Scorecard 111-1 - The New American
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A Congressional Scorecard Based on the U.S. Constitution

Congressional Scorecard Based on the U.S. Constitution

The Congressional Scorecard is a nationwide educational program of The John Birch Society. Its purpose is to create an informed electorate on how members of Congress are voting. The Scorecard is nonpartisan; it does not promote any candidate or political party. Bills are selected for their constitutional implications and cost to the taxpayers.

Please share this Scorecard in your district to inform people about the constitutionality of their congressman's votes.
U.S. Constitution, Amendment I --- 11 C.F.R. §114(4)(c)(4) --- 616 F.2d 45 (2d Cir. 1980)

Congressional Scorecard

Based on the U.S. Constitution

Scorecard 111-1

The Congressional Scorecard is a nationwide educational program of The John Birch Society. Its purpose is to create an informed electorate on how members of Congress are voting. The Scorecard is nonpartisan; it does not promote any candidate or political party. Bills are selected for their constitutional implications and cost to the taxpayers.

Please share this Scorecard in your district to inform people about the constitutionality of their congressman's votes.
U.S. Constitution, Amendment I --- 11 C.F.R. §114(4)(c)(4) --- 616 F.2d 45 (2d Cir. 1980)

The following scorecard lists several key votes in the 111th Congress (January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011) and ranks congressmen based on his or her fidelity to constitutional and limited-government principles.

House of Representatives

1. ObamaCare

Good Vote: No

HR3590 ObamaCare (Passed 219 to 210 on 3/21/2010, Roll Call 165). Popularly known as "ObamaCare," this bill essentially completed the government takeover of the American healthcare system.

2. Withdrawing U.S. Soldiers From Afghanistan

Good Vote: Yes

HCR248 Withdrawing U.S. Soldiers From Afghanistan (Rejected 65 to 356 on 3/10/2010, Roll Call 98). Would direct the President to remove the U.S. Armed Forces from Afghanistan within 30 days of enactment, or by the end of the year.

3. Omnibus Appropriations

Good Vote: No

HR3288 Omnibus Appropriations (Passed 221 to 202 on 12/10/2009, Roll Call 949). This legislation is comprised of six appropriations bills that Congress failed to complete separately. The price tag in the final version of H.R. 3288 is about $1.1 trillion.

4. Cap and Trade

Good Vote: No

HR2454 Cap and Trade (Passed 219 to 212 on 6/26/2009, Roll Call 477). Would not merely "cap" carbon dioxide and other "greenhouse" gas emissions, ostensibly to fight global warming, but would reduce the amount of allowable emissions over time.

5. Body Image Screening

Good Vote: Yes

HR2200 Body Image Screening (Passed 310 to 118 on 6/4/2009, Roll Call 305). Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) offered an amendment that would prohibit the use of Whole-Body Imaging as the primary method of screening at airports.

6. Budget Resolution

Good Vote: No

SCR13 Budget Resolution (Passed 233 to 193 on 4/29/2009, Roll Call 216). The final version of the Fiscal 2010 Budget Resolution (SCR13) calls for $3.56 trillion in federal spending for the fiscal year.

