations Act✔ Nay
Key Vote 3: H.R. 152 - Disaster Relief Appropriations Act
This bill is an "emergency" appropriations bill that contains $50.1 billion in spending that is supposed to aid those affected by Hurricane Sandy. In reality, however, most of the spending will not provide acute disaster relief, and much of it is not even scheduled to be spent until 2014 or later. Thus, the bill functions more like a stimulus than true disaster relief and its spending should be appropriated through the budget process instead of as emergency spending that adds to the federal deficit.
"Nay" votes scored. - 4: On the Motion to Table: S.Amdt. 8 - To require that the U.S. gov't prioritize certain payments when the debt limit is reached✔ Nay
Key Vote 4: On the Motion to Table: S.Amdt. 8 - To require that the U.S. gov't prioritize certain payments when the debt limit is reached
This amendment would require that, upon reaching the debt limit, the Treasury would prioritize military pay, Social Security obligations, and payments of interest on the national debt. This would prevent the executive branch from making the claim that reaching the debt ceiling would prevent Social Security checks from being sent, since the government incurs enough revenue to meet these obligations without borrowing.
"Nay" votes scored. - 5: H.R. 325 - To Increase the Debt Limit until May 19th, 2013✔ Nay
Key Vote 5: H.R. 325 - To Increase the Debt Limit until May 19th, 2013
This bill raises the statutory limit on the public debt (the "debt ceiling") by whatever amount is necessary to reach May 19th, 2013. Although the bill theoretically contains a "no budget, no pay" provision conditional upon the Senate passing a budget resolution, in reality the provision has no teeth. FreedomWorks insists that further increases in the debt ceiling by accompanied by proportional decreases in federal spending in order to address the ever-increasing federal debt, which at the time of this bill stood at $16.4 trillion. Instead, this bill amounts to a "clean" debt ceiling hike, accompanied by the unenforceable promise of spending reforms at a later date.
"Nay" votes scored. - 6: S.Amdt. 30 to S.Amdt. 26 to H.R. 933 - To Defund ObamaCare✔ Yea
Key Vote 6: S.Amdt. 30 to S.Amdt. 26 to H.R. 933 - To Defund ObamaCare
This amendment would effectively defund ObamaCare by tying its funding to economic growth reaching historical average levels. Defunding ObamaCare would reduce ten-year spending by over $1 trillion and would go a long way towards reducing our government's massive annual deficits.
"Yea" votes scored. - 7: H.R. 933 - Continuing Resolution/Minibus Appropriations✔ Nay
Key Vote 7: H.R. 933 - Continuing Resolution/Minibus Appropriations
This is the amended version of the bill containing the Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government through the end of the fiscal year. The bill still funds ObamaCare, and continues to institutionalize current levels of deficit spending. In addition, the House and Senate each added several departmental appropriation bills into the C.R., bypassing regular order and the amendment process that ought to accompany each of these spending bills individually.
"Nay" votes scored. - 8: S.Amdt. 656 to S.Amdt. 578 to S.Con.Res. 8 - Allowing states to enforce an internet sales tax (Marketplace Fairness Act)✔ Nay
Key Vote 8: S.Amdt. 656 to S.Amdt. 578 to S.Con.Res. 8 - Allowing states to enforce an internet sales tax (Marketplace Fairness Act)
This budget amendment was a proxy vote for the Marketplace Fairness Act, which would allow states to band together to collect taxes on internet sales from citizens of other states. This type of internet sales tax scheme violates the physical presence standard of tax collection and would place an undue compliance burden upon online retailers.
"Nay" votes scored. - 9: S.Amdt. 515 to S.Con.Res. 8 - School Choice✔ Yea
Key Vote 9: S.Amdt. 515 to S.Con.Res. 8 - School Choice
This amendment would make federal education dollars under No Child Left Behind portable so that lower-income parents could use that money towards sending their child to another school. This would be a good first step towards offering parents true choice in their children's education.
