About that McCain ACU rating
By skey Posted in 2008 — Comments (60) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
A number of people have brought up McCain's lifetime ACU rating, saying that he's with conservatives 83% of the time. So I was curious and went back and looked at it. Note, while I'm absolutely opposed to McCain in the primaries, and will most likely not vote for him in the general, this is NOT intended to be a McCain-bashing post. It's simply that the ACU website doesn't make it easy to collate all this information together, and I thought others would be interested in it. No doubt many people will find this reassuring. I didn't find anything in it that changed my mind.
To start with, here is McCain's ACU rating from 1983 to 2006. I don't think 2007 numbers are released yet.
1983 - 96
1984 - 86
1985 - 81
1986 - 73
1987 - 91
1988 - 80
1989 - 93
1990 - 87
1991 - 86
1992 - 85
1993 - 83
1994 - 96
1995 - 91
1996 - 95
1997 - 80
1998 - 68
1999 - 77
2000 - 81
2001 - 68
2002 - 78
2003 - 80
2004 - 72
2005 - 80
2006 - 65
Now, on to the individual votes. Here is a list of each vote that McCain differed with the ACU, using their descriptions of it. All information comes from ACU Ratings
1983
On 3/22/83, the House by a 329-86 vote, gave final approval to the "pork barrel" $15.6 billion jobs and unemployment compensation bill. ACU opposed the bill.
1984
House passed 290-102 budget busting Public Health Bill on 6/11/84. ACU opposed the bill.
The Civil Rights Act of 1984 passed 375-32 on 6/26/84. ACU opposed the act for absurdly expanding federal power.
The House passed 285-134 The Steel Import Stabilization Act on 10/3/84 that forced steel companies to invest 1% of their net profits in worker retraining and resettlement, ACU opposed the act.
1985
CLEAN WATER $ - Bill to reauthorize and amend the Clean Water Act authorizing $12 billion in federal grants over fiscal 1986-90 and $9 billion over 1986-94 in revolving loan funds. Passed 340-83, 7/23/85. ACU opposed the bill.
SUPERFUND $ - Bill to increase the "superfund" hazardous waste cleanup program to a spending level of $10 billion for fiscal years 1986-90. Passed 391-33, 12/10/85. ACU opposed the bill.
TEXTILE IMPORT QUOTAS - Motion to concur with the Senate amendment to limit textile, apparel and shoe imports. Passed 225-161, 12/3/85. ACU opposed the motion.
protectionism
SOUTH AFRICAN SANCTIONS - Vote on the conference report on the bill to impose sanctions against South Africa until "apartheid" is eliminated. Adopted 380-48, 8/1/85. ACU opposed the adoption.
1986
Eliminate U.D.A.G.- Hiler (R-IN) amendment to eliminate the Urban Development Action Grant Program. Defeated 93-289, 6/4/86. ACU supported the amendment.
Legal Services Corp. - Combest (R-Texas) amendment to delete $305.5 million for the Legal Services Corporation. Defeated 103-278, 7/17/86. ACU supported the amendment
Minority Set-Asides- Savage (D-IL) amendment to increase from 5% to 10% the proportion of Pentagon contracts that must go to minority controlled businesses. Passed 259-135, 8/14/86. ACU opposed the amendment.
South Africa Sanctions* - Override vote of President Reagan's veto of the bill imposing punitive economic sanctions against the Republic of South Africa. Passed 313-83, 9/29/86. ACU opposed the override.
Superfund $$ - Adoption of the conference report on the bill to reauthorize the Superfund hazardous waste cleanup program for fiscal 1987-91 at a funding level of $8.5 billion. Passed 386-27, 10/8/86. ACU opposed the bill.
1987
Clean Water Override-Vote to override President Reagan's veto of the budget-busting bill amending and re-authorizing the Clean Water Act of 1972 which contained $20 billion in spending through FY 1994. Override passed 86-14 (two-thirds needed to override), 2/4/87. ACU opposed the override.
Legal Services Corporation-Vote on a Rudman (R-NH) motion to table (kill) a Gramm (R-TX) amendment which would have cut out funding for the controversial Legal Services Corporation (LSC) by requiring that 97% of LSC annual funding go directly to legal services to the poor and that the remaining 3% be spent on LSC administration. Motion passed 70-28, 12/11/87. ACU opposed the motion.
1988
Grove City - Vote to override President Reagan’s veto of the bill to dramatically extend coverage of four civil rights law so that if one part of an institution receives federal funding, the entire institution immediately becomes subject to federal controls. Override passed 73-24 (two-thirds required to override), 3/22/88. ACU opposed the override. Vote double- weighted.
INF Ratification - Vote on the adoption of the resolution of ratification of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Ratification adopted 93-5. (two-thirds required to ratify), 5/27/88. ACU opposed the resolution of ratification.
Plant Closings - Vote on the passage of the bill which would require businesses to give 60 days advance notification of plant closings or large layoffs regardless of circumstances, virtually ensuring that borderline businesses would be forced out of business. Bill passed 72-23, 7/6/88. ACU opposed the bill.
Legal Services Corporation - Vote on a Gramm (R-TX) amendment to decrease funding for the controversial Legal Services Corporation by $58.5 million. Amendment rejected 28-66, 7/27/88. ACU supported the amendment.
1989
ADA - Vote on the Americans with Disabilities Act, sponsored by Harkin (D-IA), which would vastly expand the federal government's reach in regulating and determining discrimination in the work place. In the name of protecting the disabled from discrimination, the bill would effectively force businesses to hire some persons who are fundamentally unfit to hold a job, including recovered drug addicts, psychotics and AIDS carriers. Act passed 76-8, 9/7/89. ACU opposed the Act.
Noriega Removal - Vote on a Nunn (D-GA) motion to table (kill) a Helms (R-NC) amendment to the Omnibus Anti-Drug Package. The Helms amendment would have authorized the President to use military force to oust former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega. Motion agreed to 74-25, 10/5/89. ACU opposed the motion to table.
1990
Hatch Act - Vote on a bill to overhaul the 1939 Hatch Act, which bars federal employees from engaging in political activities. Under the new law, federal employees (including even IRS agents) would be able to campaign, raise funds and run for partisan elected office. Bill passed 67-30, 5/l0/90. ACU opposed the bill.
Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations - Vote on passage of a bill to appropriate $183,334,110,000 for the departments or Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and related agencies. This is more than $11.5 billion over what the President requested. Bill passed 76-15, l0/12/90. ACU opposed the bill.
Clean Air Act - Vote on adoption of the conference report to amend the Clean Air Act that vastly expands excessive and counterproductive federal regulations dealing with auto, manufacturing and utility emissions. The Act would throw hundreds of thousands of people out of work for the sake of marginally reducing emissions, increase utility costs for consumers, raise the price of gasoline, reduce American competitiveness, and put other onerous costs and regulations on society. Conference report adopted 89-10, 10/27/90. ACU opposed adoption of the conference report.
1991
Campaign Finance Reform - Vote on passage of a bill to revise federal laws governing financing of federal campaigns. The bill would require taxpayers to fund federal candidates who agree to spending limits. Bill passed 56-42. 5/23/91. ACU opposed the bill.
Legal Services Corporation - Vote on a Hollings (D-SC) motion to table (kill) a Gramm (R-TX) amendment to cut funding by $48.41 million for the bloated Legal Services Corporation which funds special interest litigation. Motion to table agreed to 73-26, 7/31/91. ACU opposed the motion to table.
Quota Bill - Vote on passage of the bill to reverse or modify recent Supreme Court decisions that had reestablished more reasonable standards of proof in discrimination cases. The bill will shift the burden of proof on to the accused and effectively force businesses to adopt quota hiring policies to prevent endless litigation. Bill passed 93-5, 10/30/91. ACU opposed the bill.
1992
Public Money for Campaigns - Vote on a conference report to limit spending in congressional campaigns by providing "incentives", in the form of public funding, to candidates agreeing to limit campaign spending. The legislation would also restrict political action committee (PAC) contributions and other spending by state parties. Report adopted 58-42, 4/30/92. ACU opposed the report
Bilingual Voting - Vote On a bill to extend for 15 years a law requiring bilingual balloting for certain language minority populations. Bill passed 75-20, 8/7/92, ACU opposed the bill.
Parental Leave - Vote to override President Bush's veto of a bill forcing employers to give workers up to 12 Weeks unpaid leave to care for newborns or ill family members. Override passed 68-31, 9/24/92, ACU opposed the override.
Cable Regulation Override - Vote to override President Bush's veto of a bill to re-regulate the cable industry. Override passed 74-25, 10/5/92. ACU the override.
1993
Family and Medical Leave - Vote to pass a bill that would require businesses to give employees 3 months of paid family and medical leave from their jobs. Bill passed 71-27, 2/4/93. ACU opposed the bill.
Campaign Finance - Vote to pass the congressional Spending Limit and Election Reform Act, to provide for public financing of congressional campaigns and put spending limits on such races. Vote passed 60-38, 6/17/93. ACU opposed the bill.
U.N. Command - Vote on a Nickles/Cochran amendment to prohibit the use of funds to support U.S. armed forces under the command of United Nations commanders. Vote failed 33-65, 10/19/93. ACU supported the amendment.
NAFTA - Vote to sustain the ruling of the chair that a Stevens amendment to strike those provisions implementing the environmental and other side agreements of the North American Free Trade Agreement was out of order. Vote passed 73-26, 11/19/93. ACU opposed the vote.
1994
CAMPAIGN FINANCE. Vote on a motion to invoke cloture (end debate) on a bill that would have provided for public funding of congressional campaigns and imposed constitutionally-dubious spending limits. Vote failed 57-43 (cloture requires 60 votes), 9/27/94. ACU opposed the motion.
1995
RYAN WHITE REAUTHORIZATION. Kassebaum amendment to the Ryan White Reauthorization bill, which would authorize new funds for AIDS research. The Kassebaum amendment gutted the tougher Helms amendment, which had passed earlier in the day, which would have prevented funds from being used directly or indirectly to promote homosexuality or intravenous drug use. The Helms amendment defined "promotion" broadly; the Kassebaum amendment included no such definition. Approved 76-23, July 27, 1995. ACU opposed the amendment.
BOSNIA. Passage of the bill to prohibit the use of federal money for the deployment of U.S. ground troops in Bosnia as part of any peace-keeping operations unless specifically appropriated by Congress. Rejected 22-77, December 13, 1995. ACU supported the bill.
1996
WELFARE FOR POLITICIANS. S 1219 (CQ Senate Vote 168), Campaign Finance Reform. Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate and bringing the bill to the floor) on the bill to reform the federal campaign finance system by setting voluntary spending limits and providing taxpayer subsidies for postage and discounted rates for broadcast time. Motion rejected 54-46 (three fifths of the total Senate, or 60 votes, is required to invoke cloture), June 25, 1996. ACU opposed the cloture motion.
1997
CHEMICAL WEAPONS TREATY. SRes75 (roll call vote 51). Adoption of the resolution of ratification of the treaty to prohibit production, acquisition, stockpiling, transfer or use of chemical weapons. The treaty mandates that the 162 signatory nations destroy all chemical weapons they possess. The resolution includes 28 conditions clarifying U.S. interpretation of the treaty, including one specifying that the United States can use tear gas in certain military operations. Nevertheless, the treaty violated U.S. constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizure, ceded U.S. national sovereignty to international agencies, and threatened U.S. defense forces. Adopted 74-26, April 24, 1997. A two-thirds majority of those present and voting is required for adoption of resolutions of ratification. ACU opposed the resolution of ratification. This vote was double-weighted.
NATIONAL EDUCATION TESTING. S1061, FY 1998 Labor-HHS Appropriations (roll call vote 234). Gregg (R-NH) amendment establishing that the National Assessment Governing Board has exclusive authority over all policies for establishing and implementing voluntary national tests for 4th grade English reading and for 8th grade mathematics. The Gregg amendment was touted as the Acompromise@ provision agreed to between the President, who wanted to begin national educational testing, and conservatives, who opposed the further federalization of education policy, and feared that national testing would inevitably lead to a national curriculum. As such, the Gregg amendment was viewed as a weak attempt at compromise by conservatives. Adopted 87-13, Sept. 11, 1997. ACU opposed the amendment.
