Talking conservative, voting liberal (with other people’s money)

 

 

In 2010, the nation overwhelmingly rewarded GOP candidates for Congress who promised to cut federal spending, cut taxes, roll back regulations, and restore some sanity to our nation’s government.

The Club for Growth, a conservative political action committee, does an excellent job of holding politicians’ feet to the fire — making them walk the walk AND talk the talk:

  In 2010, the Republicans seized control of the House of Representatives from the Democrats, promising to cut spending and pay down the national debt. When given the opportunity, however, many Republicans routinely voted with the Democrats against spending cuts, stymieing opportunities to limit government.

In the past, the Club for Growth issued a “RePORK Card” to highlight how Members of Congress voted on amendments to cut wasteful earmarks from appropriations bills. In part because of the Club’s efforts, earmarks are now banned in Congress.

However, just because earmarks are gone does not mean that there are no longer opportunities to cut spending. That’s why the Club for Growth is issuing this report tracking amendments to FY 2013 House appropriations bills that reduce spending and use the savings for debt reduction. This report will be updated as the appropriations process continues and the Club for Growth will alert the media and Club members about the results. 

This report is part of the Club for Growth’s ongoing efforts to educate the public about the profligate spending taking place in Congress. It is completely separate from the Club’s Congressional Scorecard and is an ongoing scorecard.  Future votes will be added as they are considered on the House floor. This Spending Cut Scorecard only tracks spending cut amendments to appropriations bills, whereas the Congressional Scorecard rates Members of Congress on votes covering various economic issues, like taxes, spending, regulation, and free trade.

The Club has rated ALL 535 members of Congress based on their votes on these budget-cutting amendments.  If you voted for all 25 pieces of legislation, you earned a perfect 100% rating.   If you voted for some portion of the package, but not all, you were rated at the appropriate percentage.

Let’s compare the ratings given to North Carolina AND South Carolina’s congressional delegations.  In North Carolina’s House delegation,   Foxx (92%) and Myrick (90%) led the way for Republicans.

(Our legislator here in the 2nd district, Renee Ellmers, earned a paltry 31% rating — making her the most liberal North Carolina Republican and one of the most left-voting Republicans in the House.)

Democrat Jim Matheson of Utah (32%) scored slightly more conservative than Ellmers while the Dunn Republican TIED with Illinois Democrat — and former Black Panther — Bobby Rush (31%).   Ellmers scored slightly more conservative than Ohio congressman — and UFO enthusiast — Dennis Kucinich  (30%). 

During the primary, Ellmers bombarded us with TV ads claiming to be North Carolina’s most conservative Member of Congress.  THE FACTS are not doing much to support that claim.

Renee has a Democrat opponent in November.  In light of the facts presented by The Club For Growth,  HOW can she honestly differentiate herself from said Democrat? 

Among NC Democrats,  McIntyre  (17%) was the most conservative, while Shuler (0%) was the most liberal.

In South Carolina, Mick Mulvaney (100%) had the most conservative record on this budget-cutting legislation.   There was a four-way tie for second place (92%) between Duncan, Gowdy, Scott and Wilson.  Jim Clyburn, the delegation’s lone Democrat, earned a ZERO rating.