Vote
descriptions are at the bottom of the page.
Votes for lower taxes and less government are colored green;
anti-freedom votes are red.
Legend
: Positive Vote
: Negative Vote
: Didn't Vote
: Ineligible (out of office)
How Scoring Works
We want to give an accurate picture of each Senator's voting record on economic issues, which becomes complicated when they miss votes. Senators are allowed to miss one vote without penalty, but each missed vote after the first one is scored as a negative vote and counts against their overall score.
Several Senators started running for president in 2007 and missed many votes. For decared candidates (Biden, Brownback, Clinton, Dodd, McCain, Obama) we only scored the votes they actually cast.
Similarly, Sen. Barasso only served part of 2007 and we only scored the votes he cast.
Vote 1 Roll Call 5 (Earmark Reform) An amendement strengthen earmark reform and reduce wasteful pork barrell spending. "Yes" votes scored.
Vote 2 Roll Call 42 (Raise the Minimum Wage) This bill raises the nationally mandated minimum wage across the boad, increasing costs for small businesses and eliminating entry-level jobs for the least skilled workers. “Nay” votes scored
Vote 3 Roll Call 83 (Death Tax Reform) The estate tax should be repealed completely, but this vote was a step in the right direction to protect families, family farms and small businesses by raising the death tax exemption to $5 million and reducing the maximum death tax rate to no more than 35%. "Yes" vote scored.
Vote 4 Roll Call 89 (Social Security Budget Reform) Senator DeMint’s “Stop the Raid” proposal takes an important step forward by ensuring that the Social Security surplus is saved using real assets (not more government IOUs) and begins the transition to a partially funded retirement system."Yes" votes scored.
Vote 5 Roll Call 105 (Gordon Smith's Cigarette Tax Hike Amendment to SCHIP) This proposed tax increase is being offered under the guise of expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The reality is that it is nothing more than window dress for yet another tax hike scheme that will expand government. "Nay" votes scored.
Vote 6 Roll Call 260 (Card Check) To amend the National Labor Relations Act to ensure the right of employees to a secret-ballot workplace election. "Yes" votes scored.
Vote 7 Roll Call 347 (Water Resources) This water projects bill is bloated with over 900 special-interest earmarks, which far exceeds the $4.9 billion requested by the Army Corps of Engineers. The bill does not set any priorities and would result in funding for truly essential projects, like protections in Louisiana against future hurricanes, being drowned out in a sea of pork. "Nay" votes scored.
Vote 8 Roll Call 400 Amtrak Reauthorization. The passenger rail monopoly has failed, but Congress continues to pump billions of taxpayer subsidies into this ineffective company. “Nay” votes are scored.
Vote 9 Roll Call 403 (S-CHIP) This bill calls for $50 billion in new funding for the program that far exceeds the $5 billion requested by the President. In addition to greatly expanding a program that was originally designed to be a limited contribution to State health services, this bill would be a giant step toward government controlled health care. “Nay” votes are scored.
Vote 10 Roll Call 434 Farm Bill. This legislation is a massive $300 billion taxpayer subsidy to private agribusinesses. “Nay” votes are scored.
Vote 11 Roll Call 425 Energy Policy. This vote was for "cloture" which advanced a flawed energy bill that included tax increases and higher CAFE standards, which make automobiles less safe and result in thousands of additional traffic deaths. “Nay” votes scored.
Vote 12 Roll Call 441 FY 2008 Omnibus Spending Bill. This bill contains more than 8,000 earmarks for special-interest projects. In addition to the large amount of earmarks, the bill also contains several budget gimmicks designed to hide the addition $14 billion in unnecessary Congressional spending. “Nay” votes scored.
