While scores improve for second consecutive year, majority of legislators still flunk.
Sacramento, CA — HJTA has released its 2015 Legislative Report Card grading lawmakers on their votes on issues important to taxpayers. The Report Card is intended as a non-partisan tool to help taxpayers hold legislators accountable.
Of the 120 members of the Legislature, 73 received a grade of “F” while 36 earned an “A” grade. Votes on sixteen bills were used to score legislators. These reflect a range of policy issues including new tax and regulatory burdens, and attacks on the initiative process that would make it more difficult for taxpayers to have their voices heard.
“With over a quarter of the members of the Legislature being new to Sacramento politics, the HJTA Report Card provides an early indication as to who will be faithful to the interests of taxpayers,” said HJTA President Jon Coupal. “While grades have improved slightly over last year, it is clear that this new legislative class has started off by falling well short of taxpayer expectations.”
Eight lawmakers received a perfect score. For Assemblywoman Beth Gaines it was her second consecutive 100 percent. Among new legislators, Tom Lackey, Chad Mayes, and Jay Obernolte also received perfect scores. The full list includes:
- State Senator Mike Morrell
- Assemblyman Frank Bigelow
- Assemblywoman Beth Gaines
- Assemblyman Brian Jones
- Assemblyman Tom Lackey
- Assemblyman Chad Mayes
- Assemblyman Jay Obernolte
- Assemblyman Jim PattersonTo review the Report Card in its entirety and to see how individual representatives scored, please click here. For more information about our methodology and scoring system go to hjta.org or email Legislative Director Scott Kaufman at: scott@hjta.org
Jon Coupal is the President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA). HJTA, with offices in both Los Angeles and Sacramento, is the largest taxpayers association in California with a membership of over 200,000. Founded by the late Howard Jarvis, the author of Proposition 13, HJTA’s name is synonymous with tax relief and the uncompromising defense of the California homeowner.