"Yea" votes scored. - 10: S.Amdt 307 to S.Con.Res. 8 - To Eliminate the Estate Tax✔ Yea
Key Vote 10: S.Amdt 307 to S.Con.Res. 8 - To Eliminate the Estate Tax
This amendment to the Senate's budget resolution would call for the outright elimination of the estate tax (better known as the "death tax"). The death tax is absolutely unjust because it taxes assets that have already been taxed before, and it punishes those who have saved their money over a lifetime to pass on to the next generation. This tax is particularly devastating to small businesses and family farms.
"Yea" votes scored. - 11: S.Amdt. 263 to S.Con.Res. 8 - Rand Paul's Budget✔ Yea
Key Vote 11: S.Amdt. 263 to S.Con.Res. 8 - Rand Paul's Budget
This is Senator Rand Paul's budget plan, which would balance in five years, eliminate four Cabinet departments, replace the current tax code with a flat tax, and fundamentally reform all major entitlement programs.
"Yea" votes scored. - 12: S.Amdt. 597 to S.Con.Res. 8 - Paycheck Protection for Federal Employees✔ Yea
Key Vote 12: S.Amdt. 597 to S.Con.Res. 8 - Paycheck Protection for Federal Employees
This amendment would prevent taxpayer resources from being used to automatically deduct union dues from the paychecks of unionized federal employees. Federal workers, most of whom have never had the opportunity to vote on whether or not they wish to be unionized, ought to be able to decide if they wish to pay dues to their unions. Much of the collected dues are used for union political activities, which a given employee may or may not agree with.
"Yea" votes scored. - 13: S.Con.Res. 8 - Setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2014✔ Nay
Key Vote 13: S.Con.Res. 8 - Setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2014
This is the Senate Democrats' budget plan, which raises taxes by nearly $1 trillion while using budget gimmicks to claim $1.8 trillion in spending cuts. In reality, the budget never achieves balance and actually increases spending in the first year, while failing to address the primary drivers of government spending - entitlements - at all.
"Nay" votes scored. - 14: S. 743 - The Marketplace Fairness Act (Internet Sales Tax)✔ Nay
Key Vote 14: S. 743 - The Marketplace Fairness Act (Internet Sales Tax)
This bill allows states to collect taxes on internet sales from businesses in other states. This violates the physical presence standard that has governed tax collection since our founding, and raises constitutional issues about businesses being forced to bear the expense of complying with tax collection for states in which they have no representation.
"Nay" votes scored. - 15: On Cloture: S. 954 - The Farm Bill✔ Nay
Key Vote 15: On Cloture: S. 954 - The Farm Bill
The so-called "Farm Bill" is actually a combination of agricultural policy and welfare, with food stamps accounting for 80 percent of the bill's nearly trillion dollars in projected spending. Aside from failing to contain the multitude of faults within the rapidly-expanding food welfare programs, the agricultural portion of the bill is an amalgam of direct corporate welfare for insurance companies and farm corporations and special carve-outs and price supports for the specific industries with the best lobbyists.
"Nay" votes scored. - 16: On Cloture: S. 1243 - Depts. of Transportation, Housing & Urban Development Appropriations (T-HUD)✔ Nay
Key Vote 16: On Cloture: S. 1243 - Depts. of Transportation, Housing & Urban Development Appropriations (T-HUD)
This bill would fund the Departments of Transportation and Housing & Urban Development (and related agencies) for Fiscal Year 2014. Besides doing nothing to reform the large amount of wasteful spending contained in both departments to begin with, this bill actually increases spending for the departments to pre-sequestration levels. This is part of the broader Democratic strategy to eliminate the only real spending cuts that have been achieved since 2010.