Legislator Scores

Legend: [ + ] Constitutional Vote[ - ] Unconstitutional Vote[ . ] Did not Vote
Name Party State Score 123456
Neil Abercrombie D HI 25% ..--+-
Gary Ackerman D NY 0% ------
Robert Aderholt R AL 67% +-++-+
John Adler D NJ 50% +-+-+-
W. Akin R MO 67% +-++-+
Rodney Alexander R LA 83% +-++++
Jason Altmire D PA 50% +--++-
Robert Andrews D NJ 0% ------
Michael Arcuri D NY 50% +--++-
Steve Austria R OH 83% +-++++
Joe Baca D CA 17% ----+-
Michele Bachmann R MN 83% +-++++
Spencer Bachus R AL 83% +-++++
Brian Baird D WA 33% --+-+-
James Barrett R SC 75% +..+-+
John Barrow D GA 67% +--+++
Roscoe Bartlett R MD 83% +-++++
Joe Barton R TX 83% +-++++
Melissa Bean D IL 0% ------
Xavier Becerra D CA 17% ----+-
Shelley Berkley D NV 17% ----+-
Howard Berman D CA 17% ----+-
Robert Berry D AR 33% +--+--
Judy Biggert R IL 67% +-++-+
Brian Bilbray R CA 67% +-++-+
Gus Bilirakis R FL 67% +-++-+
Rob Bishop R UT 80% +-++.+
Sanford Bishop D GA 17% ----+-
Timothy Bishop D NY 0% ------
Earl Blumenauer D OR 0% ------
John Boccieri D OH 17% ----+-
John Boehner R OH 83% +-++++
Jo Bonner R AL 67% +-++-+
Mary Bono Mack R CA 50% +-+--+
Dan Boren D OK 67% +-++-+
Leonard Boswell D IA 0% ----.-
Frederick Boucher D VA 33% +---+-
Charles Boustany R LA 67% +-++-+
Allen Boyd D FL 17% ----+-
Kevin Brady R TX 83% +-++++
Robert Brady D PA 17% ----+-
Bruce Braley D IA 17% ----+-
Bobby Bright D AL 67% +-++-+
Paul Broun R GA 83% +-++++
Henry Brown R SC 83% +-++++
Corrine Brown D FL 20% --.-+-
Virginia Brown-Waite R FL 83% +-++++
Vern Buchanan R FL 83% +-++++
Michael Burgess R TX 80% +-+++.
Dan Burton R IN 67% +-++-+
George Butterfield D NC 0% ------
Stephen Buyer R IN 80% +-.+++
Ken Calvert R CA 83% +-++++
Dave Camp R MI 100% +.++++
John Campbell R CA 100% ++++++
Eric Cantor R VA 67% +-++-+
Anh Cao R LA 83% +-++++
Lois Capps D CA 17% ----+-
Michael Capuano D MA 33% -+--+-
Dennis Cardoza D CA 17% ----+-
Russ Carnahan D MO 0% ------
Christopher Carney D PA 33% --++--
André Carson D IN 17% ----+-
John Carter R TX 83% +-++++
Michael Castle R DE 50% +-+--+
Kathy Castor D FL 17% ----+-
Jason Chaffetz R UT 83% +-++++
Ben Chandler D KY 33% +---+-
Travis Childers D MS 83% +-++++
Judy Chu D CA 33% -+-...
Yvette Clarke D NY 33% -+--+-
Wm. Clay D MO 33% -+--+-
Emanuel Cleaver D MO 33% -+--+-
James Clyburn D SC 0% ------
Howard Coble R NC 83% +-++++
Mike Coffman R CO 67% +-++-+
Steve Cohen D TN 17% ----+-
Tom Cole R OK 67% +-++-+
K. Conaway R TX 83% +-++++
Gerald Connolly D VA 17% ----+-
John Conyers D MI 20% -.--+-
Jim Cooper D TN 20% --.-+-
Jim Costa D CA 33% ---++-
Jerry Costello D IL 33% --++--
Joe Courtney D CT 0% ----.-
Ander Crenshaw R FL 83% +-++++
Mark Critz D PA NA ......
Joseph Crowley D NY 33% -+--+-
Henry Cuellar D TX 17% ----+-
John Culberson R TX 83% +-++++
Elijah Cummings D MD 17% ----+-
Kathleen Dahlkemper D PA 50% --+++-
Artur Davis D AL 60% +.-++-
Lincoln Davis D TN 33% +--+--
Geoff Davis R KY 83% +-++++
Danny Davis D IL 33% -+--+-
Susan Davis D CA 17% ----+-
Nathan Deal R GA 100% +.++++
Peter DeFazio D OR 33% -+-+--
Diana DeGette D CO 0% ------
William Delahunt D MA 17% ----+-
Rosa DeLauro D CT 0% ------
Charles Dent R PA 67% +-++-+
Theodore Deutch D FL NA ......
