2015acuratings.conservative.org/.../uploads/sites/5/2016/03/ohio_2015_web.pdf · education and...

20152015

ACUConservative @ACUConservative Conservative.org

Letter from the Chairman

ACU & ACUF Board Members

Selecting the Votes

2015 Winners & Losers

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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OH Senate Vote Descriptions

OH Senate Scores

OH House Vote Descriptions

OH House Scores

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RATINGS of OHIORATINGS of OHIO

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AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION’S 2015 Ratings of Ohio

Dear Fellow Conservatives,

I am pleased to present the American Conservative Union Foundation’s ratings for the 2015 meeting of the Ohio General Assembly. Like our Congressional Ratings, our State Ratings reflect how elected officials view the role of government in an individual's life. The Ohio legislators with the strongest scores voted most consistently with the ideals articulated in the US Constitution: limited and transparent government, individual rights, personal responsibility, and a healthy culture.

The 2014 election completed a political transformation that began in 2010 and resulted in voters of almost half the states, 23 in all, entrusting Republicans with the governorships as well as control of both chambers in the respective state, the biggest sweep since the first half of the 20th Century.

By examining all our State Ratings (which cover a wide variety of issues) we can see which states have best used their Republican majorities to apply conservative principles, how others have struggled, and in yet other states, how conservatives have stood up against liberal majorities. I know that this guide will provide you with the most comprehensive evaluative tool to learn how your legislators measure up.

Sincerely,

Matt SchlappChairmanAmerican Conservative Union

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

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Matt Schlapp Chairman

Thomas Winter First Vice Chairman

Carolyn Meadows Second Vice Chairman

Jameson Campaigne, Jr. Secretary

Larry Beasley

Bob Beauprez

Kimberly Bellissimo

Morton Blackwell

Ambassador John Bolton

Al Cardenas

Jose Cardenas

Ron Christie

Muriel Coleman

Kellyanne Conway

Tom DeLay

John Eddy

Luis Fortuno

Amy Frederick

Charlie Gerow

Alan Gottlieb

Van Hipp, Jr.

James Lacy

Michael Long

Grover Norquist

Becky Norton Dunlop

Ron Robinson

Ned Ryun

Fred Smith, Jr.

Matt Smith

Lewis Uhler

Ed Yevoli

ACU BOARD MEMBERS

Matt Schlapp Chairman

Millie Hallow Vice Chairman

Van Hipp, Jr. Treasurer

Tim Goeglein Secretary

Kimberly Bellissimo

Jose Cardenas

Amy Frederick

Jonathan Garthwaite

Charlie Gerow

Colin Hanna

Willes Lee

Carolyn Meadows

Thomas Winter

ACU FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS

SELECTING THE VOTES

ACU researched and selected a range of bills before the Ohio General Assembly that determine a member’s adherence to conservative principles. We selected bills that focus on Ronald Reagan’s philosophy of the “three-legged stool”: 1) fiscal and economic: taxes, budgets, regulation, spending, healthcare, and property; 2) social and cultural: 2nd amendment, religion, life, welfare, and education; and 3) government integrity: voting, individual liberty, privacy, and transparency. This wide range of issues are designed to give citizens an accurate assessment that conveys which of Ohio’s elected leaders best defend the principles of a free society: Life, Liberty and Property.

