Replies

Brownback made the ACU's standout list for voting with them 100% of the time in 2005.

He describes himself above as: "I am an economic, a fiscal, a social and a compassionate conservative," Brownback said last month.

Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS)

3rd-term Republican from Kansas.

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Name of Legislation	voted		score

Passed	H.R. 6061; Secure Fence Act of 2006 09/30/2006	Y

Passed	S. 3930 As Amended; Military Commissions Act of 2006 09/28/2006	Y

Rejected	Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider H.R.5970; Estate Tax and Extension of Tax Relief Act of 2006 08/04/2006	Y

Passed	Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act 07/18/2006	N

Rejected	Sessions Amdt. No. 4659, As Modified; To appropriate an additional $1,829,400,000 to construct double-layered fencing and vehicle barriers along the southwest border 07/13/2006	Y

Rejected	S.J.Res.12 as Amended; A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States authorizing Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States 06/27/2006	Y

Rejected	Levin Amdt. No. 4320; To state the sense of Congress on United States policy on Iraq 06/22/2006	N

Rejected	Kerry Amdt. No. 4442; To require the redeployment of United States Armed Forces from Iraq in order to further a political solution in Iraq, encourage the people of Iraq to provide for their own security, and achieve victory in the war on terror 06/22/2006	N

Rejected	Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to the Consideration of S. J. Res. 1; Marriage Protection Amendment 06/07/2006	Y

Passed	Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 05/25/2006	Y

Agreed To	Inhofe Amdt. No. 4064; To amend title 4 United States Code, to declare English as the national language of the United States and to promote the patriotic integration of prospective US citizens 05/18/2006	Y

Agreed To	Motion to Table Ensign Amdt. No. 3985; To reduce document fraud, prevent identity theft, and preserve the integrity of the Social Security system 05/18/2006	Y

Agreed To	Tax Relief Act of 2005 05/11/2006	Y

Passed	USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act 03/02/2006	Y

Confirmed	Confirmation; Samuel A. Alito, Jr., of New Jersey, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States 01/31/2006	Y

Agreed To	Motion to Concur in House Amdt. To S. 1932, With an Amdt.; Work, Marriage, and Family Promotion Reconciliation Act of 2005 12/21/2005	Y

Passed	Tax Relief Act of 2005 11/18/2005	Y

Confirmed	Confirmation John G. Roberts, Jr., of Maryland, to be Chief Justice of the United States 09/29/2005	Y

Agreed To	Energy Policy Act of 2005 07/29/2005	Y

Passed	Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act 06/30/2005	Y

Rejected	Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Nomination of John R. Bolton, of Maryland, to be Representative of the U.S. to the United Nations 06/20/2005	Y

Confirmed	Confirmation Janice R. Brown, of California, to be U.S. Circuit Judge 06/08/2005	Y

Confirmed	Confirmation Priscilla Richman Owen, to be U.S. Circuit Judge 05/25/2005	Y

Passed	Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 03/10/2005	Y

Passed	Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 02/10/2005	Y

Rejected	Motion to Invoke Cloture; Federal Marriage Amendment 07/14/2004	Y

Passed	Boxer Amdt. No. 272; FY2004 Congressional Budget Resolution 03/19/2003	N

Rejected	Motion To Invoke Cloture On The Nomination Of Miguel A. Estrada To Be U.S. Circuit Judge 03/05/2003	Y

Agreed To	Murray Amdt. No. 3927; National Defense Authorization Act 06/21/2002	N

Passed	Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2001 03/20/2002	N

Agreed To	Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 05/26/2001	Y

Agreed To	National Defense Authorization 06/20/2000	Y

Agreed To	Roe Repeal 10/21/1999	N

Agreed To	Congressional Budget 04/01/1998	Y

Passed	Chemical and Biological Weapons Threat Reduction Act 04/17/1997	Y

Rejected	Defend America Act 06/04/1996

See other votes in the Key Votes Library

actually, Brownback voted against the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006, which the ACU reported. He does not have a rating of 100%.
Brownback is an open borders extremist, just this side of the racist marxist Huckabee.

I am one of his constituents, have met him and have discussed issues with him.

He's not Presidential Timber, more like a Thistle - that's a noxious weed out here in Kansas

He's doing an excellent job where he is, in the Senate.

What are his views regarding immigration? Also what as he done to counter govt spending? Its all well and good to claim one is this or that but the bottom line remains - has he taken an active part in reducing the size of the Fed Gov or is he a "compassionate conservative" i.e. spend money like a liberal but you're forgiven if you mention Jesus and God as the reason for the taxpayer theft.

too liberal on immigration, he's running for VP.

Thus far he gets my support. I wish he would ditch the compassionate part.

I always love when people announce their plans to announce.
I guess it's like a "Save the Date" card..."

PING

The Fam

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
January 4, 2007
Contact: Rob Wasinger

Brownback Enlists Key Iowa Conservative Leader

Noted pro-life activist offers support

DES MOINES, Ia. - U.S. Senator Sam Brownback today announced that he has enlisted the support of Kim Lehman, President and Executive Director of Iowa Right to Life, for his upcoming Iowans for Brownback Leadership Committee.

"For those who care about protecting the unborn and supporting the right to life, Senator Brownback is the clear choice," said Lehman. "While other candidates are in the process of defining and refining their position at the
start of this campaign, Senator Brownback has been principled, consistent, and unwavering in his support for the right to life."

