Posted on 10/22/2005 8:05:13 PM PDT by Susannah
After noticing errors in how Senators were rated by the American Conservative Union in 2003, I decided to look up the roll call votes for every item that the ACU had listed for that year.
Senator by Senator, I made a list of how the ACU had listed their position on the items and compared them to the actual voting records. Zell Miller (D-GA), was the only Senator that they had properly listed the voting record on.
The most glaring error was the vote to accelerate the repeal of the death/estate tax. Every Senator but Zell was rated incorrectly on that issue, so some conservatives are more conservative than suggested and all those who voted against it are more liberal than suggested.
The Senator most unfairly rated based on actual votes, was Ben Nelson of Nebraska, whom they only had listed as voting with conservatives on roll call votes #40 and #459 when he actually also voted with the real conservatives on numbers 62, 95, 171, 179, 186, and 309.
Senator Brownback of Kansas was the second most unfairly rated because besides voting conservative on the death tax repeal (roll call #62), he also voted conservative on numbers 348 & 409 which he did not get credited for.
Besides John Kerry and other liberals and RINOs getting credit for voting the conservative postion on the death/estate tax, Kerry also got credit for voting conservative on roll call #205 when the Senate roll call record actually shows that he was absent.
I didn't look through all the records to see how accurate they were with the House of Representatives, but a random check of 3 congressmen suggest that they were more accurate on the House ratings. Bernie Sanders, however, did not get credit for voting against the Prescription Drug Benefit. Clyburn was listed as a Republican at ACU ratings when he is actually a Democrat.
link to roll call #62 on repeal of estate tax
I like to check the ACU ratings, but I would not rely on them for accuracy. Even after I sent them an email at corrections@acuratings.org last year, they still have not corrected the errors that I pointed out.
The internet is a wonderful thing -- thanks for the post
too bad Zell doesnt have any gravitas in the democrat party. but if there were 15 zells on the democrat side it would be a step in the right direction.
By doing what most people skip, you've blown reasons 1 & 2 out of the water and performed a public service. Thank you.
Congressman Billybob
I think it might not be a bad idea if Bush nominated Zell to the Supreme Court.
"Bernie Sanders, however, did not get credit for voting against the Prescription Drug Benefit."
I can only suppose he voted against it because it did not, in whatever way, go far enough. But still, he deserved credit for his vote.
It's good to know these ratings are not what one might take them for.
I just double-checked the vote on the death/estate tax, and I probably should review the records again because although Zell Miller received credit for voting the conservative position on that issue, I see that he actually is listed as being absent for the vote. It was the following Democrats that helped pass that particular amendment:
Lincoln (AR), Nelson (FL), Nelson (NE), Wyden (OR)
The title of my post should be changed. I didn't notice until I just re-checked that Miller was ALSO improperly rated by the ACU because he should have been listed as absent when he didn't vote on roll call numbers: 62, 95, 264, and 267.
DOUBLE OOPS! - I just rechecked Zell's list at ACU and they DID list him as absent for vote numbers 62,95, 264, and 267......So, my title is correct because he is the only Senator they rated correctly.
Interesting
Thanks for taking the time to do that.
Uh, I love the guy, but he is an old coot. Heck I'm sure he'd agree with me on that. :) And as such, he'll not have enough years on the bench. No thanks!
Adding the links to the roll call votes for the issues the ACU tracked in 2003:
#40-Miguel Estrada for judge:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00040
#48-resolution affirming that Roe v. Wade was correctly decided (the 46 NAY votes are Senators who disagree with abortion):
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00048
#62-acceleration of Death/Estate tax (the 51 NAYS are the conservatives):
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00062
#95-trying to repeal the tax cuts (NAYS are conservatives):
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00095
#134-budget resolution includes tax cuts(NAYS are liberals and Cheney voted to break the 50 to 50 tie):
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00134
#155-proposed tradeoff to increase taxes (the 51 NAYS are conservative voters):
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00155
#171-phasing out dividend income taxes (the 50 NAYS are liberal voters, tie was broken by Cheney ):
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00171
#179-Tax Cuts (the 49 NAYS are liberal voters):
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00179
#186-nuclear weapons advancement(the 43 NAYS are liberal voters):
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00186
#205-would have cancelled the next round of military base closures (NAYS are conservative voters):
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00205
#261-prescription drug benefit means testing (NAYS are conservative voters):
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00261
#264-medical malpractice reform (NAYS are liberal voters):
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00264
#267-taxpayer support for abortions in other countries (NAYS are liberal voters...and note that this was actually a vote to table another motion for supporting abortion costs):
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00267
#309-higher mileage requirements for auto manufacturers (NAYS are conservative voters):
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00309
#334-overtime rules reform (the 45 who voted NAY are the conservatives):
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00334
#348-broadcasting controls (the 40 who voted NAY are the conservatives):
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00348
#409-increased federal control of elections (the 31 who voted NAY are the conservatives):
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00409
#420-Global warming, trying to get us into Kyoto (the 55 who voted NAY are the conservatives):
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00420
#459-Medicare prescription drug benefit (the 44 who voted NAY are the conservatives):
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00459
Okay, I will trust your work on this, and I appreciate it.
What I can't understand is how the ACU could be so sloppy?
It can't be that difficult to accurately keep track of voting records, especially if that is THE WHOLE IDEA of your organization.
It's strange that they couldn't get it right when the voting records are available on the same internet that they use to display their ratings.
I do trust the Senate roll call voting records more than I trust the ACU based on what I've seen so far.
ping
The Republican Party could benefit with at least 5, and IMHO 10-15 Zells replacing our RINO's.
I totally agree, except I believe 99.9% that Zell would say 'Thanks, but no thanks!' He has retired twice.
Some other errors noticed:
Senator Allard was not given credit for voting with conservatives on roll call #48.
Senator Campbell was not given credit for voting with conservatives on roll call #348.
Senator Leahy got credit for voting with conservatives on roll call #348 but the records show that he was "not voting", so it should be listed as 'absent'.
Senator Smith was given credit for voting with conservatives on roll calls #334 and #348 but the records show that he was "not voting", so it should be listed as 'absent'.
Senator Inouye was given credit for voting conservative on roll call #205 when he actually voted with liberals. Strange, too, that the other Senator from Hawaii (Akaka) actually DID vote with conservatives on that issue but didn't get credit for it.
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