"Nay" votes scored. - 17: Lee Letter to Defund ObamaCare through the Continuing Resolution✔ Yea
Key Vote 17: Lee Letter to Defund ObamaCare through the Continuing Resolution
Senator Mike Lee solicited signers on a letter to Senator Harry Reid, which declared that the signers would not vote for any appropriations bill, including a Continuing Resolution (CR), that contained further funding for ObamaCare's implementation or enforcement. The letter put senators on the record committing to actually defunding ObamaCare using a must-pass bill (the CR), rather than just taking another symbolic vote on an amendment that the Democrats could easily defeat.
"Yea" votes scored. - 18: On Cloture: H.J.Res. 59 - Continuing Appropriations Resolution to Fund the Federal Government✔ Nay
Key Vote 18: On Cloture: H.J.Res. 59 - Continuing Appropriations Resolution to Fund the Federal Government
This is the crucial vote to end debate on the Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the federal government while ending funding for ObamaCare. Voting for cloture would allow Senate Democrats to resume funding ObamaCare with a straight party-line vote, meaning that a 'yea' vote here is a vote to fund ObamaCare, with the law's first starting date just days away.
"Nay" votes scored. Double Score - 19: On Cloture: H.R. 2775 - Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014 ✔ Nay
Key Vote 19: On Cloture: H.R. 2775 - Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014
H.R. 2775 was used as the vehicle for the Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the federal government. This bill funds the government fully (including ObamaCare) through January 15th of 2014, suspends the debt ceiling until February of 2014, and obliges both chambers of Congress to go to conference on a full-year budget. In other words, this CR allows for more uncontrolled spending and debt, with no reforms to either, does nothing to address ObamaCare, and potentially promises more future spending if a budget agreement is reached.
"Nay" votes scored. - 20: On the Decision of the Chair - The "Nuclear Option" to Change the Rules of the Senate by a Majority Vote✔ Nay
Key Vote 20: On the Decision of the Chair - The "Nuclear Option" to Change the Rules of the Senate by a Majority Vote
This is the final vote of a complicated Senate parliamentary procedure often referred to as the "Nuclear Option", used the allow the Senate's rules to be changed using only a simple majority vote. Majority Leader Harry Reid used this procedure to allow all executive nominations (except Supreme Court nominees) to pass without a cloture vote, meaning that he only needs 51 votes instead of 60. This is a massive blow to the rights of the minority party in the Senate, and sets a dangerous precedent of tyrannical majority rule in a Senate that has traditionally prized the rights of every Senator and party to have their full say.
"Nay" votes scored. - 21: On Cloture: H.J.Res. 59 - The Ryan/Murray Budget✔ Nay
Key Vote 21: On Cloture: H.J.Res. 59 - The Ryan/Murray Budget
This is the vote to end debate on the budget deal negotiated by Congressman Paul Ryan and Senator Patty Murray. The deal breaks the budget caps established in 2011 by $63 billion over two years, while claiming to contain a net deficit reduction over ten years by raising fees and making other minor cuts. With no guarantee that future congresses will obey the scheduled spending cuts, this bill delivers increases in both spending and taxes in exchange for no meaningful reforms. Voting for cloture allowed the bill to be passed by a simple majority vote.
"Nay" votes scored. - No votes for this year match the provided filters.
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2012: 112th Congress 100%
- 1: S.Amdt. 1472 to S.Amdt. 1470 to S. 2038 - To prohibit earmarks. ✔ Yea
Key Vote 1: S.Amdt. 1472 to S.Amdt. 1470 to S. 2038 - To prohibit earmarks.
Sen. Toomey's amendment to the STOCK Act would eliminate the corrupting practice of earmarks in the Senate.
"Yea" votes scored. - 2: S.Amdt.1473 to S.Amdt. 1470 to S. 2038 - To prevent the creation of duplicative and overlapping Federal programs.✔ Yea
Key Vote 2: S.Amdt.1473 to S.Amdt. 1470 to S. 2038 - To prevent the creation of duplicative and overlapping Federal programs.