1331 H Street NW, Suite 500Washington, DC 20005(202) 347-9388

To contact ACU, please call 202-347-9388

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2015 WINNERS & LOSERS

SENATE

COLEYEKLUNDLaROSE

90-100% AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE EXCELLENCE

HOUSE

AMSTUTZANTANIBLESSINGBOOSEBRENNERBUCHYBURKLEYCONDITTCUPPDERICKSON

HOUSE

DeVITISGINTERGREENHACKETTHAGANHALLHAYESHENNEHILLKOEHLER

HOUSE

LANDISMAAGMcCLAINMcCOLLEYPELANDAREINEKERETHERFORDROSENBERG-ERRUHL

HOUSE

SCHAFFERSCHERERSCHURINGSLABYSMITH, R.SPRAGUEYOUNG

SENATE

BACONBALDERSONBEAGLEBURKEFABERGARDNERHITEHOTTINGER

SENATE

JORDANLEHNEROBHOFPETERSONSEITZUECKERWIDENER

HOUSE

BECKERBROWNBUTLERDOVILLAHAMBLEY

HOUSE

HOODHUFFMANJOHNSON, T.LaTOURETTEPERALES

HOUSE

REZABEKROEGNERROMANCHUKRYANTERHAR

80-89% AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE ACHIEVEMENT

SENATE

GentileSchiavoniSkindellTavaresThomasYuko

10% COALITION OF THE RADICAL LEFT

HOUSE

AntonioAshfordBoyceBoydCelebrezzeClydeDriehaus

HOUSE

FedorHowseJohnson, G.LelandLepore-HaganPhillipsRamos

HOUSE

ReeceSheehySmith, K.StrahornSykes

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1. SB 38 Seitz Amendment Retention of Outside Counsel. This bill improves government transparency when the state retains outside counsel for lawsuits by requiring that copies of the contracts be posted on the Attorney General’s website. The bill also establishes the right of the state to retain ultimate control of any litigation and requires attorneys who are retained to keep detailed records of expenses and time spent on the case. ACU supports increased government transparency and supported this bill. A key vote came on the Seitz amendment to weaken the bill by removing the cap on contingency fees awarded to outside attorneys. ACU supported the motion to table, or kill, the amendment, which passed the Senate on March 18, 2015 by a vote of 21-11.

2. SB 3 Teacher Hiring Flexibility. This bill gives high-performing school districts more flexibility when filling teacher shortages by modifying teacher licensing requirements in certain subjects, among other provisions. ACU supports regulatory flexibility in hiring teachers and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 25, 2015 by a vote of 24-9.

3. SB 7 Powdered Alcohol and Caffeine Products. This bill prohibits the sale of powdered alcohol and pure caffeine products. ACU opposes bills primarily designed to reduce competition on FDA approved products and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 3, 2015 by a vote of 26-5.

4. HB 70 Failing School Districts. This bill, aimed at the Youngstown School District, strengthens the power of Academic Distress Commissions in long-standing failing school districts by creating the position of CEO, who would have the power to convert existing schools into charter schools. The bill also creates a community panel patterned after the one in Cleveland, to help monitor schools and advocate improvements. ACU supports the expansion of school choice to improve local education and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 24, 2015 by a vote of 18-14.

5. HB 64 Budget Bill. The biennial budget bill for 2015-2016 includes a 6.3 percent income tax reduction for all brackets and expands the small business income tax deduction to 75 percent of business income (up to $250,000) and a flat tax of 3 percent above that amount. The bill also creates the Tax Policy Study Commission to consider a flat income tax of 3.5 or 3.75 percent and increases the state’s rainy day fund. ACU supports pro-growth tax reductions and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 25, 2015 by a vote of 23-9.

6. SB 152 Employment Mandates. This bill prohibits a public authority from requiring a contractor to employ a certain percentage of people from a certain geographical area. ACU opposes employment mandates that interfere with the free market and drive up the cost of projects and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 25, 2015 by a vote of 21-11.

7. SCR 9 Iran Nuclear Agreement. This resolution puts Ohio on record as opposed to the Iran Nuclear Agreement and the elimination of sanctions against Iran. ACU believes this agreement to be a treaty that should have been submitted to the U.S. Senate for ratification and supported this resolution. The Senate passed the resolution on September 23, 2015 by a vote of 23-10.

8. SB 214 Taxpayer-Funded Abortion. This bill requires the state Department of Health to ensure that state funds and federal funds administered by the state do not support organizations, such as Planned Parenthood, that perform or promote nontherapeutic abortions. ACU believes abortion is a human tragedy, supports restrictions on the practice and educating patients and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on October 21, 2015 by a vote of 23-10.