PROPERTY RIGHTS. HR2107, FY 1998 Interior Appropriations (roll call vote 247). D'Amato (R-NY) motion to table (kill) the Hutchinson (R-AR) amendment that would require congressional approval before President Clinton could implement the American Heritage Rivers Initiative, which he established by executive order. The AHRI, a program not authorized by Congress, would forward an environmentalist agenda to the detriment of private property rights. Motion agreed to 57-42, Sept. 18, 1997. ACU opposed the D=Amato amendment.
FREE SPEECH LIMITS. S25, Campaign Finance Regulation (roll call vote 270). Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the bill to revise financing of federal political campaigns. The legislation would ban Asoft money@ contributions; bar political parties from making coordinated expenditures on behalf of a Senate candidate who does not agree to limit his or her personal spending to $50,000 per election; and change the Supreme Court definition of Aexpress advocacy@ to restrict the First Amendment rights of independent groups. Motion rejected 52-47, Oct. 8, 1997. Three-fifths of the total Senate (60) is required to invoke cloture. ACU opposed the motion to invoke cloture.
1998
SATCHER NOMINATION. (Roll call vote 8). Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the confirmation of President Clinton's nomination of Dr. David Satcher of Tennessee to be U.S. surgeon general and assistant secretary for health in the Department of Health and Human Services. Motion agreed to 75-23, February 10, 1998. (Three-fifths of the total Senate (60) is required to invoke cloture.) ACU opposed the cloture motion.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE/SNOWE AMENDMENT. S1663 (roll call vote 14). McConnell (R-KY) motion to table (kill) the Snowe (R-ME) amendment to the McCain (R-AZ) substitute amendment that would replace language redefining express advocacy with language to increase certain disclosure requirements and prohibit the use of labor or corporate money to broadcast campaign ads shortly before a primary or general election. Motion rejected 47-50, February 25, 1998. (Subsequently, the Snowe amendment was adopted by voice vote.) ACU supported the motion to table.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE/MCCAIN SUBSTITUTE. S1663 (roll call vote 15). McConnell (R-KY) motion to table (kill) the McCain (R-AZ) substitute amendment that would revise financing of federal political campaigns. The McCain substitute amendment was the Senate version of the House's Shays-Meehan legislation, which would ban soft money contributions, raise the aggregate contribution limits, prohibit House candidates from spending more than $50,000 in personal funds, place onerous new restrictions on issue advertising, and generally restrict the rights of citizen organizations to communicate with the public. Motion rejected 48-50, February 25, 1998. ACU supported the motion to table.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE/CLOTURE. S1663 (roll call vote 16). Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the McCain (R-AZ) substitute amendment that would revise financing of federal political campaigns. Motion rejected 51-48, February 26, 1998. Three-fifths of the total Senate (60) is required to invoke cloture. ACU opposed the cloture motion.
TOBACCO TAX INCREASE. S1415 (roll call vote 143). Kerry (D-MA) motion to table (kill) the Ashcroft (R-MO) amendment to the Kennedy (D-MA) amendment to the modified Senate Commerce Committee substitute amendment. The Ashcroft amendment would strike all provisions from the bill concerning an increase of tobacco taxes. Motion agreed to 72-26, May 20, 1998. ACU opposed the motion to table.
TOBACCO RESTRICTIONS. S1415 (roll call vote 161). Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the modified Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee substitute amendment to the bill to increase tobacco restrictions. The substitute would require the tobacco industry to pay $516 billion over 25 years for anti-smoking, education and research programs, raise taxes on cigarettes by $1.10 per pack over five years, grant authority to the Food and Drug Administration to regulate nicotine and impose penalties on the tobacco industry if youth smoking does not decrease by 60 percent over 10 years. Motion rejected 57-42, June 17, 1998. Three-fifths of the total Senate (60) is required to invoke cloture. ACU opposed the cloture motion.
U.S. TROOPS IN BOSNIA. S2057 (roll call vote 171). McCain (R-AZ) motion to table (kill) the Smith (R-NH) amendment that would prohibit funding for U.S. ground troop deployment in Bosnia if both houses of Congress do not vote by March 31, 1999, on legislation that would authorize continued deployment in Bosnia. Motion agreed to 65-31, June 24, 1998. ACU opposed the motion to table.
IMF LENDING REQUIREMENTS. S2334 (roll call vote 256). Hagel (R-NB) motion to table (kill) the Kyl (R-AZ) amendment that would replace previously passed language in the bill regarding conditions on the International Monetary Fund's use of U.S. quota resources with more restrictive language. Motion agreed to 74-19, September 2, 1998. ACU opposed the motion to table.
1999
Juvenile Justice - Prohibit Prison Condition Orders, HR 1501 (Roll Call Vote No. 215). DeLay (D-TX) amendment to prohibit federal courts from issuing orders in civil cases regarding prison conditions that would require the release from prison, or the non-admission to a prison, of any person who was subject to incarceration for a felony or for violating parole, on the basis of prison overcrowding. Amendment adopted 296-133, 16 June 1999. ACU supported the amendment.
Tax Cut Package - Passage, HR 2488 (Roll Call Vote No. 333). Passage of the bill to reduce federal taxes by $792 billion over 10 years. The measure would reduce individual income tax rates by 10 percent over a 10-year period, contingent upon annual progress in reducing interest on the nation's debt. It would reduce the "marriage penalty" by increasing the standard deduction for married couples to double that for singles; cut the capital gains tax rate for individuals from 20 percent to 15 percent for property held for more than one year; gradually lower the corporate capital gains tax rate from 35 percent to 30 percent by 2005; reduce the estate and gift tax rates until they are completely eliminated in 2009; accelerate the phase-in of a 100 percent deduction for health insurance premiums for the self-employed, and allow all taxpayers to deduct health care and long-term care insurance if employers pay 50 percent or less of the premium; increase the annual contribution limit for Education Savings Accounts from $500 to $2,000 and permit tax-free withdrawals to pay for public and private elementary and secondary tuition and expenses. Bill passed 223-208, 22 July 1999. ACU supported the bill.
Campaign Finance Overhaul - Doolittle Substitute, HR 417 (Roll Call Vote No. 419). Sept. 14, 1999 - Doolittle (R-CA) substitute amendment to eliminate all federal contribution limits, and end public financing of presidential campaigns. The substitute would require national political parties to disclose transfers of funds to state and local parties, to distinguish between federal and non-federal funds, and would require state and local parties to file with the Federal Election Commission all disclosure reports required by state law. The measure would also require electronic filing of all disclosure reports and FEC notification within 24 hours of every donation received in the last 90 days of a campaign. Amendment rejected 117-306, 14 Sept. 1999. ACU supported the amendment.
