ratings of south dakota - midwest communications south... · 2016-05-10 · 2 american conservative...

RATINGS of SOUTH DAKOTA

20152015

ACUConservative @ACUConservative Conservative.org

Letter from the Chairman

ACU & ACUF Board Members

Selecting the Votes

2015 Winners & Losers

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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SD Senate Vote Descriptions

SD Senate Scores

SD House Vote Descriptions

SD House Scores

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RATINGS of SOUTH DAKOTA

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AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION’S 2015 Ratings of South Dakota

Dear Fellow Conservatives,

I am pleased to present the American Conservative Union Foundation’s ratings for the 2015 meeting of the South Dakota Legislature. Like our Congressional Ratings, our State Ratings reflect how elected officials view the role of government in an individual's life. The South Dakota legislators with the strongest scores voted most consistently with the ideals articulated in the US Constitution: limited and transparent government, individual rights, personal responsibility, and a healthy culture.

The 2014 election completed a political transformation that began in 2010 and resulted in voters of almost half the states, 23 in all, entrusting Republicans with the governorships as well as control of both chambers in the respective state, the biggest sweep since the first half of the 20th Century.

By examining all our State Ratings (which cover a wide variety of issues) we can see which states have best used their Republican majorities to apply conservative principles, how others have struggled, and in yet other states, how conservatives have stood up against liberal majorities. I know that this guide will provide you with the most comprehensive evaluative tool to learn how your legislators measure up.

Sincerely,

Matt SchlappChairmanAmerican Conservative Union

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

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Matt Schlapp Chairman

Thomas Winter First Vice Chairman

Carolyn Meadows Second Vice Chairman

Jameson Campaigne, Jr. Secretary

Larry Beasley

Bob Beauprez

Kimberly Bellissimo

Morton Blackwell

Ambassador John Bolton

Al Cardenas

Jose Cardenas

Ron Christie

Muriel Coleman

Kellyanne Conway

Tom DeLay

John Eddy

Luis Fortuno

Amy Frederick

Charlie Gerow

Alan Gottlieb

Van Hipp, Jr.

James Lacy

Michael Long

Grover Norquist

Becky Norton Dunlop

Ron Robinson

Ned Ryun

Fred Smith, Jr.

Matt Smith

Lewis Uhler

Ed Yevoli

ACU BOARD MEMBERS

Matt Schlapp Chairman

Millie Hallow Vice Chairman

Van Hipp, Jr. Treasurer

Tim Goeglein Secretary

Kimberly Bellissimo

Jose Cardenas

Amy Frederick

Jonathan Garthwaite

Charlie Gerow

Colin Hanna

Willes Lee

Carolyn Meadows

Thomas Winter

ACU FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS

SELECTING THE VOTES

ACU researched and selected a range of bills before the South Dakota Legislature that determine a member’s adherence to conservative principles. We selected bills that focus on Ronald Reagan’s philosophy of the “three-legged stool”: 1) fiscal and economic: taxes, budgets, regulation, spending, healthcare, and property; 2) social and cultural: 2nd amendment, religion, life, welfare, and education; and 3) government integrity: voting, individual liberty, privacy, and transparency. This wide range of issues are designed to give citizens an accurate assessment that conveys which of South Dakota’s elected leaders best defend the principles of a free society: Life, Liberty and Property.

1331 H Street NW, Suite 500South Dakota, DC 20005(202) 347-9388

To contact ACU, please call 202-347-9388

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2015 WINNERS & LOSERS

SENATE

CAMMACKMONROEOMDAHLSOLANO

90-100% AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE EXCELLENCE

HOUSE

DEUTSCHOTTEN

SENATE

n/a

10% COALITION OF THE RADICAL LEFT

HOUSE

Gibson

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SENATE

BROWNCURDEWINGHAVERLYHEINEMANHOLIENJENSEN

SENATE

LEDERMANOLSONOTTENRAMPELBERGRUSCHTIESZEN

HOUSE

CRAIGHAGGARHEINEMANNHUNTJOHNSMUNSTERMANNOVSTRUPQUALM

HOUSE

SCHAEFERSCHOENFISHTULSONWERNERWILLADSENWINKZIKMUND

80-89% AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE ACHIEVEMENT

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1. HCR 1003 Department of Education. This resolution urges Congress and the President to abolish the federal Department of Education. ACU supports the elimination of a bureaucracy that wastes billions of dollars that could be used for deficit reduction and improving education at the local level and thus supported this resolution. The Senate passed the resolution on January 29, 2015 by a vote of 19-15.