OHIO SENATE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS

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OHIO SENATE VOTE DETAIL

Party DistrictSB 38 Seitz Amendment SB 3 SB 7 HB 70 HB 64 SB 152 SCR 9 SB 214

ACU Votes

Votes Cast

2015 %

2014 %

LIFETIME AVG

BACON R 3 + + - + + + + + 7 8 88% 78% 91%

BALDERSON R 20 + + - + + + + + 7 8 88% 89% 90%

BEAGLE R 5 + + - + + + + + 7 8 88% 71% 87%

Brown D 11 - + - - - - - - 1 8 13% 22% 15%

BURKE R 26 + + - + + + + + 7 8 88% 89% 93%

Cafaro† D 32 - - X X X X - - 0 4 n/a 33% n/a

COLEY R 4 + + + + + + + + 8 8 100% 89% 98%

EKLUND R 18 + + + + + + + + 8 8 100% 89% 90%

FABER R 12 + + - + + + + + 7 8 88% 89% 93%

GARDNER R 2 + + - + + + + + 7 8 88% 78% 86%

Gentile D 30 - - - - - - - - 0 8 0% 22% 15%

HITE R 1 + + - + + + + + 7 8 88% 89% 93%

HOTTINGER R 31 + + - + + + + + 7 8 88% 92% 90%

HUGHES R 16 - + - - + + + + 5 8 63% 88% 86%

JONES R 7 + + - - + + + + 6 8 75% 89% 88%

JORDAN R 19 + + + + - + + + 7 8 88% 78% 90%

LaROSE R 27 + + X + + + + + 7 7 100% 78% 88%

LEHNER R 6 + + - + + + + + 7 8 88% 78% 83%

MANNING R 13 + + - - + - + + 5 8 63% 71% 82%

OHIO SENATE SCORESOHIO SENATE STATISTICS

SPARKS 38%

62%OVERALL AVERAGE

BROWN, SAWYER, WILLIAMS 13%

HIGHEST DEMOCRATSHUGHES, MANNING, OELSLAGER 63%

LOWEST REPUBLICANS

85%REPUBLICAN AVERAGE

4%DEMOCRAT AVERAGE

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OHIO SENATE VOTE DETAIL

Party DistrictSB 38 Seitz Amendment SB 3 SB 7 HB 70 HB 64 SB 152 SCR 9 SB 214

ACU Votes

Votes Cast

2015 %

2014 %

LIFETIME AVG

OBHOF R 22 + + - + + + + + 7 8 88% 89% 93%

OELSLAGER R 29 - + - - + + + + 5 8 63% 89% 79%

PATTON R 24 + + - + + - + + 6 8 75% 88% 88%

PETERSON R 17 + + - + + + + + 7 8 88% 89% 93%

Sawyer D 28 - - + - - - - - 1 8 13% 11% 15%

Schiavoni D 33 - - - - - - - - 0 8 0% 22% 11%

SEITZ R 8 + + + - + + + + 7 8 88% 89% 93%

Skindell D 23 - - - - - - - - 0 8 0% 25% 5%

Tavares D 15 X - - - - - - - 0 7 0% 22% 4%

Thomas D 9 - - - - - - - - 0 8 0% 11% 12%

UECKER R 14 + + - + + + + + 7 8 88% 89% 89%

WIDENER R 10 + + - + + + + + 7 8 88% 89% 93%

Williams D 21 - - - - + - - - 1 8 13% 20% 11%

Yuko D 25 - - - - - - - - 0 8 0% n/a 0% † Legislator did not vote on enough of the selected bills and as a result the 2015 percentage and lifetime average was not rated.