Lincoln Diaz-Balart R FL 100% +.++++
Mario Diaz-Balart R FL 83% +-++++
Norman Dicks D WA 0% ------
John Dingell D MI 17% ----+-
Charles Djou R HI NA ......
Lloyd Doggett D TX 17% ----+-
Michael Doyle D PA 33% -+--+-
David Dreier R CA 83% +-++++
Steve Driehaus D OH 33% --+-+-
John Duncan R TN 100% ++++++
Thomas Edwards D TX 33% +--+--
Donna Edwards D MD 33% -+--+-
Vernon Ehlers R MI 67% +-++-+
Keith Ellison D MN 33% -+--+-
Brad Ellsworth D IN 50% --+++-
Jo Ann Emerson R MO 83% +-++++
Eliot Engel D NY 17% ----+-
Anna Eshoo D CA 0% ------
Bob Etheridge D NC 17% ----+-
Mary Fallin R OK 83% +-++++
Sam Farr D CA 33% -+--+-
Chaka Fattah D PA 17% ----+-
Bob Filner D CA 33% -+--+-
John Fleming R LA 67% +-++-+
J. Forbes R VA 83% +-++++
Jeff Fortenberry R NE 83% +-++++
Bill Foster D IL 33% ---+-+
Virginia Foxx R NC 67% +-++-+
Barney Frank D MA 20% -+.---
Trent Franks R AZ 67% +-++-+
Rodney Frelinghuysen R NJ 67% +-++-+
Marcia Fudge D OH 17% ----+-
Elton Gallegly R CA 67% +-++-+
John Garamendi D CA 0% ---...
Scott Garrett R NJ 83% +-++++
Jim Gerlach R PA 67% +-++-+
Gabrielle Giffords D AZ 17% ----+-
Phil Gingrey R GA 83% +-++++
Louie Gohmert R TX 83% +-++++
Charles Gonzalez D TX 17% ----+-
Bob Goodlatte R VA 83% +-++++
Barton Gordon D TN 17% --+---
Kay Granger R TX 60% +-++-.
Sam Graves R MO 67% +-++-+
Tom Graves R GA NA ......
Alan Grayson D FL 33% -+--+-
Al Green D TX 17% ----+-
Gene Green D TX 17% ----+-
Parker Griffith R AL 67% +--+++
Raul Grijalva D AZ 33% -+--+-
Brett Guthrie R KY 83% +-++++
Luis Gutierrez D IL 33% -+--+-
John Hall D NY 17% ----+-
Ralph Hall R TX 83% +-++++
Deborah Halvorson D IL 0% ------
Phil Hare D IL 17% ----+-
Jane Harman D CA 0% ------
Gregg Harper R MS 83% +-++++
Alcee Hastings D FL 40% -+-.+-
Doc Hastings R WA 67% +-++-+
Jeb Hensarling R TX 83% +-++++
Walter Herger R CA 67% +-++-+
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin D SD 50% +--++-
Brian Higgins D NY 17% ----+-
Baron Hill D IN 17% ----+-
James Himes D CT 0% ------
Maurice Hinchey D NY 17% ----+-
Ruben Hinojosa D TX 20% ----+.
Paul Hodes D NH 17% ----+-
Peter Hoekstra R MI 80% +.++-+
Tim Holden D PA 33% +--+--
Rush Holt D NJ 17% ----+-
Michael Honda D CA 0% ------
Steny Hoyer D MD 17% ----+-
Duncan Hunter R CA 83% +-++++
Bob Inglis R SC 83% +-++++
Jay Inslee D WA 17% ----+-
Steve Israel D NY 17% ----+-
Darrell Issa R CA 83% +-++++
Jesse Jackson D IL 40% -+--+.
Sheila Jackson-Lee D TX 20% -+--.-
Lynn Jenkins R KS 83% +-++++
Timothy Johnson R IL 100% ++++++
Eddie Johnson D TX 33% -+--+-
Henry Johnson D GA 17% ----+-
Sam Johnson R TX 83% +-++++
Walter Jones Jr. R NC 100% ++++++
Jim Jordan R OH 83% +-++++
Steve Kagen D WI 33% -+--+-
Paul Kanjorski D PA 17% ----+-
Marcy Kaptur D OH 17% ----+-
Patrick Kennedy D RI 0% ----.-
Dale Kildee D MI 17% ----+-
Carolyn Kilpatrick D MI 17% ----+-
Mary Jo Kilroy D OH 17% ----+-
Ron Kind D WI 33% --+-+-
Peter King R NY 67% +-++-+
Steve King R IA 83% +-++++
Jack Kingston R GA 83% +-++++
Ann Kirkpatrick D AZ 33% ---++-
Larry Kissell D NC 50% +--++-
Ron Klein D FL 0% ------
John Kline R MN 83% +-++++
Suzanne Kosmas D FL 17% ----+-
Frank Kratovil D MD 50% +-+--+
Dennis Kucinich D OH 83% -+++++
Doug Lamborn R CO 83% +-++++