OPIC Reauthorization - Passage, HR 1993 (Roll Call Vote No. 499). Oct. 13, 1999 - Passage of the bill to reauthorize the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) through fiscal 2003. OPIC provides loan guarantees and insurance to U.S. investors doing business in less-developed countries that are vulnerable to political and social unrest. The agency does not receive an annual appropriation. The measure would set OPIC fees at a level sufficient to cover operating costs, require the agency to double its support for small businesses, and direct OPIC to encourage private sector financing and participation. The measure also would direct the organization to improve dealings with Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa. Bill passed 357-71, 13 Oct. 1999. ACU opposed the bill.
2000
Tax Cuts, S.Con.Res. 101 (Roll Call Vote No. 68)
The Senate defeated an amendment deleting all tax cuts in the Congressional Budget Resolution. The vote was 44-56, 7 Apr. 2000. ACU opposed the amendment.
U.S. Troops in Kosovo, S. 2521 (Roll Call Vote No. 105)
The Senate killed an effort to impose limits on the deployment of ground troops in Kosovo beyond June 2001. The vote was 53-47, 18 May 2000. ACU opposes open-ended military commitments.
Federal Election Commission Nomination – Confirmation of Brad Smith (Roll Call Vote No. 107)
The Senate voted to confirm the nomination of Bradley A. Smith of Ohio to the Federal Election Commission. Smith is opposed to federal control of the political process. The vote was 64-35, 24 May 2000. ACU supported the nomination.
Campaign Finance Disclosures, S. 2549 (Roll Call Vote No. 122)
The Senate defeated an attempt to stop the Internal Revenue Service from requiring disclosure of the membership of certain political and policy organizations. The vote was 42-57, 8 June 2000. ACU supported the attempt to preserve constitutional rights of free association and privacy.
2001
Campaign Finance Overhaul—Union and Shareholder Consent. S. 27 (roll call 43)
McCain (R-AZ) motion to kill the Hatch (R-UT) amendment that would require unions and corporations to obtain permission from dues-paying members or shareholders before spending money on political activities. It also would require corporations or labor organizations to disclose information regarding the funds spent on political activities.
ACU supported the Hatch amendment, and opposed the McCain motion. McCain’s position prevailed, 69-31, 21 March 2001.
Campaign Finance Overhaul—Union and Corporate Disclosure. S. 27(roll call 44)
McCain (R-AZ) motion to kill the Hatch (R-UT) amendment that would require corporations and unions that spend money on political activities to provide detailed disclosure of funds spent on political activities to the corporation’s shareholders or labor organization’s members.
ACU supported the Hatch amendment and opposed the McCain motion. McCain’s position prevailed 60-40, 22 March 2001.
Campaign Finance Overhaul—Non-Severability. S. 27 (roll call 59)
Dodd (D-CT) motion to kill the Frist (R-TN) amendment that would provide that if one of several specific provisions in the underlying bill, mainly the ban on soft money, disclosure requirements for issue-group advertising, and hard money limits, is found to be an unconstitutional infringement of the First Amendment, then the other provisions specified would also be invalid.
ACU supported Frist’s amendment, and opposed the Dodd motion, which violated an understanding under which the entire bill came to the floor of the Senate. Unfortunately, Dodd’s position prevailed, 57-43, 29 March 2001.
Accelerated Elimination of Marriage Penalty. HR 1836 (roll call 113)
Hutchison (R-TX) amendment to the tax cut bill that would accelerate the elimination of the so-called “marriage penalty” in the standard deduction, so that it would be fully phased out in 2002.
ACU supported the accelerated phase-out of the penalty, but it was defeated 27-73, 17 May 2001.
Capital Gains Tax Rate Reduction. HR 1836 (roll call 115)
Gregg (R-NH) motion to allow consideration of his amendment to the tax cut bill. His amendment would provide for a temporary reduction in the maximum capital gains rate from 20 percent to 15 percent, to stimulate the economy.
ACU supported the Gregg motion, which would have required 60 votes to pass under budget rules. The motion was rejected 47-51, 21 May 2001.
Tax Cut Bill. HR 1836 (roll call 170)
Adoption of the final version of the tax cut bill, reducing taxes by $1.35 trillion through 2010 through income tax rate cuts, relief of the “marriage penalty,” a phase-out of the federal estate tax, doubling the child tax credit, and providing incentives for retirement savings.
ACU supported this bill, which passed 58-33, 26 May 2001.
Medical Savings Accounts. S. 1052 (roll call 216)
Baucus (D-MT) motion to kill the Craig (R-ID) amendment to the Patients’ Rights Bill that would express the sense of the Senate that a patients’ rights bill should remove restrictions on the private sector medical savings account demonstration program.
ACU supported the Craig amendment and opposed the Baucus motion. Baucus’s position prevailed 53-45, 29 June 2001.
Waiver of the Right to Sue. S. 1052 (roll call 218)
Kyl (R-AZ) amendment to the Patients’ Rights Bill hat would allow health plan issuers to provide a lower cost health plan to participants who waive their right to sue.
ACU supported the amendment, which was rejected 42-54, 29 June 2001.
2002
State Flexibility to Control Voter Fraud. S. 565 (Roll Call 34)
The amendment would allow state election officials to purge election lists every four years and to clean up voter lists by removing voters who have not voted in two or more consecutive federal elections, unless voters have notified registrars of their int
The bill was defeated (40-55)
ACU supported this bill
Reasonable SUV Requirements. S. 517 (Roll Call 48)
The amendment would forbid the national government from setting fuel efficiency standards for pickup trucks or sports utility vehicles at any higher than 20.7 miles per gallon. Excessive MPG requirements have made cars lighter and more dangerous, so ACU s
The bill was passed (56-44)
ACU supported this bill
Limitations on Campaign Freedom of Speech. HR 2356 (Roll Call 54)
The bill would limit contributions to national political parties to $2,000 and limit the rights of individuals and groups to participate in the political process in the two months before elections. ACU opposed this unconstitutional interference with free
The bill was passed (60-40)
ACU opposed this bill
Death Tax Repeal Permanent. HR 8 (Roll Call 151)
The motion would make the repeal of the estate or death tax passed in 2001 permanent. ACU supported this effort, which received a 54-44 vote majority on 12 June 2002, but Senate rules require 60 votes under the Budget Act.