Sen. Coburn's amendment to the STOCK Act would prevent duplicative and overlapping government programs.
"Yea" votes scored. - 3: S.Amdt. 1756 to S. 1813 - To devolve most transportation funding back to the states✔ Yea
Key Vote 3: S.Amdt. 1756 to S. 1813 - To devolve most transportation funding back to the states
This amendment to the federal highway spending bill would reduce the federal government’s role in transportation funding by giving states direct control of their shares of the transportation funds.
"Yea" votes scored. - 4: S.Amdt 1589 to S. 1813 - To terminate certain energy tax subsidies and lower the corporate income tax rate✔ Yea
Key Vote 4: S.Amdt 1589 to S. 1813 - To terminate certain energy tax subsidies and lower the corporate income tax rate
This amendment would eliminate many energy tax subsidies, which distort the market by picking winners and losers in the energy industry. In addition this amendment would lower the U.S. corporate tax rate, which is currently the highest in the industrialized world and is one of the major reasons that many companies choose to locate their operations elsewhere.
"Yea" votes scored. - 5: On Cloture: S.Amdt. 1836 to H.R. 3606 - To reauthorize the Export-Import Bank of the United States. ✔ Nay
Key Vote 5: On Cloture: S.Amdt. 1836 to H.R. 3606 - To reauthorize the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
This amendment would reauthorize the Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im bank), which is scheduled to expire at the end of May. The Export-Import Bank takes money from American taxpayers to subsidize exports by politically powerful American companies. The Ex-Im Bank embodies corporate welfare; it is a prime example of crony capitalism that has hurt economic growth.
"Nay" votes scored. - 6: S.Amdt. 2025 to S. 1789 - To end the mailbox use monopoly.✔ Yea
Key Vote 6: S.Amdt. 2025 to S. 1789 - To end the mailbox use monopoly.
Currently, the inside of your mailbox is legally the property of the U.S. Postal Service. This amendment would end the USPS monopoly on your mailbox, which means that other companies could provide the poorly-run USPS with competition in the delivery of first-class mail.
"Yea" votes scored. - 7: S.Amdt. 2028 to S. 1789 - To establish a pilot program to test alternative methods for the delivery of postal services. ✔ Yea
Key Vote 7: S.Amdt. 2028 to S. 1789 - To establish a pilot program to test alternative methods for the delivery of postal services.
This amendment introduced by Sen. Rand Paul would have established a pilot program to allow alternative programs to compete with the U.S. Postal Service on a local level.
"Yea" votes scored. - 8: On the Motion to Proceed: S.Con.Res. 37 - Setting forth a budget for fiscal year 2013✔ Yea
Key Vote 8: On the Motion to Proceed: S.Con.Res. 37 - Setting forth a budget for fiscal year 2013
This is Senator Toomey's 2013 budget plan, which would balance the budget within eight years and save more than $5 trillion over the next ten years. It would also repeal ObamaCare, block grant Medicaid to the states, and cut individual and corporate taxes.
"Yea" votes scored. - 9: On the Motion to Proceed: S.Con.Res. 42 - Setting forth a budget for fiscal year 2013✔ Yea
Key Vote 9: On the Motion to Proceed: S.Con.Res. 42 - Setting forth a budget for fiscal year 2013
This is Senator Rand Paul's budget proposal for fiscal year 2013, which would balance the budget in five year and save over $8 trillion over ten years. This proposal, which closely resembles the one presented by the Tea Party Debt Commission in 2011, would also repeal ObamaCare, block grant Medicaid and other entitlement programs, and reform both Medicare and Social Security. It would also eliminate the Departments of Energy, Education, Housing and Urban Development, and Commerce, repeal Dodd-Frank, expand energy exploration, and privatize the TSA. In short, this is the single boldest and most effective free-market economic proposal to receive a vote in Congress.