Leonard Lance R NJ 50% +-+--+
James Langevin D RI 17% ----+-
Rick Larsen D WA 17% ----+-
John Larson D CT 33% -+--+-
Tom Latham R IA 67% +-++-+
Steven LaTourette R OH 67% +-++-+
Robert Latta R OH 83% +-++++
Christopher Lee R NY 67% +-++-+
Barbara Lee D CA 33% -+--+-
Sander Levin D MI 17% ----+-
Jerry Lewis R CA 83% +-++++
John Lewis D GA 40% -+--+.
John Linder R GA 83% +-++++
Daniel Lipinski D IL 50% +-+-+-
Frank LoBiondo R NJ 50% +-+--+
David Loebsack D IA 17% ----+-
Zoe Lofgren D CA 17% ----+-
Nita Lowey D NY 0% ------
Frank Lucas R OK 67% +-++-+
Blaine Luetkemeyer R MO 83% +-++++
Daniel Lungren R CA 67% +-++-+
Stephen Lynch D MA 33% +---+-
Connie Mack R FL 83% +-++++
Daniel Maffei D NY 33% -+--+-
Carolyn Maloney D NY 33% -+--+-
Donald Manzullo R IL 83% +-++++
Kenny Marchant R TX 83% +-++++
Betsy Markey D CO 17% -----+
James Marshall D GA 83% +-++++
Eric Massa D NY 50% ..-++-
Jim Matheson D UT 83% +-++++
Doris Matsui D CA 0% ------
Carolyn McCarthy D NY 0% ------
Kevin McCarthy R CA 83% +-++++
Michael McCaul R TX 83% +-++++
Tom McClintock R CA 83% +-++++
Betty McCollum D MN 17% ----+-
Thaddeus McCotter R MI 83% +-++++
Jim McDermott D WA 33% -+--+-
James McGovern D MA 33% -+--+-
Patrick McHenry R NC 83% +-++++
John McHugh R NY 67% ...-++
Mike McIntyre D NC 67% +--+++
Howard McKeon R CA 83% +-++++
Michael McMahon D NY 20% +---.-
Jerry McNerney D CA 17% ----+-
Kendrick Meek D FL 17% ----+-
Gregory Meeks D NY 17% ----+-
Charles Melancon D LA 67% +-+++-
John Mica R FL 60% +-.+-+
Michael Michaud D ME 33% -+--+-
R. Miller D NC 17% ----+-
Candice Miller R MI 67% +-++-+
Gary Miller R CA 83% +-++++
George Miller D CA 33% -+--+-
Jeff Miller R FL 67% +-++-+
Walter Minnick D ID 67% +-++-+
Harry Mitchell D AZ 67% --++++
Alan Mollohan D WV 17% ---+--
Dennis Moore D KS 17% ----+-
Gwen Moore D WI 17% ----+-
James Moran D VA 20% --.-+-
Patrick Murphy D PA 0% ------
Scott Murphy D NY 20% ----+.
Tim Murphy R PA 83% +-++++
John Murtha D PA 33% ...-+-
Sue Myrick R NC 83% +-++++
Jerrold Nadler D NY 33% -+--+-
Grace Napolitano D CA 33% -+--+-
Richard Neal D MA 33% -+--+-
Randy Neugebauer R TX 83% +-++++
Eleanor Norton D 0% ....-.
Devin Nunes R CA 83% +-++++
Glenn Nye D VA 50% +--+-+
James Oberstar D MN 0% ------
David Obey D WI 17% -+----
Pete Olson R TX 83% +-++++
John Olver D MA 17% -+----
Solomon Ortiz D TX 33% ---++-
William Owens D NY 33% --+...
Frank Pallone D NJ 17% ----+-
Bill Pascrell D NJ 17% ----+-
Ed Pastor D AZ 17% ----+-
Ron Paul R TX 100% ++++++
Erik Paulsen R MN 67% +-++-+
Donald Payne D NJ 33% -+--+-
Nancy Pelosi D CA 0% -..-.-
Mike Pence R IN 83% +-++++
Ed Perlmutter D CO 17% ----+-
Thomas Perriello D VA 20% ----+.
Collin Peterson D MN 33% +-+---
Thomas Petri R WI 83% +-++++
Chellie Pingree D ME 33% -+--+-
Joseph Pitts R PA 83% +-++++
Todd Platts R PA 67% +-++-+
Ted Poe R TX 83% +-++++
Jared Polis D CO 40% -+.-+-
Earl Pomeroy D ND 33% ---++-
Bill Posey R FL 83% +-++++
David Price D NC 0% ------
Tom Price R GA 83% +-++++
Adam Putnam R FL 83% +-++++
Mike Quigley D IL 33% -+--+-
George Radanovich R CA 83% +-++++
Nick Rahall D WV 17% ---+--
Charles Rangel D NY 33% -+--+-
Dennis Rehberg R MT 83% +-++++
David Reichert R WA 67% +-+-++
Silvestre Reyes D TX 17% ----+-