The bill was defeated (54-44)
ACU supported this bill
2003
Budget Resolution. S. Con. Res. 23 (Roll Call 134)
The Senate adopted final spending and revenue targets for fiscal year 2004. This budget contained a total of $550 billion in tax cuts over a ten-year period. ACU supported this budget as the best possible under the circumstances. It was adopted 50-50,
The bill was passed (50-50)
ACU supported this bill
Taxes on Investment. S. 1054 (Roll Call 171)
This amendment would phase out the tax on dividend income. Taxing dividends is a form of double taxation that discourages investment. ACU supported this amendment. It was adopted by a vote of 50-50, with the vice-president casting a tie-breaking vote on
The bill was passed (50-50)
ACU supported this bill
Tax Cuts. HR 2 (Roll Call 179)
This bill reduced taxes by $350 billion over 11 years, phasing out dividend taxation and accelerating tax rate reductions already in place. While not strong enough, this bill set up passage of a stronger House-Senate conference report with more tax relie
The bill was passed (51-49)
ACU supported this bill
Global Warming. S. 139 (Roll Call 420)
This measure would have forced the United States into compliance with the Kyoto Treaty that was never ratified by the Senate. It would have required massive, expensive reductions in carbon dioxide. Science does not support Kyoto and its impact on the U
The bill was defeated (43-55)
ACU opposed this bill
2004
Appropriations. HR 2673 (Roll Call 3)
The Senate adopted an omnibus spending bill with some fiscal restraint, and providing for vouchers to cover tuition at private schools in the District of Columbia.
The bill was passed (65-28)
ACU supported this bill
Seat Belt Use. S 1072 (Roll Call 9)
The Senate killed an amendment requiring state to either prove a 90 percent seat belt use rate or enact laws making it a primary crime not to use seat belts. States not meeting either requirement would lose highway construction funds.
The bill was passed (57-41)
ACU opposed this bill
Gun Manufacturers' Liability. S 1805 (Roll Call 17)
The Senate adopted an amendment prohibiting the sale or transfer of handguns by a licensed manufacturer, importer or dealer unless a secure gun storage or safety device is provided for each handgun.
The bill was passed (70-27)
ACU opposed this bill
Extended Unemployment Program. S 1805 Roll Call 18)
The Senate rejected an effort to provide federal funds for an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits beyond the state program.
The bill was defeated (58-39)
ACU opposed this bill
Budget Procedures. S Con Res 95 (Roll Call 38)
The Senate adopted an amendment establishing rules to make it much more difficult to cut taxes.
The bill was passed (51-48)
ACU opposed this bill
Disability Education. S 1248 (Roll Call 93)
The Senate defeated an effort to increase and make mandatory federal funding for programs for educating the disabled by $2.2 billion annually over the next six years.
The bill was defeated (56-41)
ACU opposed this bill
Class Action Lawsuits. S 2062 (Roll Call 154)
The Senate failed to move ahead on legislation moving class action cases involving at least 100 plaintiffs and at least $5 million to federal court.
The bill was defeated (44-43)
ACU supported this bill
2005
Tax Cuts -- Fiscal 2006 Budget Resolution. S Con Res 18 (Roll Call 59)
The Senate rejected an amendment striking language in the budget resolution protecting tax cuts. ACU opposed this amendment, which was rejected 49-51 on March 17, 2005.
Climate Change -- Energy Policy. HR 6 (Roll Call 148)
The Senate rejected an amendment that would have required U.S. businesses to return to the “greenhouse gas” emission levels of 2000. ACU opposed the amendment. It was rejected 38-60 on June 22, 2005.
Mercury Emissions Rule -- Passage. S J Res 20 (Roll Call 225)
The Senate rejected a joint resolution that would have applied stringent and unjustified emission standards to existing electricity-generating plants. ACU opposed the resolution. It was defeated 47-51 on September 13, 2005.
ANWR Oil and Gas Leasing -- Budget Reconciliation. S 1932 (Roll Call 288)
The Senate rejected an amendment striking language permitting oil and gas leasing in a small portion of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). ACU opposed the amendment, which was rejected 48-51 on November 3, 2005.
Tax Increases on Oil and Gas Development -- Tax Relief Act of 2005. S 2020 (Roll Call 332)
The Senate rejected a procedural motion on an amendment that would have raised taxes on oil and gas development. ACU opposed the motion. The motion was rejected 48-51 on November 17, 2005 (60 votes would have been required under Senate rules).
2006
Tax Cut Rules
S Con Res 83 (Roll Call 38) The Senate defeated a change in its rules that would have required a 60-vote majority to cut taxes in the future. ACU opposed this rules change, which was defeated on a 50-50 vote on March 14, 2006.
Immigration Overhaul—Social Security Credit
S 2611 (Roll Call 130) The Senate killed an amendment barring illegal immigrants currently in the country from claiming Social Security credits for work done in years before they are assigned a valid Social Security number. ACU supported the amendment, which was killed by a vote of 50-49 on May 18, 2006.
Immigration Reform
S 2611 (Roll Call 157) The Senate passed a bill overhauling U.S. immigration laws and offering a path to citizenship for most illegal immigrants in the country. The bill also created was purported to be a guest worker program. ACU opposed this legislation. The bill passed 62-36 on May 25, 2006.
Same-Sex Marriage Ban Constitutional Amendment
S J Res. 1 (Roll Call 163) The Senate defeated a motion to end a filibuster against a constitutional amendment defining marriage as consisting only of the union of a man and a woman. ACU supported the constitutional amendment and thus supported this motion, which got a majority of the votes, but failed because 60 votes are required to end a filibuster. The vote was 49-48 on June 7, 2006.
Native Hawaiian Government
S 147 (Roll Call 165) The Senate refused to cut off debate and move to a vote on a bill extending self-determination and self-governance to Native Hawaiians and allowing for the creation of a native entity that would have a government-to-government relationship with the United States. ACU opposed this legislation and so opposed the motion to end debate. A majority of the Senate voted for the motion, but Senate rules require 60 votes to stop debate. The vote was 56-41 on June 8, 2006.