"Yea" votes scored. - 10: On the Motion to Proceed: S.Con.Res. 44 - Setting forth the budget for fiscal year 2013.✔ Yea
Key Vote 10: On the Motion to Proceed: S.Con.Res. 44 - Setting forth the budget for fiscal year 2013.
This is Senator Mike Lee's budget proposal for fiscal year 2013, which would balance the budget in five years and would save $7 trillion over ten years. This bill also contains fundamental tax reform, with a single-rate flat tax for corporations and individuals. It also reforms Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid, curbs regulations, and caps spending.
"Yea" votes scored. - 11: On the Motion to Proceed: S.J.Res. 37 - Disapproving of the EPA's Utility MACT rule✔ Yea
Key Vote 11: On the Motion to Proceed: S.J.Res. 37 - Disapproving of the EPA's Utility MACT rule
This resolution would have invoked the Congressional Review Act to stop the implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency's Utility MACT rule. Utility MACT is among the most devastating environmental regulations ever passed, as it would make it nearly impossible for new coal-fired power plants to be built and is already putting existing plants out of business. Making America's cheapest, most abundant energy resource difficult to use will greatly increase energy costs for all Americans, and during an economic downturn when they can least afford it.
"Yea" votes scored. - 12: S. 3240 - The Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act (Farm Bill)✔ Nay
Key Vote 12: S. 3240 - The Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act (Farm Bill)
This bill extends the farm subsidy and crop insurance programs, which are among the largest corporate welfare programs in the federal government. These subsidies largely go to well-connected large farm corporations and make it difficult for small family farms to compete in the marketplace. This bill also contains greatly expanded funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as "food stamps". 80 percent of the "farm bill" actually goes towards funding the food stamp program, a widely-abused welfare program which should be voted on as as a standalone bill instead of being hidden in an unrelated bill.
"Nay" votes scored. - 13: H.R. 8 - American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012✔ Nay
Key Vote 13: H.R. 8 - American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012
This bill is the vehicle for the deal brokered by Senator McConnell and Vice President Biden to avert the "fiscal cliff". While it extends the 2001, 2003 and 2009 tax cuts and credits for most Americans, it allows them to expire on those earning over $450,000 per year. The bill also contains a $30 billion extension of unemployment benefits, and reauthorizes the 2008 Farm Bill for nine months. H.R. 8 allows the payroll tax holiday to expire, effectively raising taxes on 77% of taxpayers, yet extends dozens of tax credits and deductions that amount to corporate welfare for special interests. It also fails to extend the Bush-era tax cuts to all Americans, thus raising taxes at a time when economic growth is desperately needed.
"Nay" votes scored. - No votes for this year match the provided filters.
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2011: 112th Congress 94%
- 1: S.Amdt.13 to S. 223 - To repeal the job-killing health care law✔ Yea
Key Vote 1: S.Amdt.13 to S. 223 - To repeal the job-killing health care law
This amendment would fully repeal President Obama’s “Affordable Care Act” because it will kill jobs, bankrupt the government, drive up everyone's health insurance costs, put bureaucrats in charge of our health care, and ruin the world's best health care system. This vote was on waiving a point of order against the amendment. The vote failed, killing the amendment.
"Yea" votes scored. - 2: On the Motion to Table: S.Amdt 19 - To limit the application of Davis-Bacon Act ✔ Nay
Key Vote 2: On the Motion to Table: S.Amdt 19 - To limit the application of Davis-Bacon Act
This amendment would ensure that none of the funds made available under this Act may be used to administer or enforce the wage-rate requirements of the Davis-Bacon Act. Davis-Bacon is a leftover from the New Deal era which costs taxpayers billions of dollars each year because it requires government contractors to pay "local prevailing wages" for every project, which usually leads to expensive union labor receiving the contracts.
"Nay" votes scored. - 3: On the Motion to Table: S.Amdt. 4 To repeal the essential air service program. ✔ Nay
Key Vote 3: On the Motion to Table: S.Amdt. 4 To repeal the essential air service program.
