#ncga: Talking small govt, voting big govt
Talk is great, but it’s always good to see it backed up with action. Civitas Action has released their 2016 conservative effectiveness rankings. Here are some of the more interesting findings: 
- The closer you are to Speaker Tim Moore, the less conservative you are likely to be. Lincoln County’s Jason Saine, chairman of the House Finance Committee (and rumored to have his eye on the majority leader post) has a rating of 57.1 out of a possible 100 points. He ranks 65th out of the 120 members of the House. That score actually TIES him with Speaker Tim Moore. David Lewis, chairman of the House Rules Committee, scores a slightly-more impressive 71.4 out of 100. Rep. Jimmy Dixon of Duplin County TIES Lewis’s score. Cumberland County’s John Szoka, newly-appointed as House Republican Conference chairman, scored a 57.1 out of a possible 100. Nelson Dollar was the hard right-winger of this bunch — scoring an 85.7 out of a possible 100. Kelly Hastings – somehow — scored a perfect 100 out of 100. (Perhaps The Haymaker scared him straight.)
- Conservative Stars. Pender’s Chris Millis scored a perfect 100. Larry Pittman of Cabarrus County and Carl Ford of Rowan County also landed scores of 100. Greensboro’s John Blust was also perfect. Craven’s Mike Speciale scored a 100. Wake’s Marilyn Avila, Mecklenburg’s Dan Bishop, Wilmington’s Rick Catlin, and Wilkes County’s Jeff Elmore all were also in the Perfect 100 Club.
- Republicans ranking among Democrats. There were several prominent Republicans whose conservatism — or lack thereof — had them ranking right among the Democrats. Jason Saine and Tim Moore were TIED with Democrats Billy Richardson and Garland Pierce. Leo Daughtry, Chuck McGrady, and Craig Horn all ranked right down there among several Black Caucus members.
- Moore County: We may be in a yellow-dog Republican district, but our legislators sure didn’t light any fires. Jamie Boles ranked 12th with a score of 85.7. Allen McNeill pulled down a weak 57.1 out of a possible 100.
Okay, let’s move over to the other chamber:
- Hickory’s Andy Wells, with his score of 87.5, made him the conservative star of the Senate. Bob Rucho bows out with a score of 83.3. Tom Apodaca, Phil Berger, Harry Brown, Bill Cook, Jerry Tillman and Chad Barefoot all scored 75. Buck Newton, running for state attorney general, scored 71.4 out of 100.
- Fletcher Hartsell was the caboose of the GOP caucus – -coming in at the rear of the group with an unimpressive score of 50 out of 100.
Since there were many fewer key votes in the short session, it is also interesting to look at the 2015 long session when there were many more votes and a greater variety of them.
There, Andy Wells ranked 13th, with a score of 66.7, instead of first, and was tied in that ranking with Jerry Tillman. Buck Newton ranked most conservative in the long session.
In the House, Nelson Dollar ranted 58th with a score of 60.7. His primary may have scared him into voting better in the short session. He beat out Speaker Tim Moore who ranked 70th, more liberal than even a number of Democrats. David Lewis was 72nd with a score of 55.6. Other than Mike Hager, the House has a very liberal bunch of Republicans in its leadership.
Interesting… doesnt look like there were all that many votes used, and they were all (what I would consider) fairly easy calls… so ending up with a low percentage…kind of telling.
Of course, we do know a lot of these state Republicans are essentially crony-capitalist Democrats with a social values streak… sadly, only a few are consistent advocates for “limited government”.
If the NCGOP had a good chairman and leadership they would stand up against these people tell them if they want to act like Leftists they should make sure they have D’s after their name
If conservatives statewide want that, they need to dump the current District Chairs who have been our ruination, and who replaced our lawfully elected Chairman with a usurper.
I am not sure that there are really many conservatives left.
Avila and Bell are not moderates.. pragmatic yes but not moderates.