Senator Brownback expressed his appreciation for the early support, saying, "I am gratified to have the support of Kim Lehman, as her support in Iowa will be essential for success in 2008. I am proudly and unequivocally pro-life, and I look forward to optimistically and compassionately articulating the pro-life position in this upcoming campaign."

Since 2000, Lehman has been Iowa Right to Life's Executive Director and chief lobbyist. She was the State Director for Concerned Women for America before her taking her current position at Iowa Right to Life.

Lehman continued, "Senator Brownback has also been a tremendous advocate for a judiciary that respects the law and does not legislate from the bench. Further, he has plainly stated his opposition to the tragic Roe v. Wade
decision, which legalized abortion for all nine months of pregnancy. I look forward to working with Iowans from all 99 counties to enlist support for Senator Brownback and his quest for the Republican nomination."

Support from the pro-life community in Iowa will be critical in the 2008 Republican caucus. An August 2006 poll reported by the Des Moines Register of likely GOP caucus-goers found that while a large majority are pro-life (70 percent), nearly half (46 percent) said the issue of abortion will be a key determining factor in whom they decide to support.

I like Sam a lot, but I'm afraid his record on illegal immigration might do him in.

That said, I could definitely vote for him in the general election.

What worries me is the fact we've been sharply critical of candidates coming out of the Senate, and Brownback is just such a candidate. Merely the association with that body brings the tainting aura of elitism, which governors, mayors, and representatives avoid.

Apart from that concern I would be open to looking more closely at Sen. Brownback.

YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! PRAISE THE LORD!!!!! Onyx, thanks for the ping!! Here me screaming from SD to the shores of the US!!!

Nominating a Kansan is a sure prescription for defeat (to wit, Bob Dole and Alf Landon). We're going to win Kansas' whopping 6 electoral votes unless the Democrats carry 45+ states. Why not nominate someone who can add blue sstates, rather than subtract red ones?

Having read that you said that the American Conservative Union (ACU) recorded a perfect voting score of 100% for Senator Sam Brownback, I went to the ACU website to check this information, and it is true that for the year 2005, Sam Brownback is among the 10 “Best and Brightest” Standout Senators, according to the ACU (see http://www.conservative.org/archive2/senate.asp). This should make clear that Sam Brownback is from the “Conservative Persuasion”.

However, because of Sam Brownback’s position about immigration, I am not sure that Sam Brownback’s score in 2006 got a 100% favorable rate by the ACU, because, on March 28, the ACU said: “The immigration bill produced yesterday by the Senate Judiciary Committee can in no way be viewed as positive reform. On the contrary, the bill essentially provides for a sweeping amnesty program for the 11 million-plus illegal aliens already in the United States.” […] “The ACU applauded Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Charles Grassley (R-IA), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Jeff Sessions (R-AL) John Cornyn (R-TX) and Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma), all of whom refused to allow misplaced compassion to excuse criminality.” (see: http://www.conservative.org/pressroom/2006/060328pr.asp). Please note carefully that the ACU did not say that these senators have no compassion at all, but that they do not have “misplaced compassion”.

Because Senator Sam Brownback is a Compassionate Conservative, a number of people may believe that Sam Brownback seems to have this type of “misplaced compassion” towards immigrants. However, one may wonder whether this is a true perception of Sam Brownback’s position or rather a misperception of his real position. It seems to me that if Sam Brownback wants to get the vote of the Conservatives, he needs to make an effort to make more clearly known that he is in favor of strengthening the borders (construction of a good fence in the Southwest, enforcement of the immigration laws, etc.). And he should supply a satisfactory explanation about his position concerning the millions of illegal aliens who are presently in the United States. Sam Brownback did vote for the fence, but many people may not be very sure how strong he is on this point. On the other hand, his “compassionate side” and his desire to work with other senators to find a comprehensive solution about the millions of immigrants, have led many to believe that Sam Brownback is definitely in favor of an “open borders / amnesty” policy. As long as this is what many people understand about his position, Sam Brownback will have great difficulties to win the presidential primaries and the general elections. The Democrats are usually more consistent with their liberal agenda than Sam Brownback may appear to be concerning immigration. Sam Brownback needs not only to show that he wants to treat with dignity everyone (including immigrants – legal or illegal), and to find a constructive solution concerning the millions of illegal immigrants, but also he needs to dispel the impression that his compassionate attitude may lead him to reward the criminal behavior of illegal immigrants by granting them a “free-pass” (i.e. an easy participation in a Guest-Worker Program that will help them to become American Citizens).

There is no doubt that it is not easy to find a good balanced view on such a subject: too much “compassion” and Sam Brownback may look a “softy” or a compromiser on immigration. Too much “justice” (strongly enforcing the laws against illegal immigration), and Sam Brownback may look a “heartless/narrow-minded far-right conservative”, desiring to promote the sending of “Gestapo forces” to crack down on illegal immigration. Compassion and Justice together must “balance” the equation. Addressing adequately this situation is easy neither for Sam Brownback nor for anybody else, if a good and fair solution is to be found. We must also realize that Sam Brownback cannot please everybody (whatever he may say or do about this matter). When we consider the other choices that we may have for the presidential elections of 2008, I believe that Sam Brownback remains an option worthy of consideration for Conservatives.