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1. HB 69 Abortion Prohibition. This bill prohibits the abortion of an unborn human individual with a detectable heartbeat. ACU believes abortion is a human tragedy, supports restrictions on the practice and education of patients and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 25, 2015 by a vote of 55-40.

2. SB 38 Clyde Amendment Retention of Outside Counsel. This bill improves government transparency when the state retains outside counsel for lawsuits by requiring that copies of the contracts be posted on the Attorney General’s website. The bill also establishes the right of the state to retain ultimate control of any litigation and requires attorneys who are retained to keep detailed records of expenses and time spent on the case. ACU supports increased government transparency and supported this bill. A key vote came on the Clyde amendment to weaken the bill by removing the cap on contingency fees awarded to outside attorneys. ACU supported the motion to table, or kill, the amendment, which passed on April 29, 2015 by a vote of 59-36.

3. SB 7 Powdered Alcohol and Caffeine Products. This bill prohibits the sale of powdered alcohol and pure caffeine products. ACU opposes bills primarily designed to reduce competition on FDA approved products and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on May 27, 2015 by a vote of 92-3.

4. HB 23 Tax Relief. This bill requires that one-third of the signing fees, rentals and royalty payments from oil and gas leases in Ohio be deposited in the state’s Income Tax Reduction Fund. The state budget director will then apply those funds to a reduction in the state income tax, either temporary or permanent depending on the funds available. ACU supports programs that use increased revenue for tax relief rather than increased spending and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on May 27, 2015 by a vote of 78-16.

5. HB 95 Dental Care Price Controls. This bill prohibits insurers from mandating price controls on dental services that are not covered by insurance policies. ACU supports a free market in health care, opposes price controls and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on June 10, 2015 by a vote of 61-33.

6. HB 70 Failing School Districts. This bill, aimed at the Youngstown School District, strengthens the power of Academic Distress Commissions in long-standing failing school districts by creating the position of CEO, who would have the power to convert existing schools into charter schools. The bill also creates a community panel patterned after the one in Cleveland, to help monitor schools and advocate improvements. ACU supports the expansion of school choice to improve local education and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on June 24, 2015 by a vote of 55-40.

7. HB 64 Budget Bill. The biennial budget bill for 2015-2016 includes a 6.3 percent income tax reduction for all brackets and expands the small business income tax deduction to 75 percent of business income (up to $250,000) and a flat tax of 3 percent above that amount. The bill also creates the Tax Policy Study Commission to consider a flat income tax of 3.5 or 3.75 percent and increases the state’s rainy day fund. ACU supports pro-growth tax reductions and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on June 26, 2015 by a vote of 62-33.

8. HB 180 Employment Mandates. This bill prohibits a public authority from requiring a contractor to employ a certain percentage of people from a certain geographical area. ACU opposes these employment mandates that interfere with the free market and drive up the cost of projects and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on June 30, 2015 by a vote of 62-31.

9. HB 34 State Control of Health Care. This bill puts Ohio on record in favor of the “Health Care Compact,” an effort by states to take back control of their health care systems from the federal government. ACU opposes the federal government’s control over our health care system and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on September 30, 2015 by a vote of 61-31.

10. HB 48 Concealed Carry. This bill modifies the prohibition against the right to carry a firearm for self-defense by authorizing college institutions to allow concealed carry on their campuses at their discretion. This still also modifies prohibitions against concealed carry in other facilities, such as day-care and public areas of airport terminals. ACU supports the founder’s belief in the Second Amendment and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on November 17, 2015 by a vote of 68-29.