Iran Sanctions
S 2766 (Roll Call 172) The Senate rejected and amendment that would impose sanctions against foreign governments and companies that invest more than $20 million in Iran's energy sector until the president certified to Congress that Iran had dismantled its weapons of mass destruction. ACU supported this amendment, which failed on a vote of 45-54 on June 15, 2006.
Border Fencing
HR 5441 (Roll Call 200) The Senate rejected an amendment providing for the construction of 370 miles of double-layered fencing and at least 461 miles of vehicle barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border. ACU supported the amendment, which failed 29-71 on July 13, 2006.
Embryonic Stem Cell Research
HR 810 (Roll Call 206) The Senate passed a bill allowing the use of federal funds in research on embryonic stem cells. ACU opposed this legislation, which passed by a vote of 63-37 on July 18, 2006.
That's it. This pulls the information together in one place, and people can make their own decisions. I may put together a separate post with some analysis of this later.
Are you trying to imply that McCain is a maverick?
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Vote for Romney; his family is better than yours.
P.S. Talking religion is NOT what you want to do when trying to shill for Romney, bub. That's just NOT wise.
Hmm. He hired Juan 'it's all one region' Hernandez to be his point man on immigration. What the heck does it take to be an "open borders liberal"?
Isn't it funny how we're conservative, but liberals are always 'moderate'? Isn't there anyone on the other end?
------------------------
"It will not be McCain."
-Taniwha
Let me rewrite your sig:
Vote Romney: SoCon(recently), FisCon(kinda), DefCon(maybe), Christian(NOT. And I have absolutely no problems voting for a Mormon.)
John Bolton for President
"FEAR THE 'STACH!!!"
And yes, calling a Mormon a non-Christian is bashing. In fact, it's such an arrogant assessment of that faith that I'd actually suggest discussing it, but that won't happen. Romney is trying to win the popular vote, I'm not, and saying crap like that ain't cool.
Go ahead, make your jokes, Mr. Jokey... Joke-maker. But let me hit you with some knowledge. Quit now.
-White Goodman
For one thing, giving an honest assessment of a religion is not bashing. If I were to say that Muslims are not Christians, even though some insist that they are because they see Christ as a prophet (The Syrian Ambassador to the U.S., whom I met at a speech once, told me exactly this), that's not Muslim bashing, that's just stating the truth, that by any reasonable definition of the word, Muslims are not Christians. (No, I am NOT saying Mormons have the same amount of problems as Muslims. I consider Mormonism to be a basically positive religion, and Islam to be a deeply troubled one.)
For a second thing, I didn't bring it up, he did. He was OBVIOUSLY trying to make an issue of what is, obviously, a controversial point. If his sig had said "Mitt Romney for President", then I would indeed be starting a fight needlessly. But that isn't the case here. He clearly was trying to bring up that very point.
Thirdly, I am well aware of the debate about if Mormons are Christians from a theological point of view. I'm actually sympathetic, although unconvinced, to those that say they are. They have some good points in claiming to be, but some major issues unresolved as well.
However, that's irrelevant. The VAST majority of Christians don't think Mormons are Christians, and that isn't likely to change anytime soon. And if you don't think that'll cost him in the general, you're just wrong. It's just a matter of how much. It might make a very small difference that won't matter. Maybe a very large difference that will. But there will be a difference, I assure you.
John Bolton for President
"FEAR THE 'STACH!!!"
Christian(NOT. And I have absolutely no problems voting for a Mormon.)
You just need to respect peoples beliefs than. Also, mob rule does not in this case make a solid argument, especially in regards to religion. And get your facts straight, Mormons do not believe Jesus was a prophet, they believe he is ones Savior, God, and the only way to return to God's presence.
It's not a pivot at all. I said I have serious doubts that they are, although I hope they are, and that most Christians don't think they are.
I respect their beliefs 100%. What I object to is Orwellian word manipulation. And again, I didn't bring it up, he did.
Let's put it this way: Mormons have a LOT less reasons to call themselves Christians then McCain does to say he doesn't support amnesty. Because the dictionary backs up McCain on amnesty, although not the popular thought of meaning, while the traditional meaning of Christian would be a lot harder for Mormons to fit under.
John Bolton for President
"FEAR THE 'STACH!!!"
Tax Cut Rules
S Con Res 83 (Roll Call 38) The Senate defeated a change in its rules that would have required a 60-vote majority to cut taxes in the future. ACU opposed this rules change, which was defeated on a 50-50 vote on March 14, 2006.
I know what he was getting at, but with a Democratic Senate looking to stick around for the near future, it's going to take bipartisanship to get us to 51 for tax cuts.
And one random thing:
U.S. Troops in Kosovo, S. 2521 (Roll Call Vote No. 105)
The Senate killed an effort to impose limits on the deployment of ground troops in Kosovo beyond June 2001. The vote was 53-47, 18 May 2000. ACU opposes open-ended military commitments.
Is the ACU against the war in Iraq because there is no timetable? Or is that judged differently because they see more of a connection to American security?
Oh, and recommended.
No one of good character leaves behind a wasted life - John McCain
Thanks for putting this together, I had been doing something similar but yours is better. Take a look at his score starting in 1997; every year from 1997 on his score is lower than his overall average.
My thought when I first saw those numbers listed out was: if your kid's test scores looked like this, you'd wonder what had gone wrong with their education-- did they start taking drugs, hanging out with the wrong crowd, etc.
---
Finrod's First Law of Bandwidth:
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but it takes the bandwidth of ten thousand.
I think you raise a reasonable concern, and there were some votes in there that were disappointing. But I think the reason the scores dropped off is because the ACU put an emphasis on Kosovo, CFR, and immigration in their rankings.
In 1998, for example, there were three CFR votes and one troop funding vote that McCain supported but ACU opposed. Similarly in 2000 of the four votes where McCain was wrong in the ACU’s view, one was ACU opposing and McCain supporting the Kosovo war, and two CFR-related votes. 2001 there were also three CFR votes counted (along with a bunch of tax cuts McCain should have supported). And in 2006 there were three immigration votes.
Had the ACU supported Kosovo and included only one campaign finance reform vote each year, his score would probably be less distressing over the past couple years.