2. HCR 1005 Regulation Freedom Amendment. This resolution urges Congress to propose a regulation freedom amendment to the Constitution that would require the President to submit a regulation to the Congress for approval when one quarter of the House or Senate requests it. ACU supports efforts to rein in the runaway federal bureaucracy and supported this resolution. The Senate passed the resolution on February 3, 2015 by a vote of 25-8.

3. SB 132 Teacher Pay. This bill allows school districts to recruit teachers by providing financial incentives through individual negotiations. ACU supports these free market reforms and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 11, 2015 by a vote of 26-7.

4. SB 177 Minimum Wage. This bill establishes a separate minimum wage for workers under the age of 18 at one dollar an hour below the state level of $8.50. ACU opposes setting an artificial wage level but once they are established, supports a separate wage for young workers who are hurt the most by minimum wage increases and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 18, 2015 by a vote of 26-7.

5. SB 189 School Choice. This bill creates a needs-based tax credit scholarship program that allows students to attend the private school of their parents’ choice. ACU supports school choice and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 24, 2015 by a vote of 23-12.

6. SB 180 Wind Energy Subsidies. This bill reduces taxes on wind energy production but not on any other type of energy production. ACU believes that all forms of energy should compete within the free market and government should refrain from helping favored energy sources and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on February 25, 2015 by a vote of 32-2.

7. HCR 1007 EPA Mandates. This resolution expresses the state of South Dakota’s opposition to the mandates on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants in the state, stressing the economic harm they will cause. ACU opposes President Obama’s EPA mandates because they are based on the fantasy of catastrophic climate change and will burden American companies and communities and supported this resolution. The Senate passed the resolution on February 27, 2015 by a vote of 32-0.

8. HB 1130 Payments for Abortions. This bill prohibits prepayment of abortions before the day the abortion is performed. ACU views abortion as a human tragedy and supports efforts to restrict the practice and educate patients, and supported this bill. The Senate passed this bill on March 3, 2015 by a vote of 29-5.

9. HB 1201 Zoning Reform. This bill allows county zoning boards to issue conditional use permits by a simple majority vote instead of the two-thirds vote now required. The bill is designed to permit large-scale feedlots. ACU supports local control of land use whenever possible and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 4, 2015 by a vote of 22-11.

10. SB 159 Special Interest Tax Provisions. This bill exempts amateur baseball coaches on teams sponsored by the American Legion and VFW organizations from sales and use taxes. ACU opposes these special interest tax breaks that lead to increased taxes for those not favored by the government and opposed this bill. The Senate failed to override the Governor’s veto on March 30, 2015 by a vote of 21-11 (a two-thirds vote was required).

SOUTH DAKOTA SENATE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS

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SOUTH DAKOTA SENATE VOTE DETAIL

