2014 Legislative Scorecard

United for Missouri is committed to educating and mobilizing citizens about the impact of limited government and economic policy on the state and the impact of the federal government exceeding its Constitutional limits on achieving growth, opportunity and prosperity. United for Missouri’s programs, analyses and issue advocacy will help state and federal legislators, state wide elected officials, state agencies, the media and individual citizens understand why policies that promote the American free enterprise system are the best method to ensuring prosperity for all Missourians.

The 2014 Legislative Scorecard is completed! United for Missouri limits our evaluations to those things contained within our Mission Statement above. The bills scored were:

HB1302	Wood Burning Stoves/Furnaces	YES	Prohibits Department of Natural Resources from implementing and enforcing EPA regs and rules for woodburining devices
HB1490	Common Core	YES	Requires the development and recommendation of new academic performance standards by October 1, 2015
HB1501	Tax Credits	NO	Would have extended and added numerous tax credits
HB1631	Air Conservation Commission	YES	Requires state standards for carbon dioxide emissions be developed and conditions to be considered
HJR68	Sales Tax for Transportation	NO	Constitutional ballot measure increasing state sales tax 3/4 cents for transportation purposes (roads, bike trails, etc.)
HJR72	Governor’s Budget Authority	YES	Constitutional ballot measure that would better define Governor’s ability to withhold funds
HB2010 A2	Medicaid Expansion Amend	NO	Amendment to implement the Obamacare Medicaid expansion
SB493	Education Reform	YES	Addresses transfer issue for unaccredited districts and allows additional parental choice
SB509	Tax Cut	YES	First broad based income tax cut in almost 100 years. All working Missourians receive a reduction. Reduces individual income tax rate from 6% to 5.5% and small biz reportable pass through income by 25% both over 5 years
SB509	Tax Cut Override	YES	Override of Governor’s veto
SB518 A1	Medicaid Expansion Amend	NO	Amendment to implement the Obamacare Medicaid expansion
SB664	Clean Water Commission	YES	Similar to HB1631 but also adds Clean Water Standards updates
SB841	Nicotine or Vapor Products	NO	Places regulations on the sale of vapor devices and places that can sell them
SJR27	Electronic Communications & Data	YES	Constitutional amendment protecting a person’s electronic communication & data from unreasonable searches and seizures performed by the government.

These bills were assigned a maximum number of points. Legislators were given the maximum points if they voted in support of our Mission Statement principles or zero points if not. The only exception to the all or nothing scoring was House Joint Resolution 68. Many legislators thought because the issue was going to go to a vote of the people they should vote yes. United for Missouri disagrees but we understand why they voted that way and awarded a No vote minimum points.

Here are the scorecards for the 2014 Legislative session.