"The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions."
Great work putting this information together.
"The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions."
My guess is that 1997 is when McCain decided to run for the presidency in 2000 and he tacked left to do it.
However, the biggest point of the ACU rating business isn't just HOW McCain voted that speaks to his lack of conservative bona fides. What speaks louder than his overall voting record is where he has led: Campaign-Finance/political speech restrictions, Amnesty for Illegals, global warming energy restrictions, the anti-interrogation bill, and trying to nail the pharmaceuticals. These are all left-leaning to outright left-wing positions. He didn't just vote wrong, he proposed left/wrong and led left/wrong.
That's why he shouldn't be the GOP nominee and if he is, many conservatives will simply stay home and he will lose.
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Halls of Justice Painted Green, Money Talking.
Power Wolves Beset Your Door, Hear Them Stalking.
McCain - a conservative for the media.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
kept calling Joe Lieberman a "conservative Democrat" in 2000?
They love to attach that word to their darlings.
McCain's not a conservative. Hasn't been since the early '90's.
it misses the point. No one really believes that McCain is not a pretty conservative guy. The thing is that on a few big issues he is not only wrong he is dangerously wrong. Furthermore he spent the last twelve years or more going out of his way to crap on the heads of movement conservatives and tell us how stupid and bigoted we are. Now he wants our support.
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
"No one really believes that McCain is not a pretty conservative guy."
That's an amusing point of view. No one? What is the density of commentary here at Redstate, I wonder, saying exactly that. Not a conservative. Not a republican. A traitor. As a percent of total comments about Senator McCain I'd put it at between 7 and 23 percent. Non-scientific of course.
George Will's paltry article about why John McCain was a democrat received a favorable review here and that review towered over the recommended list.
No one? Please. There are myriad substantive discussions about Senator McCain and about those big issues. But it is simply false to say no one is saying he isn't a pretty conservative guy. Plenty are saying it, they are saying it loud, and they are saying it often.
Former Fredhead, Current McCainiac
absentee
I'm actually about as anti-McCain as they come. I think he would be bad for the party, and bad for the country as a nominee. But that wasn't why I did this. I'd heard the ACU ratings tossed around and had never actually looked into what they entailed.
And the results to me were somewhat surprising. There was less there than I thought. I may put together a more comprehensive posting later, but briefly.
1. There is no question that he's anti-pork, except for some slips early in his Congressional career.
2. Theere is also no question that he's a big-government guy, and one who looks for the Federal government to solve problems. He's comfortable with the current size of the government, and wouldn't mind it growing even larger.
3. There's also no question that he's in favor of what I'd term "government environmental advocacy". He sees the environment as something that needs protecting, and government as needing to do so, agressively.
So what would I actually use to decribe him? I'd be tempted to call it "grumpy compassionate conservatism", except that is sort of already taken.
Some of those votes, there is just no way to say "well, I can see a conservative reason to vote that way."
Look, I know every Republican has, at one time or another, voted for bad bills. But it's like a pattern with McCain.
The only list that could top this is a list of the bills John McCain has sponsored over the years--those causes he has felt strong enough about to put his name front and center.
Here is the record:
Kennedy-McCain amnesty bill
McCain-Feingold free speech supression, er campaign finance act
Voted against the Bush tax cuts twice
Opposes drilling in ANWR
Squawks and whines about "global warming"
Opposes the Human Life Amendment
Thinks dunking Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in water violates his civil rights
Was willing to sell out Alito and Roberts by joining Gang of 14
Sorry folks, this is not a conservative record. A broken clock gives you the correct time twice a day. McCain is terrific on defense/security/military/Iraq issues. He is a liberal on everything else.
I disagree, but only slightly. You wrote:
McCain is terrific on defense/security/military/Iraq issues. He is a liberal on everything else.
But then you wrote this.
Thinks dunking Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in water violates his civil rights
So, I think it is correct to say that McCain is terrific on Iraq, but not too good on national security generally.
McCain was in the Senate when Clinton reduced the size of our military. Any evidence that McCain tried to stop these huge cuts that we are still paying for today? Not that I can find.
"So, I think it is correct to say that McCain is terrific on Iraq, but not too good on national security generally."
Based on waterboarding? That is such an absurd overreach on the importance of waterboarding. Disagree in principle if you must, but to suggest that this is some highly critical issue in National Security overall is just ridiculous overstatement.
Former Fredhead, Current McCainiac
absentee
This one issue doesn't make him bad on national security. And he's on record saying he'd use anything to stop a huge disaster.
I know that not everyone thinks that waterboarding is torture, or for that matter, even agrees what waterboarding *is* - as exemplified by those who characterize it as "dunking" rather than forced asphyxiation - but McCain, when he was a POW, saw first-hand what happens when you use torture in a military setting. Even if you don't agree with him on waterboarding, you've got to admit that he alone, of all the candidates running for President, should be entitled to his opinion on whether the U.S. should use techniques like this in interrogation situations that don't immediately involve the so-called ticking time bomb.
in that case, only Romney can speak about how the private sector of the economy works. They both gain more credibility because of their personal experience but your stance that only he can express his opinion is ludicrous.
**"The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should." - John McCain"**
Sorry, I didn't mean to suggest that no one else is entitled to have or express an opinion. I think I started writing one sentence and finished with another.
I meant to say something along the lines that no other candidate
has as much credibility on the question as a former POW who actually was tortured for years.
I voted early in the Florida primary. Find out who and why.
Another thing-
It is difficult to call into question the integrity of a war hero patriot, but the man is lying. Mitt Romney has NEVER had a timetable for surrender in Iraq.
Just because McCain is a war hero does not give him the right to LIE about Romney's record. He is flat-out lying.
There is ivory tower theory and there is reality.
Moussaoui (the 20th hijacker) was arrested in August 2001. He was taking flying lessons but didn't want to learn to take off and land. He had the entire plans for 9/11 on his lap top. We of course couldn't look at his lap top because that might violate his civil rights.
If we had dunked him in water, 9/11 would never have happened. Is the personal inconvenience of a jihadist terrorist sworn to the destruction of America for 30 seconds worth 3,000 American lives?
I would support actual REAL torture to save American lives (I do not believe waterboarding is torture).
By the way, Mitt Romney wants to double the size of Club Gitmo.