This amendment to S.223 would eliminate the Essential Air Service (EAS). The EAS was created in the 1970’s to help a small number of rural communities retain access to air service after airline deregulation. The needless program has continued for 23 years while costing taxpayers $200 million every year.
"Nay" votes scored. - 4: S.Amdt. 183 to S. 493 - Energy Tax Prevention Act ✔ Yea
Key Vote 4: S.Amdt. 183 to S. 493 - Energy Tax Prevention Act
This amendment would completely strip the EPA of its ability to use the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gases. The EPA has continually abused its authority under the Clean Air Act to promulgate ever more restrictive regulations on emissions, including designating carbon dioxide to be a “public danger”.
"Yea" votes scored. - 5: On the Motion to Proceed: H.Con.Res. 34 - Rep. Paul Ryan budget, FY 2012✘ Nay
Key Vote 5: On the Motion to Proceed: H.Con.Res. 34 - Rep. Paul Ryan budget, FY 2012
H.Con.Res.34 would balance the federal budget by 2040 without raising taxes, and would cut $6.2 trillion over the next decade compared to President Obama’s budget. The plan also reduces government spending to below 20 percent of the economy and block grants Medicaid to the states. While the "Ryan Plan" isn't ideal, it is at least a major step towards fiscal stability.
"Yea" votes scored. - 6: On the Motion to Proceed: S.Con.Res. 21 - Senator Pat Toomey's FY 2012 budget✔ Yea
Key Vote 6: On the Motion to Proceed: S.Con.Res. 21 - Senator Pat Toomey's FY 2012 budget
This is Senator Pat Toomey’s FY 2012 budget proposal, which would balance the entire federal budget within nine years without raising taxes. It reduces the publicly held debt to approximately 52 percent of GDP by 2021 and cuts spending to 18.5 percent of GDP. Unlike President Obama’s budget, it reforms entitlement programs by block granting Medicaid to individual states. The plan would save $7.1 trillion over the next decade.
"Yea" votes scored. - 7: On the Motion to Proceed: S.Con.Res. 20 - Senator Rand Paul's FY 2012 budget✔ Yea
Key Vote 7: On the Motion to Proceed: S.Con.Res. 20 - Senator Rand Paul's FY 2012 budget
This is Senator Rand Paul’s FY 2012 budget proposal, which would balance the federal budget in five years without raising taxes. It would result in a $19 billion surplus in the first year, without cutting Social Security, Medicare, or Veterans’ Affairs.
"Yea" votes scored. - 8: On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed: H.R. 2055 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012✔ Nay
Key Vote 8: On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed: H.R. 2055 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012
This is a vote on the "megabus" appropriations bill to authorize the government's spending through 2012. This bill authorizes over a trillion dollars in spending and was rushed through Congress without any time to examine what was in it.
"Nay" votes scored. - 9: On the Motion to Table: H.R. 2560 Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011✔ Nay
Key Vote 9: On the Motion to Table: H.R. 2560 Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011
This is the “Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011”, which would cut total spending for FY2012 by $111 billion, cap total federal spending, and require the passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that includes a super-majority requirement to raise taxes and a limit on spending before the debt limit can be raised.
"Nay" votes scored. - 10: On the Motion to Concur: S. 365 - Budget Control Act of 2011✔ Nay
Key Vote 10: On the Motion to Concur: S. 365 - Budget Control Act of 2011
The bill would grant President Obama the authority to raise the debt ceiling up to three times, with the caveat that these requests would be subject to a resolution of disapproval which could bar his request.