Party DistrictHCR 1003

HCR 1005 SB 132 SB 177 SB 189 SB 180

HCR 1007 HB 1130 HB 1201 SB 159

ACU Votes

Votes Cast

2015 %

2014 %

LIFETIME AVG

Bradford D 27 - - E - + - + + - - 3 9 33% 38% 35%

BROWN R 23 + + + + + - + + + - 8 10 80% 100% 90%

Buhl O'Donnell D 15 - E - - - - + - - E 1 8 13% 38% 25%

CAMMACK R 29 + + + + + - + + + + 9 10 90% 67% 78%

CURD R 12 + + E + + E + E + - 6 7 86% 83% 85%

EWING R 31 + + + + - - + + + + 8 10 80% 63% 71%

Frerichs D 1 - - - - - - E + - - 1 9 11% 50% 31%

GREENFIELD R 2 - + + E + - + + - - 5 9 56% 92% 74%

HAGGAR R 10 + + + + + - + + - - 7 10 70% 92% 81%

HAVERLY R 35 + + + + + - + + + - 8 10 80% n/a 80%

HEINEMAN R 13 + + + + + - E + + E 7 8 88% 88% 88%

Heinert D 26 - - - - - - + + - + 3 10 30% 25% 28%

HOLIEN R 5 + + + + + - + + + - 8 10 80% 63% 71%

Hunhoff D 18 - - - - + - + + - - 3 10 30% 75% 53%

JENSEN R 33 + + + + + + + + E - 8 9 89% 75% 82%

LEDERMAN R 16 + + + + + - + + + - 8 10 80% 75% 78%

MONROE R 24 + + + + + - + + + + 9 10 90% 50% 70%

SOUTH DAKOTA SENATE SCORESSOUTH DAKOTA SENATE STATISTICS

65%OVERALL AVERAGE

BRADFORD

HIGHEST DEMOCRATPETERS, SOHOLT 50%

LOWEST REPUBLICANS

77%REPUBLICAN AVERAGE

24%DEMOCRAT AVERAGE

33%

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SOUTH DAKOTA SENATE VOTE DETAIL


HCR 1005 SB 132 SB 177 SB 189 SB 180

HCR 1007 HB 1130 HB 1201 SB 159

ACU Votes

Votes Cast

2015 %

2014 %

LIFETIME AVG

NOVSTRUP R 3 + + + + + - E + + - 7 9 78% 100% 89%

OLSON R 28 + + + + + - + + + - 8 10 80% 83% 82%

OMDAHL R 11 E E + + + + + + + + 8 8 100% 57% 79%

OTTEN R 6 + + + + + - + + E + 8 9 89% 75% 82%

Parsley D 8 - - - - + - + - - - 2 10 20% 25% 23%

PETERS R 9 - + + + - - + - + - 5 10 50% 75% 63%

Peterson D 4 - - - E - - + + - - 2 9 22% 44% 33%

RAMPELBERG R 30 + + + + + - + + + E 8 9 89% 88% 88%

RAVE R 25 + + + + - - + + + - 7 10 70% 88% 79%

RUSCH R 17 - + + + + - + + + + 8 10 80% n/a 80%

SOHOLT R 14 - + + + - - + - + - 5 10 50% 63% 56%

SOLANO R 32 + + + + + - + + + + 9 10 90% 63% 76%

Sutton D 21 - - - - - - + + - + 3 10 30% 50% 40%

TIDEMANN R 7 - + + + - - + - + + 6 10 60% 38% 49%

TIESZEN R 34 + - + + + - + + + + 8 10 80% 63% 71%

VAN GERPEN R 19 + + + + + - + + - - 7 10 70% 100% 85%

VEHLE R 20 - + + + - - + + + - 6 10 60% 75% 68%

WHITE R 22 - + + + - - + + + - 6 10 60% 63% 61%

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1. HCR 1003 Department of Education. This resolution urges Congress and the President to abolish the federal Department of Education. ACU supports the elimination of a bureaucracy that wastes billions of dollars that could be used for deficit reduction and improving education at the local level and thus supported this resolution. The House passed the resolution on January 27, 2015 by a vote of 48-20.

2. HCR 1005 Regulation Freedom Amendment. This resolution urges Congress to propose a regulation freedom amendment to the Constitution that would require the President to submit a regulation to the Congress for approval when one quarter of the House or Senate requests it. ACU supports efforts to rein in the runaway federal bureaucracy and supported this resolution. The House passed the resolution on January 29, 2015 by a vote of 56-14.

3. HB 1096 Firearm Regulations. This bill streamlines firearm regulations by allowing initial background checks for pistol permits to serve for future firearm purchases and eliminates the requirement for a separate check for each firearm purchase. ACU supports protecting our founder’s belief in the Second Amendment and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 5, 2015 by a vote of 52-15.

4. HB 1116 Concealed Carry. This bill eliminates the need for concealed carry firearm permits. ACU supports protecting our founder’s belief in the Second Amendment and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 10, 2015 by a vote of 44-23.

5. HB 1153 Government Transparency. This bill expands the open meetings law so that more records (electronic text colloquy) will be available for review by the public. ACU supports government transparency and supported this bill that updates the law to reflect new technology. The House passed the bill on February 25, 2015 by a vote of 47-22.

6. HCR 1007 EPA Mandates. This resolution expresses the state of South Dakota’s opposition to the mandates on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants in the state, stressing the economic harm they will cause. ACU opposes President Obama’s EPA mandates because they are based on the fantasy of catastrophic climate change and will burden American companies and communities and supported this resolution. The House passed the resolution on February 25, 2015 by a vote of 60-9.