OHIO HOUSE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS

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OHIO HOUSE SCORESOHIO HOUSE STATISTICS

OHIO HOUSE VOTE DETAIL

Party District HB 69SB 38 Clyde Amendment SB 7 HB 23 HB 95 HB 70 HB 64 HB 180 HB 34 HB 48

ACU Votes

Votes Cast

2015 %

2014 %

LIFETIME AVG

AMSTUTZ R 1 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 92% 91%

ANIELSKI R 6 - + - - - + + - X + 4 9 44% 83% 76%

ANTANI R 42 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% n/a 90%

Antonio D 13 - - - - - - - - - - 0 10 0% 0% 7%

ARNDT† R 89 X X X X X X X X X + 1 1 n/a n/a n/a

Ashford D 44 - - - - - - - - - - 0 10 0% 11% 5%

BAKER R 16 - + - - + + + + + + 7 10 70% 92% 87%

Barnes D 12 X - - + + X X - - - 2 7 29% 33% 33%

BECKER R 65 + + - + + + - + + + 8 10 80% 83% 81%

Bishoff D 20 X - - X - - - + - - 1 8 13% 33% 34%

BLESSING R 29 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 83% 84%

Boccieri† D 59 X X X X X X X X X - 0 1 n/a n/a n/a

BOOSE R 57 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 92% 94%

Boyce D 25 - - - + - - - - - - 1 10 10% 0% 20%

Boyd D 9 - - - - - - - - - - 0 10 0% 0% 11%

BRENNER R 67 + + + + + + + + + + 10 10 100% 92% 95%

BRINKMAN R 27 + - + - + - - + + + 6 10 60% n/a 60%

BROWN R 3 - + - + + + + + + + 8 10 80% 83% 78%

BUCHY R 84 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 92% 94%

BURKLEY R 82 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 83% 88%

60%OVERALL AVERAGE

CERA 40%HIGHEST DEMOCRAT

ANIELSKI 44%LOWEST REPUBLICAN

84%REPUBLICAN AVERAGE

12%DEMOCRAT AVERAGE

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ACU Votes

Votes Cast

2015 %

2014 %

LIFETIME AVG

BUTLER R 41 + + - + + - + + + + 8 10 80% 67% 84%

Celebrezze D 15 - - - + - - - - - - 1 10 10% 8% 12%

Cera D 96 - - - + + - - + - + 4 10 40% 25% 26%

Clyde D 75 - - - - - - - - X - 0 9 0% 0% 9%

CONDITT R 52 + + X X X + + + + + 7 7 100% 92% 95%

Craig D 26 - - - + + - - - - - 2 10 20% n/a 20%

CUPP R 4 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% n/a 90%

Curtin D 17 - - - + + - - - - X 2 9 22% 13% 25%

DERICKSON R 53 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 92% 91%

DEVER R 28 + + - + X - + + + + 7 9 78% n/a 78%

DeVITIS R 36 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 92% 93%

DOVILLA R 7 + + - - + + + + + + 8 10 80% 92% 87%

Driehaus D 31 - - - - - - - - - - 0 10 0% 0% 12%

DUFFEY R 21 - + - + + + + + + X 7 9 78% 75% 74%

Fedor D 45 - - - - - - + - - - 1 10 10% 0% 8%

Gerberry D 59 - - - + + - - - X X 2 8 25% 0% 16%

GINTER R 5 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% n/a 90%

GONZALES R 19 - + - + + + + X + + 7 9 78% 82% 81%

GREEN R 66 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 83% 84%

GROSSMAN R 23 - + - + + + + X + + 7 9 78% 83% 83%

HACKETT R 74 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 92% 87%

HAGAN R 50 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 92% 91%

HALL R 70 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 92% 95%

HAMBLEY R 69 + + - + - + + + + + 8 10 80% n/a 80%

HAYES R 72 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 92% 91%

HENNE R 40 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 92% 91%

HILL R 97 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 92% 93%

HOOD R 78 + + + + + - X + + + 8 9 89% 73% 71%

Howse D 11 - - - + - - - - - - 1 10 10% n/a 10%

HUFFMAN R 80 + + - + X + + + + + 8 9 89% 92% 90%