Laura Richardson D CA 33% -+--+-
Cathy McMorris Rodgers R WA 83% +-++++
Ciro Rodriguez D TX 33% ---++-
David Roe R TN 83% +-++++
Harold Rogers R KY 67% +-++-+
Mike Rogers R MI 67% +-++-+
Mike Rogers * R AL 67% +-++-+
Dana Rohrabacher R CA 67% +-++-+
Thomas Rooney R FL 83% +-++++
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen R FL 67% +-++-+
Peter Roskam R IL 83% +-++++
Mike Ross D AR 50% +--++-
Steven Rothman D NJ 17% ----+-
Lucille Roybal-Allard D CA 17% ----+-
Edward Royce R CA 67% +-++-+
C. Ruppersberger D MD 0% ----.-
Bobby Rush D IL 17% ----+-
Paul Ryan R WI 83% +-++++
Tim Ryan D OH 0% ------
Gregorio Sablan D NA ......
John Salazar D CO 33% ---++-
Loretta Sanchez D CA 33% -+--+-
Linda Sanchez D CA 20% -+--.-
John Sarbanes D MD 17% ----+-
Steve Scalise R LA 83% +-++++
Janice Schakowsky D IL 17% -+----
Mark Schauer D MI 0% ------
Adam Schiff D CA 17% ----+-
Jean Schmidt R OH 83% +-++++
Aaron Schock R IL 83% +-++++
Kurt Schrader D OR 0% ------
Allyson Schwartz D PA 0% ------
David Scott D GA 17% ----+-
Robert Scott D VA 17% ----+-
F. Sensenbrenner R WI 67% +-++-+
José Serrano D NY 33% -+--+-
Pete Sessions R TX 83% +-++++
Joe Sestak D PA 0% ------
John Shadegg R AZ 67% +-++-+
Carol Shea-Porter D NH 17% ----+-
Brad Sherman D CA 17% ----+-
John Shimkus R IL 83% +-++++
Heath Shuler D NC 50% +-+-+-
Bill Shuster R PA 83% +-++++
Mike Simpson R ID 67% +-++-+
Albio Sires D NJ 17% ----+-
Ike Skelton D MO 33% +-+---
Louise Slaughter D NY 0% ------
Adam Smith D WA 17% ----+-
Adrian Smith R NE 83% +-++++
Christopher Smith R NJ 67% +-+-++
Lamar Smith R TX 83% +-++++
Victor Snyder D AR 0% ------
Hilda Solis D CA NA ......
Mark Souder R IN 67% +-++-+
Zachary Space D OH 33% +---+-
Jackie Speier D CA 40% -+.-+-
John Spratt D SC 0% ------
Fortney Stark D CA 60% -+-++.
Clifford Stearns R FL 83% +-++++
Bart Stupak D MI 50% -++-+-
John Sullivan R OK 75% +-+..+
Betty Sutton D OH 17% ----+-
John Tanner D TN 67% +-+++-
Ellen Tauscher D CA 33% ...-+-
Gene Taylor D MS 83% +-++++
Harry Teague D NM 50% +---++
Lee Terry R NE 83% +-++++
Bennie Thompson D MS 0% ------
Mike Thompson D CA 0% ------
Glenn Thompson R PA 83% +-++++
Mac Thornberry R TX 83% +-++++
Todd Tiahrt R KS 83% +-++++
Patrick Tiberi R OH 83% +-++++
John Tierney D MA 33% -+--+-
Dina Titus D NV 17% ----+-
Paul Tonko D NY 17% ----+-
Edolphus Towns D NY 17% -+----
Niki Tsongas D MA 33% -+--+-
Michael Turner R OH 83% +-++++
Fred Upton R MI 83% +-++++
Nydia Velázquez D NY 33% -+--+-
Peter Visclosky D IN 17% ---+--
Greg Walden R OR 67% +-++-+
Timothy Walz D MN 17% ----+-
Zach Wamp R TN 83% +-++++
Debbie Wasserman Schultz D FL 20% -.--+-
Maxine Waters D CA 17% -+----
Diane Watson D CA 33% -+--+-
Melvin Watt D NC 17% ----+-
Henry Waxman D CA 17% ----+-
Anthony Weiner D NY 17% ----+-
Lynn Westmoreland R GA 83% +-++++
Robert Wexler D FL 25% ..--+-
Ed Whitfield R KY 83% +-++++
Charles Wilson D OH 20% ---+.-
Joe Wilson R SC 83% +-++++
Robert Wittman R VA 67% +-++-+
Frank Wolf R VA 83% +-++++
Lynn Woolsey D CA 33% -+--+-
David Wu D OR 0% ------
John Yarmuth D KY 17% ----+-
C. Young R FL 80% +.++-+
Don Young R AK 67% +-++-+

Average Constitutional Score by Party

Party Score
Democrat 24%
Republican 77%