7. HB 1201 Zoning Reform. This bill allows county zoning boards to issue conditional use permits by a simple majority vote instead of the two-thirds vote now required. The bill is designed to permit large-scale feedlots. ACU supports local control of land use whenever possible and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 25, 2015 by a vote of 52-17.

8. HB 1130 Payments for Abortions. This bill prohibits prepayment of abortions before the day the abortion is performed. ACU views abortion as a human tragedy and supports efforts to restrict the practice and educate patients, and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 3, 2015 by a vote of 57-10.

9. SB 159 Special Interest Tax Provisions. This bill exempts amateur baseball coaches on teams sponsored by the American Legion and VFW organizations from sales and use taxes. ACU opposes these special interest tax breaks that lead to increased taxes for those not favored by the government and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 5, 2015 by a vote of 63-5.

10. SB 180 Wind Energy Subsidies. This bill reduces taxes on wind energy production but not on any other type of energy production. ACU believes that all forms of energy should compete within the free market and government should refrain from helping favored energy sources and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on March 10, 2015 by a vote of 64-4.

11. SB 132 Teacher Pay. This bill allows school districts to recruit teachers by providing financial incentives through individual negotiations. ACU supports these free market reforms and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 10, 2015 by a vote of 53-13.

SOUTH DAKOTA HOUSE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS

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SOUTH DAKOTA HOUSE SCORESSOUTH DAKOTA HOUSE STATISTICS

SOUTH DAKOTA HOUSE VOTE DETAIL


HCR 1005

HB 1096

HB 1116

HB 1153

HCR 1007

HB 1201

HB 1130 SB 159 SB 180 SB 132

ACU Votes

Votes Cast

2015 %

2014 %

LIFETIME AVG

ANDERSON R 16 + + + + - + + + - - + 8 11 73% 67% 70%

Bartling D 21 - - - - + - - + - - - 2 11 18% 42% 30%

BEAL R 12 + + + + - + + + - - + 8 11 73% n/a 73%

BOLIN R 16 + + + - + + + + - + - 8 11 73% 75% 74%

Bordeaux D 26A - - - - + - - E - E E 1 8 13% n/a 13%

BRUNNER R 29 + + + + + + + - - - + 8 11 73% n/a 73%

CAMPBELL R 35 + + + + - + + + - - + 8 11 73% 83% 78%

CONZET R 32 + + + + - + + + - E E 7 9 78% 67% 72%

CRAIG R 33 + + + + + + + E E - + 8 9 89% 78% 83%

CRONIN R 23 - + + + - + + + - - E 6 10 60% 55% 57%

DEUTSCH R 4 + + + + + + + + + - + 10 11 91% n/a 91%

DiSANTO R 35 + + + + - + + - - - + 7 11 64% n/a 64%

DRYDEN R 34 - + - + - + + + - - + 6 11 55% 58% 56%

DUVALL R 24 + + + - + + + + - - + 8 11 73% 58% 66%

Feickert D 1 - + + - + + - + - - - 5 11 45% 50% 48%

Gibson D 22 - - - - + - - - - - - 1 11 9% 18% 14%

GOSCH R 32 + + + + - + + + - - + 8 11 73% 58% 66%

64%OVERALL AVERAGE

FEICKERT 45%HIGHEST DEMOCRAT

JENSEN 36%LOWEST REPUBLICAN

72%REPUBLICAN AVERAGE

21%DEMOCRAT AVERAGE

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HCR 1005

HB 1096

HB 1116

HB 1153

HCR 1007

HB 1201

HB 1130 SB 159 SB 180 SB 132