According to Sen. McCain, it's torture, and when you torture someone, you don't necessarily get reliable information.
Basically the disagreement is over subjective judgements here, not facts or values.
when you torture someone, you don't necessarily get reliable information
When you don't torture someone, you don't necessarily get reliable information either, so your sentence as stated is just an irrelevant tautology.
---
Finrod's First Law of Bandwidth:
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but it takes the bandwidth of ten thousand.
and will forever remain subjective thanks to Sec. 1003.(d) of the Detainee Treatment Act, 2005.
...as defined in the United States Reservations, Declarations and Understandings to the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment done at New York, December 10, 1984.
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“Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn't so.” – Ronald Reagan
Uhh, I'd say it always has been blurry.
But anyhow, yes, it's not always an easy distinction to make.
John Bolton for President
"FEAR THE 'STACH!!!"
***
“Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn't so.” – Ronald Reagan
Is it a flip flop to vote against the Bush tax cuts twice but now think they should be made permanent?
especially since the 2000 election, is his vindictive response to that rejection. It became clear, following the election of President Bush, that Sen McCain was going to do everything possible to make the president's life miserable.
His opposition to the Bush Tax Cuts -- which he today says he opposed because there were no corresponding spending cuts -- were characterized by the good senator as "tax cuts for the rich."
Campaign Finance Reform, which the president was on record as opposing, provided the senator the opportunity to punish those who, in his mind, prevented his being elected.
From the beginning of the Iraq War, while publicly supporting the action, he sniped at the way it was being carried out. From the beginning, McCain was re-fighting Vietnam, demanding that 400,000 troops needed to be used, without regard to the fact that the US military had changed in the past 30 years, civilian contractors now did many of the jobs the military did in the past -- and without recognition that the huge military cuts of the 90s made HIS plan un-doable in the first place.
When President Bush replaced the military leader on the ground in Iraq, who was not getting the job done, with a new strategy under the command of Gen Petraeus, Sen McCain took possession of "The Surge" as his own strategy. McCain's 400,000 troops, became the 150,000 surge, that is now winning in Iraq.
In any number of ways, so large, some small, Sen McCain has sought to undermine the presidency of George W Bush. Since the president and Sen McCain are both Republicans, with similar goals and direction for the country, his near constant undermining of this president could ONLY have been for personal reasons -- not ideological.
This is, of course, all personal opinion -- so go ahead and attack away.
I remember all those speeches in 2004 when Sen. McCain was attacking Bush over the conduct of the war. And when the Senator was raising money for all those anti-war Democrats in 2006. It's all coming back to me. I bet the whole anti-pork thing was really just McCain trying to stick it to the President. That a-hole.
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Donate to the Rs in Close Senate Races through Slatecard
I can only hope that after the Clintons unfairly bury Obama that he'll do the same thing for her if she becomes President.
Yet there is so much more history, his anti-gun rights stances, his battles behind the scenes to keep things off the floor as Tom Delay is vocal about, and then his ability to lie so well about the things right in front of our face and get away with it.
Let's not ever forget he spent four years attacking the administration over Iraq and now that it's off the front page he's claiming credit for it's success?
Then with careful examination of some of his consistent positions over the years, ie Campaign Finance Reform and disclosure by corporations and unions. Who in their right mind opposes this, never mind a "conservative". Transparency is supposedly part of his intention with CFR yet he fights it tooth and nail when actual attempts at it are brought forward!
John McCain is a "conservative" the same way Joe Lieberman is, and that is not at all.
John McCain - Not Now - Not Ever.
Well done is better than well said. —Benjamin Franklin
Well, to be fair to McCain (and you have no idea how much it pains me to be fair to him) Lieberman's lifetime ACU is 16.8. But he's also trended left over the last few years. as of 2000 his lifetime rating was 19.
One analysis that I didn't do, though, which I think would be interesting, is to look at how many of the votes were close, say, within 60-40. Because I don't begrudge someone going the other way so much when the vote was lopsided enough it didn't matter. Helps keep them electable.
but in Johnny Macs case he's had it much easier to date, and then there's also that little thing called integrity.
Well done is better than well said. —Benjamin Franklin
Would love for Obama to become the Democrat's McCain.
I want Hillary to be the nominee. I think she could do more than anyone to unite the fractured Republicans.
I'd hold my nose and support McCain over her. I think the McCainiacs would support Mitt over Hillary.
I want Obama to do well in the primaries however. I want a long drawn out fight in which they are both bloodied and muddy.
Ideally it would be great if she completely aliented blacks and the Dems fractured along racial lines.
I'm not so sure about that. It seems more to me every day that 'the McCainiacs' are becoming like the Ron Paul folks -- so desperately in love with their man that they will spend the rest of their lives deranged when he loses.
I guess there is always that danger among a certain segment of the population when a politician's narrative becomes so much about personality (or character, or whatever), rather than what he actually does, or has done, or is liable to do. Certain people start falling in love, and losing all sense of what they actually would want a president to do if he were elected. The first sign is always "Of course I don't agree with EVERYTHING he says..."
Remember what so many people have said about BC? Seems like I've read it dozens of times: "I hated everything he believes, but then I met him, and his hand was WONDERFUL! Such warmth! And the way he looked in my eyes! Like I was the only person in the room!!!" From then on, they'll follow him right into hell. And they don't even agree with the SOB - they don't have to anymore. They're in love.
Here's how you tell: When you don't really agree with him about ANYTHING, when you have to admit that he's wrong on every important conservative issue in the last 10 years (and he is), and you STILL passionately and ferociously want him and hate everyone else, it's not politics anymore; it's love.
Only suckers fall in love with politicians.
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"It will not be McCain."
-Taniwha
Does the ACU have ratings on Romney, Huckabee, & Guliani?
It's strictly for Senators and Congressmen. They pick somewhere between 20 and 25 votes every year. Sometimes they double-weight votes. It appears that missing a vote counts neither for nor against the rating.
For comparison purposes, Thompson was a lifetime 86 rating. Which is almost exactly what McCain would have if he'd voted the other way on all the Campaign Finance Reform votes.
2008 will be a strong headwind for us. I'll settle for McCain as perhaps the best we can do in this political climate.
For 1999, you have House votes, when McCain was in the Senate.
for putting this all together. Recommended.