Johnson, G. D 35 - - - - - - - - - - 0 10 0% n/a 0%

JOHNSON, T. R 90 + X - + + + + X + + 7 8 88% 92% 87%

KOEHLER R 79 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% n/a 90%

KRAUS R 89 + + - + - + + + X X 6 8 75% n/a 75%

Kuhns D 32 X - - + - - - - - - 1 9 11% n/a 11%

KUNZE R 24 - X - + - + + + + + 6 9 67% 91% 76%

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ACU Votes

Votes Cast

2015 %

2014 %

LIFETIME AVG

LANDIS R 98 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 92% 93%

LaTOURETTE R 76 + + - + X + + + + + 8 9 89% n/a 89%

Leland D 22 - - - - - - - - - - 0 10 0% n/a 0%

Lepore-Hagan D 58 - - - - - - - - - - 0 10 0% n/a 0%

MAAG R 62 + + X X + + + + + + 8 8 100% 100% 98%

MANNING R 55 - + - + + - + + + + 7 10 70% n/a 70%

McCLAIN R 87 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 92% 89%

McCOLLEY R 81 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% n/a 90%

O'Brien, M. D 64 - - - + X - - - X - 1 8 13% n/a 13%

O'Brien, S. D 63 - - X X - - - X - + 1 7 14% 0% 19%

Patmon D 10 + - - + + X X - - - 3 8 38% 36% 39%

Patterson D 99 - - - + - - - - - + 2 10 20% 25% 32%

PELANDA R 86 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 83% 84%

PERALES R 73 + X - + + + + + + + 8 9 89% 83% 84%

Phillips D 94 - - - - - - - - - - 0 10 0% 8% 11%

Ramos D 56 - - - - - - - - - - 0 10 0% 9% 11%

Reece D 33 - - - + - - - - - - 1 10 10% 17% 15%

REINEKE R 88 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% n/a 90%

RETHERFORD R 51 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 92% 94%

REZABEK R 43 + + - + + - + + + + 8 10 80% n/a 80%

ROEGNER R 37 X + - + + X + X + + 6 7 86% 83% 90%

Rogers D 60 - - - + - - - - - + 2 10 20% 17% 29%

ROMANCHUK R 2 + + - + - + + + + + 8 10 80% 80% 80%

ROSENBERGER R 91 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 90% 92%

RUHL R 68 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 83% 83%

RYAN R 71 - + - + + + + + + + 8 10 80% n/a 80%

SCHAFFER R 77 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 89% 94%

SCHERER R 92 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 92% 87%

SCHURING R 48 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 92% 93%

SEARS R 47 - + - + - + + + + + 7 10 70% 82% 81%

Sheehy D 46 - - - + - - - - - - 1 10 10% 8% 9%

SLABY R 38 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 88% 88%

Slesnick D 49 - - - + + - - + - - 3 10 30% 38% 30%

Smith, K. D 8 - - - - - - - - - - 0 10 0% n/a 0%

SMITH, R. R 93 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 92% 90%

SPRAGUE R 83 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 92% 91%

Stinziano D 18 - - - + + - - - - - 2 10 20% 17% 21%

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ACU Votes

Votes Cast

2015 %

2014 %

LIFETIME AVG

Strahorn D 39 - - - + - - - - - - 1 10 10% 8% 16%

Sweeney D 14 - - - + - - + - - - 2 10 20% n/a 20%

Sykes D 34 - - - + - - - - - - 1 10 10% 0% 19%

TERHAR R 30 + + - + + + + + X + 8 9 89% 91% 92%

THOMPSON R 95 + + - + - - + X X + 5 8 63% 75% 84%

VITALE R 85 + - X X + - - + + + 5 8 63% n/a 63%

YOUNG R 61 + + - + + + + + + + 9 10 90% 100% 90%

ZELTWANGER R 54 + X - + - X X + + + 5 7 71% n/a 71% † Legislator did not vote on enough of the selected bills and as a result the 2015 percentage and lifetime average was not rated.

2015acuratings.conservative.org/.../uploads/sites/5/2016/03/ohio_2015_web.pdf · education and...

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