The American Conservative Union is out with it’s annual Ratings of Congress list, and for 2013, only three senators and 15 representatives received the organization’s coveted designation as a “Defender of Liberty.”
Released Thursday ahead of next week’s annual Conservative Political Action Conference, the American Conservative Union’s 2013 ratings decipher key votes that serve as a “litmus test” separating conservative and liberal lawmakers.
“Under this administration, the role of government continues to grow and infringe on our freedoms,” ACU Chairman Al Cardenas said in a statement. “It is important we have strong principled members in Congress to take this agenda head-on.”
Only 18 members of Congress earned a 100 percent rating from the organization.
The “Defenders of Liberty” in the upper chamber were Sens. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Mike Lee (R-Utah).
Those receiving a 100 percent rating in the House of Representatives were Republican Reps. Michele Bachmann (Minn.), Ron DeSantis (Fla.), Jeff Duncan (S.C.), Scott Garrett (N.J.), Trey Gowdy (S.C.), Jim Jordan (Ohio), Raúl Labrador (Idaho), Tom McClintock (Calif.), Mick Mulvaney (S.C.), Mike Pompeo (Kan.), Trey Radel (Fla.), Matt Salmon (Ariz.), Steve Scalise (La.), David Schweikert (Ariz.) and Steve Stockman (Texas).
According to the ACU, the 16 representatives who were named “Defenders of Liberty” represent the lowest number since 2006, when only six received 100 percent ratings.
Tea Party darlings Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.) and Marco Rubio (Fla.) received 96 percent ratings.
While the ACU praised the most conservative members of Congress, Democrats didn’t quite fare so well. Seven senators were identified as “True Liberals,” receiving 0 percent. Those include Sens. Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.). Only one House member received a 0 percent rating, Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa).
A combined 107 members from both the House and Senate were classified as “ACU Conservatives,” earning a rating of 80 percent or higher. Still, some Republicans earned quite low ratings, which could serve as a burden with the 2014 midterms quickly approaching.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was given a 52 percent rating, while Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Ala.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) earned 38 and 28 percent ratings, respectively. Collins, the lowest rated Republican, matched the scores of two Democrats, Sens. Mark Pryor (Ark.) and Joe Manchin (W.V.).
Pryor, a vulnerable senator in the midterms, faces Rep. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) in the Senate race.
The ACU scored members of Congress based on key votes that went through both chambers last year. Such votes include the farm bill, gun control and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