"Nay" votes scored. - 11: S.Amdt. 621 to H.R. 2887 - To limit the amount authorized to be expended from the Highway Trust Fund in any fiscal year✔ Yea
Key Vote 11: S.Amdt. 621 to H.R. 2887 - To limit the amount authorized to be expended from the Highway Trust Fund in any fiscal year
Key Vote:This amendment would limit spending under the federal highway funding bill to the amount deposited into the Highway Trust Fund via the federal gas tax. For many years, the federal government has spent more than the gas tax brings in, and has had to repeatedly bail out the Highway Trust Fund as a result.
Bill:This bill would prevent any projects in the 2011 budget from being required to comply with Davis-Bacon wage requirements. Davis-Bacon is a leftover from the New Deal era which costs taxpayers billions of dollars each year because it requires government contractors to pay "local prevailing wages" for every project, which usually leads to expensive union labor receiving the contracts.
"Yea" votes scored. - 12: S.Amdt. 633 to H.R. 2832 - To extend and modify trade adjustment assistance. ✔ Nay
Key Vote 12: S.Amdt. 633 to H.R. 2832 - To extend and modify trade adjustment assistance.
This amendment would extend and modify the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program. TAA is a duplicative and inefficient program that spends millions of dollars to create training programs for workers who have supposedly lost their jobs due to free trade. The program operates on the false premise that free trade destroys jobs by shipping them overseas, when there is no data to support that fact.
"Nay" votes scored. - 13: S. 1619 - Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act✔ Nay
Key Vote 13: S. 1619 - Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act
This bill, the “Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act”, would impose sanctions on China for allegedly manipulating its currency. Retaliation aimed at the value of Chinese currency will not fix anything and could trigger a trade war. Placing high tariffs on Chinese goods acts as a tax on American consumers because the costs of the tariffs get passed down in the form of higher prices for imports.
"Nay" votes scored. - 14: On Cloture: S. 1660 - American Jobs Act✔ Nay
Key Vote 14: On Cloture: S. 1660 - American Jobs Act
This bill, the “American Jobs Act of 2011”, contains President Obama’s new stimulus plan to spend billions of dollars on infrastructure projects, raise income taxes, and extend unemployment benefits. These New Deal stimulus strategies only waste taxpayer dollars and do not contribute to economic growth.
"Nay" votes scored. - 15: H.R. 3080 - United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act✔ Yea
Key Vote 15: H.R. 3080 - United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
The bill would ratify the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement. Free trade is an indispensable part of free markets, the voluntary exchange of goods and services between consenting parties without government interference. Freer trade will allow Americans to reap the benefits of competition, which include more choices, better products, and lower prices.
"Yea" votes scored. - 16: H.R. 3079 - United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act✔ Yea
Key Vote 16: H.R. 3079 - United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act
This bill would ratify the United States-Panama Free Trade Agreement. Free trade is an indispensible part of free markets, the voluntary exchange of goods and services between consenting parties without government interference. Freer trade will allow Americans to reap the benefits of competition, which include more choices, better products, and lower prices.
"Yea" votes scored. - 17: H.R. 3078 - United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act✔ Yea
Key Vote 17: H.R. 3078 - United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act
This bill would ratify the United States-Columbia Free Trade Agreement. Free trade is an indispensible part of free markets, the voluntary exchange of goods and services between consenting parties without government interference. Freer trade will allow Americans to reap the benefits of competition, which include more choices, better products, and lower prices.
"Yea" votes scored. - 18: S.Amdt. 857 to S.Amdt. 738 to H.R. 2112 - To extend loan limits for programs of the government-sponsored enterprises...✔ Nay
Key Vote 18: S.Amdt. 857 to S.Amdt. 738 to H.R. 2112 - To extend loan limits for programs of the government-sponsored enterprises...
This amendment would extend the loan limits for several federal programs, including the Federal Housing Administration and the “government-sponsored enterprises” Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Given that poor lending practices by the likes of Fannie and Freddie were a primary cause of the financial crisis of 2008, extending their credit line is an inexcusable misallocation of taxpayer money.
"Nay" votes scored. - No votes for this year match the provided filters.
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