On Monday, the Alabama Policy Institute released the finding of its legislative scorecard, called the API Watchlist.
According to a release from API, the scorecard graded legislators on criteria that included “key votes, attendance, public accessibility and a consideration of local bills which raise taxes.”
“API is proud to release lawmakers’ scores for the 2021 Regular Session,” API Chief Policy Officer and General Counsel Phil Williams said in the accompanying press release. “I heard it said recently that the Republican majority has moved to a more transactional view than a philosophical view – meaning that they don’t always vote on conservative principles anymore. It is important that constituents have a benchmark by which to gauge their legislators and there is no more accurate means of doing so than the API Watchlist.”
Among the bills included as “designated key votes” for state senators were medical marijuana, COVID-19 liability protection, tax relief, limiting some executive powers during emergencies and gambling.
“States with conservative bona fides only half as strong as ours are surpassing Alabama every day in making the conservative vision a reality for their residents,” API President and CEO Caleb Crosby said in the release. “States like West Virginia, Florida, Kentucky, and South Dakota are expanding school choice, reducing taxes, and putting power back into the hands of the people. Outside of social issues, the Alabama legislature has failed to see major conservative reforms over the finish line recently.”
“This session, establishing gambling, legalizing medical marijuana, and growing government were the clear priorities of our legislature,” Crosby continued. “Meanwhile, important bills to rebalance the balance of power, keep government in check, expand school choice, and give tax breaks were, at best, ignored, and at worst, flat-out opposed by so-called ‘conservatives.’ After this session, one thing is for sure: the Alabama legislature is not as conservative as we thought.”
Topping the charts in the Senate were State Sens. Tom Butler (R-Madison), Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville), Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) and Clay Scofield (R-Guntersville), all with 100% ratings.
In the House, the same bills were included in the survey but without gambling, as it was not considered for a vote.
Leading the way in the Alabama House of Representatives were State Reps. Wes Allen (R-Troy), Russell Bedsole (R-Alabaster), Tracy Estes (R-Winfield), Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville), Joe Lovvord (R-Auburn), Rex Reynolds (R-Huntsville), Ginny Shaver (R-Leesburg), Matt Simpson (R-Daphne), Andrew Sorrell (R-Muscle Shoals), Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle) and Shane Stringer (R-Citronelle), also all with 100% ratings.
Overall, API’s assessment showed around half of the members in each of the chambers earned passing grades.
“Less than half of the members of the Alabama House of Representatives earned a passing score and, in the Senate, just over half earned a passing score,” the release said. “In fact, of the 137 lawmakers graded, only 47 scored 80% or above to earn a green rating. Out of thirty-four State Senators only four scored 100%. Out of 103 State Representatives, only eleven scored 100%. We also had two State Senators who did not even appear for duty at all in the past year.”
See API Watchlist below:
@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor of Breitbart TV, a columnist for Mobile’s Lagniappe Weekly, and host of Mobile’s “The Jeff Poor Show” from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on FM Talk 106.5.