ACU Votes

Votes Cast

2015 %

2014 %

LIFETIME AVG

GREENFIELD R 2 + + + + + + - + - - + 8 11 73% 92% 82%

HAGGAR R 10 + + + + + + + + - - + 9 11 82% 83% 83%

HARRISON R 23 + + + + - + + + - - + 8 11 73% n/a 73%

HAUGAARD R 10 + + + + - + + + - - + 8 11 73% n/a 73%

Hawks D 9 - - - - E E E + - - - 1 8 13% 25% 19%

Hawley D 7 - - - - + - + + - - - 3 11 27% 25% 26%

HEINEMANN R 8 + + E + + + + + - - + 8 10 80% 64% 72%

HICKEY R 9 + + + + + + - + - - + 8 11 73% 92% 82%

HOLMES R 14 - - - + + + + + - - + 6 11 55% 67% 61%

HUNHOFF R 18 - + + - + + + + - - E 6 10 60% 25% 43%

HUNT R 25 + + + - + + + + - + + 9 11 82% n/a 82%

JENSEN R 12 - - - - - + + + - - + 4 11 36% n/a 36%

JOHNS R 31 - + + + + + + + + - + 9 11 82% 50% 66%

KAISER R 3 + + + + + + - - - - + 7 11 64% 92% 78%

Killer D 27 - - - - + - - E - - - 1 10 10% 25% 18%

Kirschman D 15 - + - - + - - + - - - 3 11 27% 33% 30%

KLUMB R 20 + + + + - + + - - - + 7 11 64% n/a 64%

LANGER R 25 + + + + - + + + - - + 8 11 73% 67% 70%

LATTERELL R 6 + + + + + + - + - - + 8 11 73% 83% 78%

MARTY R 28B + + + + + + + - - - + 8 11 73% n/a 73%

MAY R 27 + + + + + + - + - - + 8 11 73% 67% 70%

McCleerey D 1 - - - - + + - + - - - 3 11 27% n/a 27%

MICKELSON R 13 + + + - + + + + - - + 8 11 73% 67% 70%

MUNSTERMAN R 7 E + + + + + + + - - + 8 10 80% 60% 70%

NOVSTRUP R 3 + + + E + + + + - - + 8 10 80% 50% 65%

OTTEN R 6 + + + + + + + + + - + 10 11 91% 58% 75%

PATRIDGE R 34 + - + + - + + + - - + 7 11 64% n/a 64%

PETERSON R 19 + + + - + + + + - - + 8 11 73% 44% 59%

QUALM R 21 + + + + + + + + - - + 9 11 82% 92% 87%

RASMUSSEN R 17 + + + + + + - + - - + 8 11 73% 67% 70%

Ring D 17 - - - - + - - + - - - 2 11 18% 25% 22%

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HCR 1005

HB 1096

HB 1116

HB 1153

HCR 1007

HB 1201

HB 1130 SB 159 SB 180 SB 132

ACU Votes

Votes Cast

2015 %

2014 %

LIFETIME AVG

ROMKEMA R 31 - + + - - + + + - - + 6 11 55% 58% 56%

ROUNDS R 24 + + + + - + + + - - + 8 11 73% 67% 70%

ROZUM R 20 + + + - - + + + - - + 7 11 64% 45% 55%

RUSSELL R 30 + + + + + + + - - - + 8 11 73% 92% 82%

SCHAEFER R 26B + + + E + + + + - - + 8 10 80% 67% 73%

SCHOENBECK R 5 + + E + + + - - - + + 7 10 70% n/a 70%

SCHOENFISH R 19 + + + + + + + + - - + 9 11 82% 67% 74%

Schrempp D 28A E - - - + - - + E - - 2 9 22% 42% 32%

SLY R 33 - + + + + + + + - - + 8 11 73% 67% 70%

Soli D 15 - - - - + - - + - - - 2 11 18% 25% 22%

SOLUM R 5 + + + - + + + + - - + 8 11 73% 58% 66%

STALZER R 11 + + + + - + + + - - + 8 11 73% 83% 78%

STEVENS R 18 + - + + - + + + - - - 6 11 55% 58% 56%

TULSON R 2 + + + + + + + + - - + 9 11 82% 42% 62%

VERCHIO R 30 + + E E - + + - - + + 6 9 67% 55% 61%

WERNER R 22 - + + + + + + + + - + 9 11 82% 50% 66%

WESTRA R 13 + + + + - + + + - - + 8 11 73% 58% 66%

WIIK R 4 + + + + - + + - - - + 7 11 64% n/a 64%

WILLADSEN R 11 + + - + + + + + + - + 9 11 82% n/a 82%

WINK R 29 + + + + + + + + - - + 9 11 82% 75% 78%

WOLLMANN R 8 + + + - + + + + - - + 8 11 73% n/a 73%

ZIKMUND R 14 + + + + + + + + - - + 9 11 82% n/a 82%

ratings of south dakota - midwest communications south... · 2016-05-10 · 2 american conservative...

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